“In another sheet, I send you some sheets of a grammar, English and Armenian, for the use of the Armenians, of which I promoted, and indeed induced, the publication. (It cost me but a thousand francs—­French livres.) I still pursue my lessons in the language without any rapid progress, but advancing a little daily.  Padre Paschal, with some little help from me, as translator of his Italian into English, is also proceeding in a MS. Grammar for the English acquisition of Armenian, which will be printed also, when finished.

“We want to know if there are any Armenian types and letter-press in England, at Oxford, Cambridge, or elsewhere?  You know, I suppose, that, many years ago, the two Whistons published in England an original text of a history of Armenia, with their own Latin translation?  Do those types still exist? and where?  Pray enquire among your learned acquaintance.

“When this Grammar (I mean the one now printing) is done, will you have any objection to take forty or fifty copies, which will not cost in all above five or ten guineas, and try the curiosity of the learned with a sale of them?  Say yes or no, as you like.  I can assure you that they have some very curious books and MSS., chiefly translations from Greek originals now lost.  They are, besides, a much respected and learned community, and the study of their language was taken up with great ardour by some literary Frenchmen in Buonaparte’s time.

“I have not done a stitch of poetry since I left Switzerland, and have not, at present, the estro upon me.  The truth is, that you are afraid of having a fourth Canto before September, and of another copyright, but I have at present no thoughts of resuming that poem, nor of beginning any other.  If I write, I think of trying prose, but I dread introducing living people, or applications which might be made to living people.  Perhaps one day or other I may attempt some work of fancy in prose, descriptive of Italian manners and of human passions; but at present I am preoccupied.  As for poesy, mine is the dream of the sleeping passions; when they are awake, I cannot speak their language, only in their somnambulism, and just now they are not dormant.

     “If Mr. Gifford wants carte blanche as to The Siege of Corinth,
     he has it, and may do as he likes with it.

“I sent you a letter contradictory of the Cheapside man (who invented the story you speak of) the other day.  My best respects to Mr. Gifford, and such of my friends as you may see at your house.  I wish you all prosperity and new year’s gratulation, and am

     “Yours,” &c.

* * * * *

To the Armenian Grammar, mentioned in the foregoing letter, the following interesting fragment, found among his papers, seems to have been intended as a Preface:—­