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of being a quiet contented Hermit that a poor dramatic Poet in his Cell may be damned illeg in [written over the crossing-out] a distant Theatre, unconscious of his Fate; for I was not at all aware, that I had any thing to fear or hope from a London Audience, when I received these unexpected Tidings, & I still feel perfectly philosophical on the Subject.

The Circumstance you mention of our poetical Brother Darwin surprizes me not a little, & the sincere delight I take in his poetry, would induce me to believe, that his Bookseller judges ill to delay the publication, did not the vigilant Spirit of literary Merchants for a strong argument in favor of their discretion —–

Your political Authors, that you wish to speak of, will I