2From seeing the current journals very seldom it happens that I only just now learnt you are engaged on a life of Bunyan. I immediately determined on sending you a spurious second part of his "Pilgrim's Progress," but on mentioning it to Mr. Rodd the bookseller,3 who called on me here, I find you are provided with a copy of that very scarce piece. You may not, however, have seen the first edition of the "Holy War," and that I forward to you. Presuming that the "Pilgrim" will be an object of your large inquiry, especially with a view to the origin of the idea, about which so much has been said, and little to the purpose, I enclose a print by [Galle?], whence more could be derived if the heap of erroneous inference were not enough, then from the Dutch Book of Mr. Inglis, which, after all, is, as I understand, either a paraphrase or translation of the "Pilgrimage of the Soule," rendered into English by Caxton, and which, with too much haste, Dibdin presumes to have afforded Bunyan the first thought for the "Pilgrim's Progress." To these I have added the "Predestinado Peregrino," a small Portuguese volume, published after Bunyan's. There is a stout Quarto tract by Bunyan, not included in any edition of his works, except that printed by Alexander Hogg, about 35 years ago—it is an answer to a piece by Bp. Fowler (I think on the Divine Government) and is the rarest of his works. I formerly possessed it, if I had it now it should be at your service. Whether these matters be any way useful or informing to you or not, I have ventured to put them before you, with the sole desire of aiding you in an object which any one properly acquainted with Bunyan has hitherto hoped, rather than expected, to see accomplished. I shall be happy if in endeavouring to afford my [one word][?] I have contributed a hint worth your acceptance.
Dr. Southey