William Hone to John Childs, 26 December, 1829 — An Electronic Edition

I have been northward strutting since the 24th of October till I got home from Derby yesterday—in token of my having been at the latter place take this, that I dined on Tuesday with Mr. William Strutt, and afterwards went to the Theatre with him & there with all the Messrs. Strutt was present at the performance of Mr William Cobbett being his first appearance there. Moreover, as further token, I add, that on Wednesday I saw at Wilkins, the Booksellers, a certain edition of Ainsworth in octavo which I presumed to say of, that it was the finest specimen of the Bungay Press, and unequalled by any typography I am acquainted with.²

Moreover, I have been informed on coming home that you had devised & intended the conveyance to me of a certain dole, as of annual custom, whereof no intelligence can be derived either at the Belle [one word][?], the Bull, or the Spread Eagle (a never-to-be-forgotten house) in Gracechurch Street opposite whereto I am about to open certain premises under the sign and denomination of the "Grasshopper Coffee-house" with a view to which latter purpose, & in contemplation thereof, & of being assisted therein, I peradventured to Liverpool, & abode there at Edward Rushton's for three weeks, and afterward sojourned at Manchester (with our friend John Shuttleworth) for nearly a month & thence essayed to Leeds, & to Sheffield, and lastly, Derby as aforesaid.

If there be any error in the matter of the Turkey, drop me a line, if not, be silent till we meet at the said Grasshopper, in or after the month of February next. I write this on the counter of Mr. [one word][?], the Buscuit baker, in Threadneedle Street, where we last met.

With best wishes, and regards, to Mrs Childs and your family, and the like to your brother, I remain