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Gregorian
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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.
I am almost afraid of advising you for fear I should hurt, where I mean to serve you.
I think Mr M: & your Friends in Town mean exceedingly well, & deserve your acknowledgements: but when
they propose this method of proceeding, they are ignorant of what has passed.
I entirely approve of your answer in every respect, as it is. what if you added to it, (as in confidence to Mr
M:,) that a Friend of yours had found means to recommend you not long since to the two Lords at the head of that Board, & had
received a very favourable answer in case of your Mamma's death. that you have reason to believe, there was nobody before you on their
list, & that they would not easily give ear to any applications made to your prejudice.
That nevertheless you were conscious, many accidents might arise to disappoint these hopes; & fully sensible of how much
consequence the kind foresight & assistance of the Mr P:s may be to you in all senses;
& that you therefore did desire Mr M: would communicate your letter (if he thinks it proper) to them, &
entreat the continuance of their favourable intentions to you & to your Sister.
This you will put into your own style (wch is always best) but before you do so, consider whether it agree
with your own sentiments, & whether you foresee any ill, that may arise from it, wch does not occur to me:
for my notion is, that generally People judge best upon due reflection in their own affairs.
I will see you after dinner.