William Hone to "Grayson," 1833 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 British Library, Add. MS 40120, f. 384

 Coded in TEI from Word copy made at BL
William Hone to Grayson, 1833[?]. British Library, Add. MS 40120, f. 384. This is the last sheet of a longer letter, but the previous sheet(s) are missing from the archive. The fragment is particularly interesting for the contrast Hone develops between two influential preachers: Edward Irving (1792-1834) to whom Hone became increasingly attracted in the late 1820s, and the celebrated Baptist cleric Robert Hall (1764-1831). [return] — -TEI-

... Robert Hall his master – nor do I disparage Robert Hall by thinking Mr Irving a more useful minister. They are both stars. Mr Irving is nearer to the multitude – Mr Hall is the morning planet cheering the early risers from his distant orbit, coming with the day spring – and fading before the hum of the busy world begins. Irving’s mind is for the bustlers [torn, one word], the revellers of the eleventh hour, who perchance may be brought within his voice, and, being within it, be arrested and stayed on their way from the final consummation of barren joys. But I should be wearying you & myself if I were to gossip on in this way, and as my wife calls, I bid you good night and pray God to bless you, and me, and ours, and all mankind.

I am, Dear Grayson, Sincerely Yours W Hone