Nautical metaphor re B's inferiority to PE as critic. Some remarks on errata in Heraclidae. Plans for a Callimachus, to be dedicated to Earl Spencer. Prosiness of Eur. Helen. 'Mourning Bride' (Congreve) translated in Dictionnaire Historique as 'L'Epouse de Matin.' (Samuel) Butler to translate a poem by Lucien Buonaparte (sic) (Charlemagne, or The Church Delivered, publ. 1815). B's Callimachus progressing - Elegies his forte, Hymns s'sad stuff.' Inferior quality of 2/3 surviving Greek poetry - critics gain credit for sorting out the texts, but do not thereby improve the world.
Loss of only child. Possible reconciliation with Butler? B's review of PE in Quarterly Review. Printing errors in Museum Criticum. Books from continent held up by weather. Persae ready apart from collation of one ms. Barker mounting a campaign against Monk.
Year determined by 1816-02-21. Encloses 3 of Hermann's Opuscula, to be returned to Mawman's booksellers when finished with. 'in haste, for the trout await.'
Some notes on PE's Herclidae.
Asks for return of the Hermanns vis Mawman (v. 1815-09-06). Proceeding with Agamemnon. Seeks advice on some textual points.
Re a cousin of PE who wishes to go to Cambridge (for first degree and then a fellowship). B believes Trinity is the only college to offer fellowships to Scotchmen. Has applied a little too late, and may be better advised to go up in October 1822.
Museum Criticum No 7 on point of publication - more than enough material. Review of PE's Bacchae - may be sent to Giffoerd at the Quarterly, or may be given to Monk. Response to Burgess' charges of plagiarism against B. Writer of review of B's Agamemnon in the last Quarterly identified. Too busy to get to Althorp this winter. Doing less Classics and being more of a cleric. Asks for notes on the Knights, as they are proceeding with Museum Criticum No 8.
May soon have two rather than just one uncle in the Cabinet, so may be able to assist PE with a preferment. His grandmother's legacies. PE should have ordered some copies of his Sophocles to be printed on large paper, to be given as presentation copies. Hears that Carey is doing well at Westminster. Southey's Amadis is in the press
Asks for two copies of PEW's Sophocles (one for him, one for his uncle Tom). C Burney has been to dinner - talk of mss., one supposedly the 1st act of Sophocles' Clytemnestra, but probably a composition of the time of Gregory Nazianzen, and the other a ninth century Plato containing nothing new, but which might confirm some readings. PE needs good corrector - he does not possess attention enough to proofread.
Uses compasses (v.398) as excuse for not writing sooner, but in truth has been busy with 'the infernal defence of the country.' Abortive visit to Hafod (Uchtryd), arranged by his elder brother, to visit Thomas Johnes and the house, and to see the Froissart ms. (Johnes' translation?) - saw no more than the outside of the larder and library. Four days at Keswick with Southey - mornings spent scrambling among mountains and waterfalls, evenings reading Madoc and Portuguese History (NB latter never finished only Part 1 published, The History of Brazil). Miss (2nd daughter Edith?) promises to be 'a finer child than her predecessor' (Margaret, died aged 1 in 1803?).