Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole, 24 September 1766
To
The Honble
Horace Walpole in
Arlington Street
London
I happen'd to be in Norfolk on the way to Houghton, when I read an article in a news-paper relating to you, that shock'd me. I wrote to Dr Gisburne (who lives very near you) to beg he would inform himself of your health: but I fear he is out of Town, for I have received no answer. today by accident I received a letter from Cole, from whence I learn, thank God! that the worst part of that news was false: but that you have suffer'd much from a return of the gout, & are prevented only by weakness from going to Bath. it would be a singular satisfaction to me, if I might see three lines in your own hand: but it is impossible for me to judge, whether this is a reasonable request. I flatter myself, if you can, you will indulge me in it, especially when you know, that of those who are most about you, there is no one I can well write to. in a fortnight or less I hope to be in Town. Heaven preserve you, & restore you to health & ease. I hope this severe lesson will warn you against that careless regimen, to wch you were so unreasonably attach'd.
Yours
Correspondents
Dates
Places
Physical description
Content
Holding Institution
(confirmed)
Class No. LC II, 90, College Library, Pembroke College, Cambridge , Cambridge, UK <http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/>
Print Versions
- The Correspondence of Gray, Walpole, West and Ashton (1734-1771), 2 vols. Chronologically arranged and edited with introduction, notes, and index by Paget Toynbee. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1915, letter no. 236, vol. ii, 260-261
- The Yale Edition of Horace Walpole's Correspondence. Ed. by W. S. Lewis. New Haven, Conn.: Yale UP; London: Oxford UP, 1937-83, vols. 13/14: Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray, Richard West and Thomas Ashton i, 1734-42, Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray ii, 1745-71, ed. by W. S. Lewis, George L. Lam and Charles H. Bennett, 1948, vol. ii, 158
- Correspondence of Thomas Gray, 3 vols. Ed. by the late Paget Toynbee and Leonard Whibley, with corrections and additions by H. W. Starr. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971 [1st ed. 1935], letter no. 426, vol. iii, 937