Thanks PE for his remarks on the Alc. Has been held up by indolence, the examination for the new Pitt University Scholarship and suspense until the allies are at Paris and Bonaparte killed. 3rd No. of Mus.Crit waiting upon an article by PE, either on Alc. or on Oed.Col. PE thinking of a book expedition to the continent. More on Barker, who has turned to the Monthly Revie as a vehicle to attack the Mus.Crit. and promote his own editions. Barker has followed Dr. Parr on an unwelcome visit to Dr. Butler at Shrewsbury. Blomfield's wife has been dangerously ill.
PE back from Paris, JHM from North Wales, and ready to publish 4th No. of Mus.Crit.
Returning to the new year - Alcestis, Mus.Crit. and lectures. Mus.Crit.No.6 will begin with PE on Hecuba - wants the Germans and his pupils to benefit as soon as possible.
PE intending to write on IT. Has sent some notes on the Alcestis (exc. Last 200 lines). .
Acknowledges receipt of an article.
Upbraids PE for not writing.
Asks PE to stay on his way to Scotland (and also with Southey in Keswick).
Cannot now accompany PE to Scotland, apparently because his unit of militia is going on duty early - hope that Napoleon will be so terrified by this that normal touring may be resumed within a year.
(To PE in Florence.) PE has apparently been having difficulties in getting cooperation in Naples - William (Richard) Hamilton, Sir William a Court and Lord Spencer have tried to improve this. Gossip about the recent elections. Sudden death in Oxford of wife's younger brother. The convictions of Francis Burdett and Henry Hunt (re Peterloo massacre). As laureate Southey has been writing a carmen funebre in English hexameters - he is pleased with it, but 'fortunately has some hesitation about publishing it.' Success of Scott's Ivanhoe - comments on its defects, but five different dramatisations appeared simultaneously on the London stage within six weeks of its publication. Monastery, however, which has just been published, is much inferior. Wife has just avoided a threatened miscarriage (? - has frequently miscarried before). Subscription for William Page's widow and family (OW and HM - died 20th September, 1819), though confined to OWW, has raised
Moving house - asks PE to look after his books. The cry of No Popery has succeeded even beyond the hope of those who raised it.