Foscolo · Lettera n. 4010

Referring to Lady Margaret's interest in Italian literature and mentioning that he is enclosing information about a series of lectures proposed by Ugo Foscolo; describing Foscolo as "a man of a strong original mind"; saying that he wishes he could be in the audience if the lectures go forward, but he will probably have to content himself with reading them; describing Foscolo's background and the seizure of his property when Austria took possession of Venice: "he applied what he could rescue from the wreck, to the purchase of leasehold property in England, on which he built two houses; & he now finds that from something in our laws about aliens, the title is insecure"; saying that this financial instability almost drove Foscolo to desperation, when the lectures were proposed as "an honorable mode of relieving him from his present distress"; urging Lady Margaret to use all her influence to assist Foscolo: "I am sure you will feel for the situation of a man of no common talents, of a high & independent character, thus doomed to poverty by no fault of his own"; saying that he is not personally acquainted with Foscolo but he has been corresponding through a third party with him about his essay on Latin and Greek pronunciation; adding that Foscolo reviewed his manuscript and made corrections and comments on it: "it is a great satisfaction to me to find that he approves of it, & that his principles of pronunciation, to which he has given great attention, agree with mine. I felt myself under obligations to him for all the trouble he had taken & for the interest he expressed in my work; & was glad of this opportunity of acknowledging it by adding my name to the list of subscribers"; mentioning wishing that he had Wordsworth's opinion of his work, because of the latter's "knowledge of the ancient languages, his acuteness & general habits of criticism"; inviting both Beaumonts back to Foxley.

• New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, MA 1581.167
  Originale, manoscritto autografo.
  Fogli sciolti, mm 230 x 187.
  Segni di piegatura.