Thomas Gray to William Taylor How (<hi rend="it">after</hi> 8 November 1763) Alexander Huber Editor Thomas Gray Archive
info@thomasgray.org https://www.thomasgray.org/
Oxford

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 UK London British Library Manuscripts collection Add. MSS 26889, ff. 52-53 2 pages 233 mm x 194 mm

The original letter is extant and usually available for academic research purposes

 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. 382, vol. ii, 827-828 http://www.e-enlightenment.com/search/letters/print/?printref_sourceedition=graythOU0084&printref_docnumber=382 The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W[illiam]. Mason. York: printed by A. Ward; and sold by J. Dodsley, London; and J. Todd, York, 1775, letter viii, section v, 386-387 https://www.thomasgray.org/texts/diglib/primary/1775/1/386 Essays and Criticisms by Thomas Gray. Ed. with Introduction and Notes by Clark Sutherland Northup. Boston and London: D. C. Heath & Co., 1911, letter excerpt, 268 https://www.thomasgray.org/texts/diglib/primary/NoC_1911/1/268 The Letters of Thomas Gray, including the correspondence of Gray and Mason, 3 vols. Ed. by Duncan C. Tovey. London: George Bell and Sons, 1900-12, letter no. CCLVII, vol. iii, 29-31 https://www.thomasgray.org/texts/diglib/primary/ToD_1900iii/1/29 The Works of Thomas Gray, 2 vols. Ed. by John Mitford. London: J. Mawman, 1816, section IV, letter CXII, vol. ii, 427-429 https://www.thomasgray.org/texts/diglib/primary/MiJ_1816ii/1/427 The Works of Thomas Gray, 5 vols. Ed. by John Mitford. London: W. Pickering, 1835-1843, section IV, letter CXXIII, vol. iv, 26-28 https://www.thomasgray.org/texts/diglib/primary/MiJ_1843iv/1/26 Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771 London, United Kingdom How, William Taylor, d. 1777 Brussels, Belgium

Gregorian

 English Algarotti, Francesco, Conte, 1712-1764 Fontenelle, Bernard le Bovier de Algarotti, Francesco, Conte, 1712-1764

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A Monsr Monsieur Taylor-How, Gentilhomme Anglois a Bruxelles

London. Nov: 1763. Sr

I am ashamed of my own indolence in not answering your former letter: a second, wch I have since received, adds to my shame, & quickens my motions. I can see no manner of objection to your design of publishing C: A:s works compleat in your own country. it will be an evidence of your regard for him, that can not but be very acceptable to him. the Glasgow-Press, or that of Baskervile, have given specimens of their art equal (at least) in beauty to any thing, that Europe can produce. the expence you will not much regard on such an occasion, & (if you suffer them to be sold) that would be great diminish'd, and most probably reimbursed. as to notes (and I think, some will be necessary) I easily believe you will not overload the text with them, & besides every thing of that kind will be concerted between you. if you propose any Vignettes or other matters of ornament, it would be well they were design'd in Italy, & the gravings executed either there, or in France, for in this country they are woeful & beyond measure dear. the revising of the Press must be your own labour, as tedious as it is inglorious: but to this you must submit. as we improve in our types, &c: we grow daily more negligent in point of correctness, & this even in our own tongue. what will it be in the Italian?

I did not mean, you should have told C: A: my objection, at least not as from me, who have no pretence to take such a liberty with him: but I am glad, he has alter'd the passage. he can not wonder, if I wish'd to save to our nation the only honour it has in matters of Taste, & no small one, since neither Italy nor France have ever had the least notion of it, nor yet do at all comprehend it, when they see it. Mr Mason has received the books in question from an unknown hand, wch I take to be Mr Holles, from whom I too have received a beautiful set of Engravings, as a present; I know not why, unless as a Friend of yours. I saw & read the beginning of this year the Congresso di Citéra, & was excessively pleased in spite of prejudice, for I am naturally no friend to allegory, nor to poetical prose. entre nous what gives me the least pleasure of any of his writings, that I have seen, is the Newtonianism. it is so direct an imitation of Fontenelle, a Writer not easy to imitate, & least of all in the Italian tongue, whose character & graces are of a higher style & never adapt themselves easily to the elegant badinage and legereté of conversation, that sets so well on the French: but this is a secret between us.

I am glad to hear, he thinks of revisiting England tho' I am a little ashamed of my country at this present. our late-acquired glory does not set becomingly upon us; & even the Author of it, that Restitutor d'Inghilterra, is doing God knows what! if he should deign to follow the track of vulgar Ministers, & regain his power by ways injurious to his fame, whom can we trust hereafter?

M: de Nivernois on his return to France, says (I hear) of England, Quel Roy, quel Peuple, quelle Societé! & so say I.

Adieu, Sr, I am Your most humble Servant T. G: