Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Bessy read them Robert's account of the Maharajah at breakfast, and Sir George received the letter from Benares [Varanasi]; he himself was there, but probably only between trains; Warren Hastings was there longer and liked it less. Has a vague recollection of a ghaut [ghat], a little like Robert's postcards. That was fifty years ago and much has changed; today is Gladstone's birthday, and it says much about the man that he is remembered 'half a generation after his death'. Sorry that [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson was so ill; hopes he is 'permanently right again' now. In the future, Robert will be glad to have got to know a 'great native household' [that of the Maharajah of Chhatapur], rather than going to Burma; he himself prefers his 'thorough, and rather dearly-earned knowledge of Calcutta' than to have seen more, 'even more romantic objects'. Their journey south on Friday was 'arduous' but went well; Julian behaved perfectly and enjoyed it very much. Is reading the later volume of Gibbon, and more or less agrees with Robert that 'they are a stately bridge between the ancient and the modern world'; keeps thinking what a 'bright man of the world' Gibbon was.
Thanks him for 'Letters of William Cowper' but objects to the phrase 'Warren Hastings and his enemy Impey'; also tells the history of one of letters attributed to Cowper that is not his; clarifies where Charles Lamb's 'divine chitchat of Cowper' appears; was annoyed to see Cowper's house had been pulled down in Dereham; mourns [Arthur] Verrall.
London Road. Dated 23 June, 1912 - Thanks him for 'Letters of William Cowper' but objects to the phrase 'Warren Hastings and his enemy Impey'; also tells the history of one of letters attributed to Cowper that is not his; clarifies where Charles Lamb's 'divine chitchat of Cowper' appears; was annoyed to see Cowper's house had been pulled down in Dereham; mourns [Arthur] Verrall.
Thanks Sidgwick for the copy of his book, which he sent to him. Acknowledges 'the scrupulous fairness and moderation of [his] polemic', and observes that the title was well-chosen, from the author's point of view. Comparing himself to Warren Hastings on hearing Burke's speech, he admits that 'for the moment [he felt himself] a criminal'. Refers to Sidgwick's attitude to lying, and to his statement about the Bible. Reports that some days previously a bishop had warned a friend of his 'against the dangerous views of Gore and declared that the still more orthodox [Uttley?] was not much better than a Deist.' Refers to the statement '"Born of the V[irgin] M[ary]"', and states his belief that 'no statements could be plainer, less susceptible of being explained away [or] less believed by clergy who accept O[ld T[estament] criticism than the [statement] [at] [ ?hiat?]...' Refers also to the fourth commandment which is refuted publicly and weakly.
(Transcript in the hand of R. C. Mangin, docketed ‘Reverend Edward Mangin’s reply to Mr: Warren Hastings critique upon his Essay on Light Reading’. Dated 1808 at the end. ‘Aug.’ has been added at the head in pencil.)