Autograph letter signed : London, to [Mary Lloyd Baker], 1811 August 14.

Sending her copies of a book and responding to criticism of his poem the Gleaner's song from Book 1 of his Banks of Wye ("And so my Gleaner has no right to sing about matrimony because we had no matrimony in the Boat, or at least were not just then upon such an expedition? Upon my poetical veracity I do not see the strength of your objection, but as matrimony is a very tender subject, as well as a longwinded one, I had better give you Mr Pitt's answer when he did not choose to give any, 'I have not made up my mind. ...'"); remarking on the wide range of his acquaintances ("there is the bookselling world, the engraving world, the poetical world, the Quaking world, the busy world, the idle world, the interested, and the curious world, which is more plague than all the rest.") and recounting the history of some of his friendships and his social activities, concluding, "some would exclaim 'With all this connexion what a trade he might get in a shop?' yes, if I could change Robin Bloomfield into Dick Shud of pudding lane. But before these arguments have much weight with me, I must see Dick Shud turn poet, for why should not he change his nature, and his habit as soon as I. I am determined he shall begin first. My glass is fast running for Forty Five, and I will not be a Tradesman. But if I cannot subsist without, I mean to petition to be an under turnkey at Newgate, and then you will all know where to direct to me."; sending a manuscript of some lyrics he has adapted to Hook's Instructions for the Piano Forte; assuring her in a post script that he will not seek to "inlist" with a patron, as "I never knew a writing politician who did not of necessity forfeit that independence which I wish to keep. I will have nothing to do with rearing or pulling down their fabricks. I will enjoy the sunshine of favour, and hold my tongue. My old patron the Duke of Grafton is no more, I loose £15 per ann. I never flatterd him, and shall probably never have another".