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Julian
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This letter is part of the correspondence calendar of the complete correspondence of Thomas Gray. The calendar contains detailed bibliographic records for all known original, copied, or published letters written by or to the poet as well as the full-text, where available. Each record is accompanied by digitised images of the manuscript, where available, or digitised images of the first printed edition.
As I live in a place, where even the ordinary tattle of the town arrives not till it is stale, and which produces no events of its
own, you will not desire any excuse from me for writing so seldom, especially as of all people living I know you are the least a friend
to letters spun out of one's own brains, with all the toil and constraint that accompanies sentimental productions. I have been here at
Stoke a few days (where I shall continue good part of the summer); and having put an end to a thing,
whose beginning you have seen long ago, I immediately send it you.
You will, I hope, look upon it in the light of a thing with an end to it; a merit that most of my writings have
wanted, and are like to want, but which this epistle I am determined shall not want, when it tells you that I am ever
Not that I have done yet; but who could avoid the temptation of finishing so roundly and so cleverly in the manner of good queen
Anne's days? Now I have talked of writings; I have seen a book, which is by this time in the press, against Middleton (though without
naming him), by Asheton. As far as I can judge from a very hasty reading, there are things in it new
and ingenious, but rather too prolix, and the style here and there savouring too strongly of sermon. I imagine it will do him credit.
So much for other people, now to self again. You are desired to tell me your opinion, if you can take the
pains, of these lines.