BIB_ID
106334
Accession number
MA 3007
Creator
De Quincey, Thomas, 1785-1859.
Display Date
Edinburgh, Scotland?, 1827? September 22.
Credit line
Purchased on the Acquisitions Fund, 1976.
Description
1 item (2 pages, with address) ; 18.7 x 11.1 cm
Notes
De Quincey gives the date of writing as "Sept. 22." The novel he mentions in the letter, Elizabeth de Bruce, was published in 1827, suggesting that the letter may have been written in that year.
No place of writing is listed on the letter. It is likely to have been written from Edinburgh, where De Quincey was living during this period.
Address panel with seal: "J. Johnstone Esq. / St. James's Square."
No place of writing is listed on the letter. It is likely to have been written from Edinburgh, where De Quincey was living during this period.
Address panel with seal: "J. Johnstone Esq. / St. James's Square."
Provenance
Purchased from the Carnegie Book Shop, catalog 356, #105.
Summary
Saying that he was sorry to not to have seen him this morning, but "Willy and I had already settled on taking our chance at finding you at home some night after to-morrow. W. is out to-night ; and I had particularly promised him not to go without him;" praising the novel Elizabeth de Bruce, written by the author and editor Christian Isobel Johnstone (John Johnstone's wife), and comparing it to the novels of another female author (possibly Susan Ferrier) "of which so many fine things are said;" adding "I have a pen like a [skewer?], and move so slowly I will not detain your messenger longer with a remark or two on your Selections, which I have stored up for some time;" sending his regards to Mrs. Johnstone.
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