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“Far be from him that hour which asks in vain
Tears such as flow for Garrick in his strain;
or,
Far be that hour that vainly asks in turn
Such verse for him as { crown’d his | wept
o’er } Garrick’s urn.
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“Will you choose between these added to the lines on Sheridan*? I think they will wind up the panegyric, and agree with the train of thought preceding them.
“Now, one word as to the Committee—how could they resolve on a rough copy of an Address never sent in, unless you had been good enough to retain in memory, or on paper, the thing they have been good enough to adopt? By the by, the circumstances of the ease should make the Committee less ‘avidus gloriæ,’ for all praise of them would look plaguy suspicious. If necessary to be stated at all, the simple facts bear them out. They surely had a right to act as they pleased. My sole object is one which, I trust, my whole conduct has shown; viz. that I did nothing insidious—sent in no Address whatever—but, when applied to, did my best for them and myself; but above all, that there was no undue partiality, which will be what the rejected will endeavour to make out.
* These added lines, as may be seen by reference to the printed Address, were not retained. |
| 374 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1812. |
“The only thing would be to avoid a party on the night of delivery—afterwards, the more the better, and the whole transaction inevitably tends to a good deal of discussion. Murray tells me there are myriads of ironical Addresses ready—some, in imitation of what is called my style. If they are as good as the Probationary Odes, or Hawkins’s Pipe of Tobacco, it will not be bad fun for the imitated. “Ever, &c.”
