Warrener1 that is din'd at Kingston's. I shall be in town in about a fortnight and then we will have a day or so now and then before I set out on my northern expedition--we will have no more abominable Rows--for they leave one is 〈for in〉 a fearful silence having settled the Methodists let us be rational--not upon compulsion--no if it will out let it--but I will not play the Basson any more delibe〈r〉ately2 --Remember me to Hazlitt, and Bewick3--
Your affectionate friend
John Keats--
Address: J H Reynolds Esq ∣ Little Brittain ∣ Christs Hospital London.
Postmark: not recorded.
Thy Morng
My Dear Reynolds,
Since you all agree that the thing4 is bad, it must be so--though I am not aware there is anything like Hunt in it, (and if there is, it is my natural way, and I have something in common with Hunt) look it over again and examine into the motives, the seeds from which any one sentence sprung--I have not the slightest feel of humility towards the Public--or to anything in existence,--but the eternal Being, the Principle of Beauty, and the Memory of great Men--When I am writing for myself for the mere sake of the Moment's enjoyment, perhaps nature has its course with me--but a Preface is written to the Public; a thing I cannot help looking upon as an Enemy, and which I cannot address without feelings of Hostility--If I write a Preface in a supple or subdued style, it will not be in character with me as a public speaker--I wod be subdued be
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