Yes! Dear "Sir," is not the thing between us. plain "Place" is too much like "plain Place" himself, to be the language of William Hone, who is not less plain but a little more modish, and so it is to be as it stands at the top — thus I hump over the awkwardness I feel and always have felt, in answering any one of your notes. I must do things in my own way, and one of my ways is to be in some things like other people, and this is one of them. I dare to say that I am, on a few points, as prominently out of the way as you are in the commencement of a letter — and between us (you know its a secret to every body else) we are two queer fellows. However, this I do know that as regards myself, and joking aside, that if I cannot do a thing in my own way I never can do it at all. I do not aim to do things differently from other people, and yet they are different, and I sometimes think that I differ myself from others' selfs — that I am, as Sir F. Burdett said of the speaker's warrant, "a thing sui generis." I never metaphisicized about myself, to inquire how all this is, or why it is — the "causation" I have never tried to trace, and I think it quite likely that I shall die without having informed myself upon a point which others may be quite acquainted with — you, for instance, & in particular.

All this comes of not being able to get over plain "Place"—and I think I hear him saying "Why what is the fool about? did you ever hear such a fool? He's drunk!" "No, I am not drunk!" "Why then you are a great a fool as you were!" "Very likely" "Why, I say, what the L's the matter with you?" "Oh I'm only a little merry, or so." "So! go and sew below along with Frank's men—you're drunk!" I tell you what Mr. Place I've had nothing but broth, and gruel, and slops, since last Sunday fortnight, when I became "possessed" by the Cholera-morbus and notwithstanding all the exorcisms of the ministering apothecary he remained in me for fourteen days. As soon as I found myself incapable of moving, I "set to" upon "Another Article for the Quarterly," and I got that out as soon as I did my tormentor, whereupon I "disport me" before going to bed tonight; and I don't know why a man may not as well laugh upon paper, as in another man's face. I have been all that time shut up in my bedroom, without seeing one strange face (not even my own in a looking glass) except that worthy fellow John Evans's (of Tooks Court) and tomorrow I crawl down to meal with my family, in prospect of which I give you my last word—Good Night!

"Well, well" says Place "but you're not off without telling me what you've got to say." "Oh, aye! true!"

Turn over

I have sent Mr. MillJames Mill, the editor of the . See the letter, likely intended for Mill, dated 4 October, 1824. [return] a copy of the "Aspersions Answered," which I think I did not send him before, and "Another Article." You will see from the bulk & price of the latter tract, that, though it was "made to sell," it was not published to get money by—in fact I shall lose by it. I cannot afford to advertize it, as I used to advertize pamphlets by the sale of which I profited and I need the aid of the press mightily. I imagine it is the greatest blow, in the shape of a separate publication, that the has had. I do not know that I have made it clear to others, and therefore I assure you of the fact, that I have not in the slightest degree misrepresented the reviewer. There is not a trick or feint in any one instance. It is all heavy, hard, fair, stand-up fighting on my part. (Turn to the last Hone refers Place to the review of that had appeared in the (1824, vol. 30, pp. 373-81). [return] & you'll see I've not missed one of his points.) It will therefore be no discredit to the to lend its aid. The pamphlet furnishes materials for a thorough exposure of the rascally methods by which the catches and macerates victims who have not courage to defend themselves by re-reviewing the Arch Enemy's articles. Do oblige me & further the interests of Truth and Justice by getting our friend Black to do his best at it. I am too ill to get out. I sent him one on Monday afternoon. I thank you sincerely for your intimation of "satisfaction" —