ABSTRACT
Botley, Monday, 12. Augt. 1805. Sir,
Before this reaches you, you will have seen, that I have published some reections upon the subject of boxing. An article from you would come in well now; and, of course, it need not be sent to me; but, just given to Wright,1 who will copy it for the printers; and he shall have my directions to leave out any part of my other matter in order to insure its insertion.—I am anxious to know how long you will be in town for this time; because we catch here some of the nest sh in the world; and Mrs. Cobbett as well as myself are very desirous that you should taste them. We can send by the Southampton night coach, and you will have, for dinner, the sh caught the evening before.—e sh are called Salmon Peel; that is to say, young salmon, from 1 to 4 pounds in weight, and the most delicious sh, the eaters say, in the world.—So stupid am I in all these matters, that I never thought of sending any to you, till being, on Saturday, invited to dine at Eling, on the other side of Southampton, at the parsonage house, there to meet Mr. O’Brien2 and Dr. Parr,3 and taking some of the sh with us, in order to convince O’Brien that I caught salmon at the foot of my garden, I, to my utter astonishment, saw the sh packed up, and sent o to Southampton, hence to go to St. Ann’s Hill, as a present, from our host, worthy of the acceptance of Mr. Fox!—With a net that Wright, amongst other marks of his attention, was so good as to send me, I catch the sh at the bottom of my (for I venture to call it mine, & trust it will be so next year at this time) garden, and at about 50 yards from my door, in a river just about as wide as your parlour! We seldom put in the net without success; and sometimes with very great success. I care very little about sh; but, I shall be very glad to send some that Mrs. W. may think
worthy of her acceptance.—Shall I hope for a line from you by return of post? Just a line to say whether you will be in London for some days longer, or not? If you were at Beaconseld they would reach you fresh, by my instructing Wright to send them from London.—I need not say how much I am obliged by, and how sensibly I feel the honour of, the letters you have had the goodness to write me; and, I can only add, that I shall ever regard, as amongst the most fortunate moments of my life, that in which commenced the attachment with which I remain, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
Wm. Cobbett.
