“Ecco!—I have marked some passages with double readings—choose between them—cut—add—reject—or destroy—do with them as you will—I leave it to you and the Committee—you cannot say so called ‘a non committendo.’ What will they do (and I do) with the hundred and one rejected Troubadours? ‘With trumpets, yea, and with shawms,’ will you be assailed in the most diabolical doggerel. I wish my name not to transpire till the day is decided. I shall not be in town, so it won’t much matter; but let us have a good deliverer. I think Elliston should be the man, or Pope; not Raymond, I implore you, by the love of Rhythmus!
The passages marked thus == ==, above and below, are for you to choose between epithets, and such like poetical furniture. Pray, write me a line, and believe me ever, &c.
“My best remembrances to Lady H. Will you be good enough to decide between the various readings marked, and erase the other; or our deliverer may be as puzzled as a commentator, and belike repeat both. If these versicles won’t do, I will hammer out some more endecasyllables.
“P.S. Tell Lady H. I have had sad work to keep out the Phœnix—I mean the Fire-Office of that name. It has insured the theatre, and why not the Address?”
