You have my sincere thanks for interfering in my behalf with your friend concerning his mention of my name in the last Edinburgh Review & for your communicating the result of your kind offices.2
I hope that I accept this gentleman's "most unqualified & unfeigned regret" & his tendered explanation of the mistake through the next Edinburgh Review in a spirit somewhat kindred to his own. The visit that he generously thinks due to me I cannot allow him to pay. In such a case I would not receive a personal apology even from an enemy--but this gentleman who could not bear me ill-will & only wronged me by misconception would do me more than right & embarrass me by his condescension. If I ever have the honor of knowing him, I shall meet him with great respect from the promptitude & ardor of his acknowledgment & you will oblige me by assuring him of this, and that, if he will permit me an opinion, neither he nor I ought to regard the incident with the slightest unpleasant feeling.
Mr. Jeffrey in his immediate & right-gentlemanly notice of my letter to him promises to write me his determination as soon as he receives his correspondent's explanation & advice. I therefore cannot doubt that your friend's healing beam will be reflected from the great Northern-light.
By the way, the piracy of Moore's Melodies was first shown to me by our friend Jo. Parkes and I rated the dog as a receiver of stolen goods so soundly that he cannot forget it. I am as thorough a hater of this species of robbery that I loathe the sight of a pirated work, never read one, nor ever would obtain one even for the most intimate friend. Parkes knows well my uniform animosity & warfare against this nefarious practice--pop the question to him.
(Mem: Conclusion of this on other matters of no consequence)3
[Hone's note for his letter
file:]
Edinburgh Review - 1823
To M D Hill Esq. 15 Nov.