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Thomas Gray to William Mason, 9 October 1766

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Oct: 9. 1766. Jermyn-Street at Mr Roberts's.
Dear Mason

I am desired to tell you, that if you still continue to be tired of residence, or are in any way moderately ambitious, or covetous, there never was a better opportunity. the D: of G: is extremely well inclined, & you know, who is at hand to give his assistance: but the apparent channel should be your Friend, Ld H:sse, who is upon good terms. this was said to me in so friendly a way, that I could not but acquaint you of it immediately.

I have made enquiry, since I came hither on a subject, that seem'd much to take up your thoughts, & (I do assure you) find not the least grounds to give you uneasiness. it was mere distemper & nothing more.

Adieu! I am sincerely
Yours
T G:

My respects to Mrs M:

Letter ID: letters.0484 (Source: TEI/XML)

Correspondents

Writer: Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771
Writer's age: 49
Addressee: Mason, William, 1724-1797
Addressee's age: 42

Dates

Date of composition: 9 October 1766
Date (on letter): Oct: 9. 1766
Calendar: Gregorian

Places

Place of composition: London, United Kingdom
Address (on letter): Jermyn-Street, at Mr Roberts's

Content

Language: English
Incipit: I am desired to tell you, that if you still continue to be tired of residence,...
Mentioned: Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811

Holding Institution

Location:
(confirmed)
Henry W. And Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences Library, New York Public Library , New York, NY, USA <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature>
Availability: The original letter is extant and usually available for academic research purposes

Print Versions

  • The Correspondence of Thomas Gray and William Mason, with Letters to the Rev. James Brown, D.D. Ed. by the Rev. John Mitford. London: Richard Bentley, 1853, letter XCIX, 362-363
  • 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. CCLXXXVIII, vol. iii, 123
  • 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. 428, vol. iii, 940