LETTER XCIV.

From the Rev. Mr. Allport to Sylvaticus.

MY DEAR

Chippenham Vicarage.

I HAVE delayed writing in reply to your last, in order to be able to make up my mind on two or three points, which I could not do till I found how a few other circumstances would turn up here. I could have written you immediately to state what I would have you do in regard to your publishing; but for your own satisfaction I wish to have good grounds to back my opinion. My advice is, do every thing you can to get the MS. in your own hands, and take the publication upon yourself. I would be answerable for the immediate payment of the £11. to K—, and I hope ere long to have sufficient to enable you to go to press yourself. I have £50. in hand for you, besides what you have had, and £5. I now send you. This last week I have formed a kind of committee on your behalf, of which Archdeacon Fisher will be an agent. I

have a statement, and extracts, and an appeal coming out of press, of which I return the proof sheet corrected to-day, under their management, for the express purpose of the benefit of the author of the RM, to relieve his necessities, to assist him in bringing forward unpublished works, to procure him some necessary and suitable books, and in the hope of saving him from the recurrence of the distress and misery he has endured.

It has been my endeavour to put your case in its full light, and to place your merits upon their proper grounds. Several friends warmly interested in your behalf, have undertaken to circulate the statement in their respective circles, and to do their utmost to serve you. It is my purpose also to send copies of the statement to my bookseller in London, Seeley; to booksellers in Monmouth, Gloucester, Ross, Abergavenny, and others to whom I am known; and through friends to those in Worcester, Birmingham, and York: and I shortly hope to be able to complete every thing that can be done for you, and to raise something that shall afford some compensation for your past toil, disappointment, and sufferings. Many copies of the R- M

have been sold here and at Bath lately; and as the latter fills, on the com

ming season, I have no doubt many more will, as the interest is increasing, and almost all the libraries have taken up your cause.

Now you had better, I think, communicate these particulars to your former publishers, either at once in confidence, or by degrees, as you will judge best from your knowledge of them. I see on two copies I had from Town last week, they have now put The Second Edition on the labels of the R- -M I am glad, very glad now, I

did not urge K, as you wished me, to bring out your pieces. I only hope during the time that has elapsed he has not gone to press, and you may be able to recover them. Looking over a London catalogue of books, I do not see his name from beginning to end. I am trying to get the book you named ; and my next step will be to see if we cannot interest the reviewers,— some by one means, some by another: the British Critic through Dr. Fisher.

Have you any copies of the R M by you on your own account? If so, Mr. Meyler, Herald Office, Bath, would wish you to send some to him on sale, conceiving it might serve you. Having now said all I think is requisite, and being pressed for time, I must conclude, remaining Faithfully yours,

JOSIAH ALLport.

LETTER XCV.

From the celebrated Mrs. Fordyce* to the late Mr. Meyler of Bath, publisher of the BATH HErald.

O, GOOD Mr. Meyler! God will surely bless you for the zeal on your part in succouring this man of merit,-whose wonderful modesty is quite striking. I am grieved I did not see you to ́night, when you called and favoured me with the two letters, which I will carefully copy, and show my Mentor of a friend (Mr. Duncan) who is already in search, and no man will be of more importance to the unfortunate; for his benevolence is equal to his penetration, and his polished taste never errs in criticism.

When you, sir, did my door the honour of a call, I was at the moment writing a note to you, very earnest, to prevent your inserting my name for so paltry a sum as the balance of the tenpound bank bill, being only seventeen shillings.

* The life of this lady, written with considerable ability, was some time `since published by Hurst, Robinson, and Co.

Here, sir, I enclose you ten pounds for the sole benefit of this man. Resting on the information of that most worthy clergyman, Mr. Allport, we are safe and sure we are not imposed on by releasing this genius from oppression. My donation, with what he will otherwise get, will enable him to quit his present little school, which a man much his inferior may conduct. Advise him to come to Bath. Tell him there is a house there, with a parlour and a bed chamber in all respects quite comfortable, dry, well aired: that there is in the style of neat sobriety, a sufficient dinner on table every day at four o'clock: that the mistress of the house loves nothing so much as seclusion, books, and men of talents who have conjoined that becoming piety which occasionally appears in Mr.

I am glad he has a wife,

in the hope she has a heart worthy of such a husband. She will take care of him, and I will take care of both while under my roof, where they will have no cares, and plenty of books,no check on the Muses. The recluse mistress of the house will never trouble them till dinner is on the table, for being eighty-five years of age, she always breakfasts in bed,-not from an inclination to loiter, but that it enables her to hold out through the day, when the detail of her