Kaaterskill Books

Literary Politics in 1820s London: The Kiss Off

[Byron's Circle]. Hodgson, Francis.

[Autograph Letter Signed] Francis Hodgson Regrets to Decline Robert Balmanno's Offer.

Bakewell, [England]: 1827. [2] pp. Bifolium. Integral address with seal. 7.5 x 9 inches. Very good, few tears along edges and folds, chip on blan from opening seal. Item #44113

Francis Hodgson (1781-1852), a writer, cleric, educator, and close friend of Lord Byron, wrote back to Robert Balmanno, gently turning down his request that Hodgson contribute to his literary periodical. While we don't have Balmanno's letter we can assume that he referenced Hodgson's recent publication in Alaric A. Watts' journal [Literary Souvenir] (Watts' letters appear in James Thomas Hodgson: Memoir of the Rev. Francis Hodgson, B. D., scholar, poet, and divine. London: Macmillan, 1878. Vol. II, p. 169-70), given Hodgson's reply:

"I beg leave to express my regret for the circumstance you mention as suggesting your present undertaking, and also sincerely to wish your success in that attempt. But I am grieved to add that it is out of my power, with any comfort or consistency, to lend you the assistance you do me the honor of requesting. The fact is, it was neither my intention, nor wish to come forward as a contributor to any of the Periodical works now publishing; but particular circumstances continue to render it difficult for me to decline the assistance requested by Mr. Alaric Watts. To do anything further in this way would quite break upon my plans & expose me not only to solicitations, but to imputations which I assure you would be imperious as well as unpleasant."

Balmanno's letter seems to have rubbed Hodgson the wrong way in other respects, since his response seems to imply that Balmanno was referencing a connection to both Hodgson's parishioners as well as having other important connections: "However, with the powerful help you intimate for both departments, of your work, it will be of little consequence whether you have aid comparatively so unimportant."

Robert Balmanno (1780-1861) was an author and collector of engravings and autographs. He was editor of the London Literary Gazette before moving to New York where he founded the New York Shakespeare Society.

Letters of Hodgson are quite uncommon on the market. ( Byron's letters to him fetched over a quarter of a million pounds in 2009).

Price: $250.00