R Finch from Naples (about to go to Florence, and to go to Greece the following year) to PE in Milan (just left Florence, and about to return to England). Apologises for writing on Bath paper. PE has not acknowledged a 'collation' from Miss Thomson. Amati has acquired portraits of Louis XVI. Has met Baron Niebuhr, who criticises Amati and Francesco del Furio as collators, but does not think this criticism should be printed. Has heard nothing about Sir Humphry Davy's invention, and has not delivered PE's message to Bunsen - Mrs B is slatternly, and they are all very queer (v. Horsfall pp473ff).
C Goddard - has sent some notes to Collingwood (see row 49 - from the Press?). Cannot work for the moment as his son has an obstruction of the mesenteric glands. Ref to Lord G. (Grenville? - see 49).
Ditto, asking if PE has received a note from Lord Grenville re the cancellation of 2 pages (cf. row 49).
Paris mss of Aesch - criticism of (Samuel) Butler. Letter from B to Ed Rev appended re PE on Porson Hecuba - detailed observations, but v complimentary.
Abuse of Classical Journal, and refusal to contribute any more. Pursuit of stray mss of Aesch. About to review Butler Vol 2 in the Ed Rev - abuse thereof (and of Schutz). Flattery of PE, and remarks on his own prospects - hopes to remove himself from the demands of his parish in 10/12 years) - Horsfall p453.
B's review of PE's Heraclidae sent to Gifford (at the Quarterly Review). The point of periodicals. Can a good Grecian be a good Protestant (remarks re the Regent's suspected popish leanings).B's brother going to Sweden and Russia via Hamburg in the next long vacation - B to send some books for Hermann - does PE want to as well? Sarcasm re B's books appearing in America. Not planning to write more re Butler. At work on the Persae.
Problems of getting books into and money out of Europe. On his exchanges with Butler and the (small) chances of making peace. (Edward?) Copleston remarks that Butler quotes from out-of-date editions
Unhappy that PE does not contribute to the Museum Criticum but rather to the Classical Journal (despite criticising the latter). B's brother has given the Museum Criticum to Wolf in Berlin, and brought back a number of Greek publications.
PE apparently in or en route to Rome. Asks him to get someone to collate any mss. of Aeshylus he comes across (and will pay). Also to buy a Eustathius if he finds one. Also anything recent by Boissonade.
PE went ballooning in Paris. Praise of Boissonade. Gaisford has published 1st vol. of Poetae Minores. Parisian scholars - has just got the 1st vol. of Bekker's Anecdota. Progress of printing the Persae - has made a hasty collation of a Persae ms. at Lambeth...should he therefore send a copy to the archbishop? 900 copies of the Septem have been sold out of a 1,000 printed.