LETTER213

letter213

charleslambtomr.sargus

[datedatend:feb.23,1815.]

drsargus—thisistogiveyounoticethatihavepartedwiththecottagetomr.grigjun'r.towhomyouwillpayrentfrommichaelmaslast.therentthatwasdueatmichaelmasidonotwishyoutopayme.iforgiveityouasyoumayhavebeenatsomeexpencesinrepairs.

yours

ch.lamb.

innertemplelane,london,23feb.,1815.

[in1812lambinherited,throughhisgodfather,francisfielde,whoismentionedintheeliaessay"myfirstplay,"apropertycalledbuttonsnap,nearpuckeridge,inhertfordshire,consistingofasmallcottageandaboutanacreofground.in1815hesolditfor£50,andtheforegoingletterisanintimationofthetransactiontohistenant.thepurchaser,however,wasnotamr.grig,butamr.greg(seenotesto"myfirstplay"invol.ii.ofthisedition).inmylargeeditionigiveapictureofthecottage.

iappendhereanundatedlettertojosephhumewhichbelongstoatimeposteriortothesaleofthecottage.itreferstotuthill'scandidatureforthepostofphysiciantost.luke'shospital.

theletterisprintedinmr.keganpaul'swilliamgodwin:hisfriendsandacquaintances,asthoughitwerewrittentogodwin,andalllamb'seditorsfollowinassumingthephilosophertobetherecipient,butinternalevidencepracticallyprovesthathumewasaddressed;forthereisthereferencetomrs.humeandherdaughters,andgodwinlivednotinkensingtonbutinskinnerstreet.]