Thomas Gray to Norton Nicholls, 14 April 1770

I thought my mysteries were but too easy to explain, however you must have a little patience, for I can hazard only word of mouth. what you say of poor B: is so true, & (let me add) expresses so well my own feelings, that I shall transcribe your words, & send them to him: were I in his place, I should be grateful for them! by this time I should think, you may have received a letter from him yourself, for in that I received from Abbeville, 31 March, he spoke of his intention to write to you. I wrote to you myself as soon as I return'd from London, the 1st (I think) of April.

I am coming to see you, my good Friend, that is, on Monday se'nnight I mean to call on Palgrave for a few days in my way to Blundeston. as to Wales you may do with me, what you please, I care not. there is this inconvenience in our way, that I must call on Mason at Aston (& so may you too) for a little while, the last week in May: from thence we strike across to Chester, & enter Wales. for the summer of next year (tho' I shall be dead first) I am your Man, only I desire it may be a secret between ourselves, till the time comes, as you love your life.

I rejoice to see, you are so great a Gardiner & Botanist: my instructions will be very poor: De B: with five lessons from Miller (before he departed for Sumatra) & his own matchless industry, could have told you much more than I can. it would be strange if I should blame you for reading Isocrates. I did so myself 20 years ago, & in an edition at least as bad as yours. the Panegyrick, the De Pace, Areopagitic, & Advice to Philip, are by far the noblest remains we have of this Writer, & equal to most things extant in the Greek tongue: but it depends on your judgement to distinguish between his real & occasional opinion of things, as he directly contradicts in one place what he has advanced in another, for example in the Panathenaic & the De Pace, &c: on the naval power of Athens: the latter of the two is undoubtedly his own undisguised sentiment.

Talk your fill to me, & spare not. it would perhaps be more flattering, if you lived in the midst of an agreable society: but even as it is, I take it in good part, & heartily thank you, for you have given me a late instance of your partiality & kindness, that I shall ever remember.

I received on ye 10th of this month a long letter from Paris lively & sensible as usual: but you will see it, & I shall hope for a sight of such as you have got by you. there are two different directions. A Mons: M:r B: a l'hotel de Luxembourg, rue des Petits Augustins, Fauxbourg St Germain, Paris. the other, to the same, chez Messrs Lullin, Freres, & Rittiel, rue Thevenot, Paris. the latter seems the safer, but then I am uncertain, whether I read it right. what shall I do? I have tried both ways, but do not know yet with what success.