Letter from William Davy, Lustleigh, to John Nichols, 1825 November 2 : autograph manuscript signed.

Discussing a possible subscription for the publication of his work [A System of Divinity on the Being, Nature and Attributes of God]; thanking him for his kind words on the portion of his work that he has read; saying "...it must be no small pleasure to you, to find, that what you then so readily commended is, (by unparalled Perseverance) fully complete, tho so strongly solicited, yet unaided by any assistance. - The same Spirit of Perseverance, and a Desire of doing good, hath induced me to my late Publication, of which you now mention, - tho at the Expence of the Reserve I had made for my latter Days;" relating the names of eminent persons who have praised his work; saying "Encouraged by such distinguish'd Reception, I have intimated, that a Subscription, if opened by the Great, and publickly known as encouraged by them, in some public Place or places in Town, a Sufficiency w'd doubtless, be Soon raised for the due Publication of my whole Labour. But as this is uncertain, and you are in the Habit of taking upon yourself the Publication of large Labours, sh'd be thankful to know whether it might be agreeable for you to take upon yourself the Publication [of] my System - I want no Reward, till after every Satisfaction is made to the Undertaker;" adding that he would gladly send him a portrait but he doesn't know of a way of sending it "...without folding it. As therefore I w'd appear among such worthies 'without Spot, or wrinkle, or any Such thing; - if you can contrive how I can properly sent it to you by any mode of conveyance - or by any friend of yours in, and from Exeter, I shall esteem your acceptance of it - for the Purpose mentioned, as an Honour done me. I can inclose it, I think, between two thick Forrels, and send it to you by what conveyance you shall appoint."