LETTER202

letter202

charleslambtojohndyercollier

[nodate.probably1812.]

dearsir—mrs.collierhasbeenkindenoughtosaythatyouwouldendeavourtoprocureareporter'ssituationforw.hazlitt.iwenttoconsulthimuponitlastnight,andheaccededveryeagerlytotheproposal,andrequestsmetosayhowverymuchobligedhefeelstoyourkindness,andhowgladheshouldbeforitsess.heis,indeed,athiswits'endforalivelihood;and,ishouldthink,especiallyqualifiedforsuchanemployment,fromhissingularfacilityinretainingallconversationsatwhichhehasbeeneverpresent.ithinkyoumayrecommendhimwithconfidence.iamsureishallmyselfbeobligedtoyouforyourexertions,havingagreatregardforhim.

yourstruly,

c.lamb.

sundaymorning.

[johnpaynecollier,whoprintsthisinhisoldman'sdiary,adds:"theresultwasthatmyfatherprocuredforhazlittthesituationofaparliamentaryreporteronthemorningchronicle;buthedidnotretainitlong,andashistalentswereundoubted,mr.perrytransferredtohimtheofficeoftheatricalcritic,apositionwhichwassubsequentlyheldforseveralyearsbyapersonofmuchinferiortalents."

crabbrobinsonmentionsinhisdiaryunderthedatedecember24,1812,thathazlittisinhighspiritsfromhisengagementwithperryasparliamentaryreporteratfourguineasaweek.

iplacehere,nothavinganydefinitedate,aletteronakindredsubjectfrommarylamb:—]