Letter from Ebenezer Elliott, Sheffield, to James Montgomery, 1833 June 14 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning a recent incident in which Elliott sent an acquaintance to bear a letter to Montgomery, in the hope that he might meet him in person, and Montogomery's response revealing that he does not like to see strangers; protesting that he is in no position to accuse Montgomery of "ingratitude" on this occasion ("What have you to be grateful for? You never neglected me, on the contrary, you did more to bring my early writings into notice than all the world beside."); explaining that a reference he made to "the efforts of religious persons" was not an allusion to either Montgomery or his friends, adding "I wish I hadn't alluded to religion at all.", and speculating that he did so from a "secret consciousness that I am not religious in my heart."; suggesting that Montgomery spends too much time locked up in his study, and urging him to spend time gardening, and "Get into the fields, climb the mountains, turn botanist.", explaining that his sight and faculties were restored to him by a stay in Derbyshire after his vision began to fail some three years ago ("Never before was I so humiliated as when forced to wear spectacles. They talk of the grave. ... Well, I have written this letters without them. For a short time ago I went into Derbyshire. The results are Win-Hill, a poem, the best I have yet written - a great improvement in my health, and the eyes of my youth for a time, restored to me!").