LETTER VII. FROM MESSRS. L-CK-GT-N AND CO. PER Post, Sir, we send your MS.-look'd it throughVery sorry-but can't undertake-'twouldn't do. Clever work, Sir!-would get up prodigiously wellIts only defect is-it never would sell! And though Statesmen may glory in being unbought, In an Author, we think, Sir, that's rather a fault. Hard times, Sir,-most books are too dear to be readThough the gold of Good-sense and Wit's small-change are fled, Yet the paper we publishers pass, in their stead, Rises higher each day, and ('tis frightful to think it) Not even such names as F-TzG-R-D's can sink it! However, Sir-if you're for trying again, And at somewhat that's vendible-we are your men. * From motives of delicacy, and, indeed, of fellow-feeling, I suppress the name of the Author, whose rejected manuscript was inclosed in this letter.-See the Appendix, Since the Chevalier C-RR took to marrying lately, The Trade is in want of a Traveller greatly— No job, Sir, more easy-your Country once plann'd, A month aboard ship and a fortnight on land Puts your Quarto of Travels clean out of hand. An East-India pamphlet's a thing that would tell- Should you feel any touch of poetical glow, We've a scheme to suggest-Mr. Sc―TT, you must know (Who, we're sorry to say it, now works for the Row†), * This alludes, I believe, to a curious correspondence, which is said to have passed lately between ALB-N-A, Countess of B-CK-GH-MS-E, and a certain ingenious Parodist. + Paternoster Row. Having quitted the Borders to seek new renown, To start a fresh Poet through Highgate to meet him ; Who, by means of quick proofs--no revises-long coaches May do a few Villas before Sc-TT approaches- He'll reach, without found'ring, at least WOBURN-ABBEY. Such, Sir, is our plan-if you're up to the freak, Temple of the Muses. Your's, et cetera. COME to our Fête,* and bring with thee Thy newest, best embroidery! Come to our Fête, and show again That pea-green coat, thou pink of men ! When B--L's self inquired "who made it?”- Oh! come-(if haply 'tis thy week That o'er some darkling grove delay! *This Letter inclosed a Card for the Grand Fête on the 5th of February. Bring thy best lace, thou gay Philander! For that night only, means to hire * Quem tu, Melpomene, semel Nascentem placido lumine, videris, etc.-Horat. The Man, upon whom thou hast deign'd to look funny, The assertion that follows, however, is not verified in the instance before us. Illum. -non equus impiger Curru ducet Achaico. |