On the 22nd of January, I wrote to him on several topicks, and mentioned
that as he had been so good as to permit me to have the proof sheets of
his Lives of the Poets, I had written to his servant, Francis, to take
care of them for me.
On the 23rd of February I wrote to him again, complaining of his
silence, as I had heard he was ill, and had written to Mr. Thrale, for
information concerning him; and I announced my intention of soon being
again in London.
'TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
'DEAR SIR,--Why should you take such delight to make a bustle, to write
to Mr. Thrale that I am negligent, and to Francis to do what is so very
unnecessary. Thrale, you may be sure, cared not about it; and I shall
spare Francis the trouble, by ordering a set both of the Lives and Poets
to dear Mrs. Boswell,* in acknowledgement of her marmalade. Persuade her
to accept them, and accept them kindly. If I thought she would receive
them scornfully, I would send them to Miss Boswell, who, I hope, has yet
none of her mamma's ill-will to me.
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