William Hone to John Raithby, 21 February 1826 An Electronic Edition William Hone Kyle Grimes

For publication in the Hone Correspondence section of the William Hone BioText, http://honearchive.org. The letter is published under a Creative Commons license, details of which are accessible from the BioText homepage.

Transcribed from the original in the British Library, Add. MS 40120, ff. 210-11.
William Hone to John Raithby, 21 February 1824.British Library, Add. MS 40120, ff. 210-11. [return] — -TEI-
45 Ludgate hill
21 Feb. 1824 Sir,

Your letter dated the 14th, acknowledging the receipt of my pamphlet and its accompanying note,The recipient of this letter (and apparently of an earlier letter as well), was one of the friends of Hone's brother Joseph who had circulated an open letter of support. Joseph Hone's legal practice had dwindled as a result of his association with the now notorious William Hone. It was in response to the publication of this open letter that Hone wrote and published his Aspersions Answered (1824). The open letter—dated 18 August, 1823 and signed by Raithby, James Stephen, and J. H. Koe—is reprinted in Hone's pamphlet, pp. 5-7. [return] not having been delivered here til the Evening of the 18th, in my absence from home, I have only this moment received it.

In doing me the honour to offer me your thanks for the civility, you remark that I did not explain the motive that induced me to tender it. From this I perceive that I was mistaken in presuming, as I did presume, that my motive was apparent, and if I do not misconceive the purport of your remark I comply with your inclination by stating it.

As the tract contains a copy of the circular letter in my brother's behalf, signed by you in conjuction with Mr. Stephen and Mr. Koe, accompanied by representations of my own arising from the mention of my name in that address, I judged it courteous to forward copies to you and each of those gentlemen, as my brother's friends, in order that you might respectively be acquainted with the contents of the pamphlet before it was issued to the public. This was the only motive by which I was influenced, and I have no other feeling or purpose than the pamphlet expresses.

You will be pleased, Sir, to accept my thanks for the politeness of your note, and perhaps on my brother's account you will excuse me for troubling you in his behalf. When he took leave of me on his departure he mentioned his anxiety to possess a copy of the Statutes of the Admiralty and acquainted me that he had a note from you in furtherance of his wish, of which, under the pressure of time and circumstance, he could not avail himself. He requested that I would do all in my power to procure the book. I have endeavored for it in every likely way except by application at the Admiralty. He had no expectation that I would apply to you on the subject, nor would I have taken the liberty, but as you wished to assist him in procuring the volume, I avail myself of this opportunity to say, that I am sure he will be highly gratified if you should lay him under the obligation of enabling me to send it out to him.

I have the honor to be Sir Your most humble and very obedient Servant W Hone

John Raithby Esq.