I was born in a two pair of stairs room at the corner house of Horse Street, being the last on the right hand side of the way, going toward the bridge out of Bath — which I deem it my duty to acquaint you with — and further, that I saw Bath (for the first time after I was removed from it at three years old) in December 1818, and from what I was enabled to observe of the people never desire to see it again — and, moreover, I acquaint you with this, because you date your note from that city — and, furthermore, because my birthplace coming first to my eye, set my minds eye on the goggle — wherefore it pleases me to discurse before I discourse, and so it brings me to your locale.
My dear Sir, what I said to you about "lodging taking" I have not the least recollection of — but I hope nothing offensive — indeed from what you say of and concerning "Saville House" I am persuaded I have been "quite correct," and done nothing more than a little of the "agreeable." I assure you, though, my head has been more [word] excursive than my body — I have been — not "non est" &c. but non compos — and am now not quite "as well as could be expected." Could I have a few chirrupy notes, like yours, it would do much to bring me round. I thank you sincerely for your kind recollection of me, and hope you will not forget the call you wot of.
As to the Wassail "the jolly Wassail bowl" — it will be to me this Xmas as though it were not.3 I am pretty miserable, but
I believe we talk more about you, whom we have only seen once, be it remembered, — more than we do of half the people we have known half our lives — Come!