Autograph Letter Signed to "Dr [John?] Bowring". 5 Millman Street, London.

Author (see DNB). Six pages, 4to, with hole and chip causing small loss of text, some staining, pahes attached at margin, obscuring a word or two, text clear. Profuse thanks for his "kind letter from the canal" and a later note and present. He enjoyed his short visit, regretting the loss of a day when he attended "the wrangling of a dull county meeting". More on his enjoyment of his company, and hope that he'll fulfil his promise to visit again. He goes on: "A change . . . in my plans may yet however bring me into contact with you - I now see the absolute necessity of moving to Edin[burgh] - with my family, - and there I think you said your occasions were likely to lead you pretty frequently . . ." He has not seen [Edw?] since his return but has received a letter mentioning Bowring. "My Flood performance [his best-known work, "Account of the Moray Floods of 1829" (1830)] is about to be launched. It has been delayed and may be yet delayed some time longer by thed execution of the etching - It is somewhat provoking that they have particularly [underlined] bungled the two views of Relugas. - Whether they may yet succeed in mending . . ." He's asked MR Black [publisher] to send Bowring a copy. "I wish for your sake, that it were an Epic Poem as big as a Dutch cheese, so that it might make up in magnitude for what it may lack in merit. / I found it necessary to [note?] in the appendix a trivial error in our friend Sir Walter Scotts History - I sent him the article before printing & the letter I have had from him is another proof, if any were wanting, of his candour modesty & urbanity." He writes of his daughter who has written a story which he will send. He mentions the frank he is sending the letter under. As a postscript he says "Pray put my name down for the Songs of [Scandinavia?]- perhaps meaning Poetry of the Magyars, preceded by a sketch of the language and literature of Hungary and Transylvania / [by] Bowring, John, Sir, LL.D . 1830]. Two different hands have noted the writer's name, etc. on the address page. (DNB: "In 1832 Lauder removed to his mansion of the Grange, near Edinburgh."