Horatio Smith letter to Leigh Hunt, January 3, 19th century

              3 Knight’s bridge Terrace

Saturday 3 Janry


Dear Hunt


I promis’d to write you my reasons for declining compliance with your recent application for £200, but on consideration I determind on silence, for fear of hurting your feelings. - You will have known, however, that it did not originate in sordid motives, since I sent the money to Shelley, who I presume forwarded it to you.  & I hope it has answer’d all your purposes. - As I now find that you are aware of my being dissatisfied, the same motives to silence no longer exist. - & I shall tell you my ground of complaint with the utmost frankness, first  assuring you that it has no reference whatever to any thing that appeard in the Examiner; (as has been suggested I believe.) - Indeed “I had no such stuff in my thoughts;” - I am very sure you would make no allusion to me except in a sportive or friendly way. & in fact I never noticed any thing of the kind.- But I was hurt, shall I say offended, at your conduct about my Manuscript. You must remember the circumstances under which you undertook its revisions; -- the distinct & repeated enqueries I made whether you were free from other literary engagements, & whether you would engage to return it by a given time, begging you to consider & state explicitly your ability upon this latter point,