Autograph Letter Signed ('Sydney Smith') from Rev. Sydney Smith to the future Lord Chancellor Henry Brougham, regarding his ambitions and 'objects in the Church'. With annotations by Brougham.

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. A thin strip has been torn from the head of the first leaf, resulting in loss to two lines of text, otherwise in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. A significant letter, in which Smith discusses his ambitions with a close and influential friend, and former colleague on the 'Edinburgh Review'. Brougham quotes - not entirely accurately - from the letter in his memoirs, and dates it to 1831, which cannot be correct, as Smith's entry in the Oxford DNB explains: 'In 1823 [the Earl of] Carlisle used his influence to persuade the duke of Devonshire to present Sydney to the living of Londesborough, worth the large sum of £800 a year. Before entering the benefice Smith signed a resignation bond, under which he agreed to vacate nine years later in favour of the duke's nephew, W. G. Howard, who would then be of canonical age. [...] In March 1829 Smith exchanged Foston for Combe Florey, 7 miles from Taunton, and the next month he gave up Londesborough.' The present item begins: 'My dear Brougham, | I hold a Living for Lord Carlisles Son which will be surrendered in five years. I want another instead of this, & as good, about 700£ p Ann Clear - and I want a prebend of about a Thousand per Ann - the first I hope I shall have from the Chancellor - the latter I want to have from the Ministers - but see little prospect of it - These are my objects in the Church - these points obtained I give Fortune a receipt in full of all demands - and think I shall have obtained fully as much as I merit, - and more than before this latter period I ever expected.' As 'Nature, Time, & Chance' have made Brougham 'oneof the greatest men in the country', it will be 'very much in your power from time to time to forward' Smith's ' Views'. He appeals to Brougham's sense of 'Justice in consideration of the bold & honest part' Smith has 'acted in the Church - and next to your kindness from our long acquaintance and friendship to lend me your assistance at convenient Seasons and to aid me with your Voice, and just authority'. In conclusion Smith states his belief that 'it would be as serviceable to the liberal cause to do a little for me - as it would be at present injurious to it to do more'. Arthur Aspinall, in his book 'Lord Brougham and the Whig Party' (1939), states that Brougham's handwriting is 'very difficult to decipher', and Brougham's docketting of the present item, running to around forty words, is evidence of that fact. Brougham's quotations from the letter are reproduced in both Hesketh Pearson's biography and Nowell Smith's edition of Smith's correspondence, but no accurate and full transcription of the letter has yet appeared.