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.Hone refers to Childs's publication in 1829 of
Ainsworth's Latin Dictionary. [[return]](#a)
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
It is just possible that I may journey towards [Yarmouth] in a
week or two. I have a chest-full of autographs for sale,
& [Mr Dawson Turner] has thrown out a sort, of a sort of
"[short word] of invitation." Are there any other autograph
buyers in Suffolk or Norfolk?In
his effort to raise money to open the Grasshopper Coffee House, Hone was trying to
sell his collection of autographs. [[return]](#c)
[Addressed:]
For:
Mr. John Childs
Dictionary Manufacturer
Bungay, Suffolk