there is but one poem with the title you mention, viz., The Tragedy of David Beton, late Cardinal and Archbishop of Santandrons, so written for St. Andrews.
I received by Dick Marlay[1] the King John in two parts, and return you many thanks for your goodness to me. In order to render my old edition of Spenser complete, I wish you could procure the first quartos of the following pieces:—Two Cantos of Mutability; Amoretti, or Sonnets; Prothalamion and Epithalamion; Four Hymns; Daphnaida, an Elegy on Douglas Howard; Britain’s Ida (this not by Spenser, yet bound with his works); A View of the State of Ireland; Some Letters between the Author and Mr. Harvey.
Did Upton ever publish his third volume of Spenser’s works in quarto? I wish also that you could procure for me the collection of Lord Essex’s letters.
You see what it is to encourage a troublesome correspondent. But relying on your goodness, and on the resemblance of our pursuits, I doubt not but that you will pardon
Don’t forget to send me a copy of your “Shakspeare” (for such I love to call it) as soon as it shall be published. Remember me to all friends; and if your friend Mr. Steevens should recollect a person who had once the pleasure of dining in his company at poor Goldsmith’s entertainment,[2] please to present my compliments to him. Has Percy published his new edition of Surrey’s poems? Don’t let Sunning Hill seclude you too much from the world. Retirement is a good thing, but certainly too large a dose of it is not suited to your constitution. It is very possible that I may be able to see you in spring. I should like it much, but it depends on many circumstances. Adieu.
The allusion of his lordship to Steevens arose from the intimacy now prevailing between that gentleman
- ↑ Well known in literary circles in London and Dublin. Afterwards Bishop of Waterford.
- ↑ This dinner I have noticed in the Life of that poet early in 1774.
