ADDISON ON THE TATLER JUST OVER A MONTH AFTER ITS FIRST PUBLICATION

ADDISON (JOSEPH, 1672-1719, essayist, poet and statesman) FINE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ('J Addison'), to the youthful Lord [Warwick], expressing pleasure with The Tatler soon after the first number was published in London [12 April 1709] ('...We are here very much pleased with a paper called the Tatler, and I should be very glad to hear your Lordship's opinion of it...'); he also thanks Lord Warwick for his letter and solicits further communications 'as often as Your time will permitt: which will be some amends for the Losse of your Dear Company...'), reports the death by apoplexy of the Usher of the Black Rod in Dublin and the appointment of Mr Pagett in his place; states that he 'can not but have a particular friendship for him because he Loves Your Lordship' and that he has 'the satisfaction to have contributed not a little to both his late Advancements'; asks what 'pretty story' Warwick has last read in Ovid and whether he has begun 'to compose Themes yet', recalling that he had 'discovered an Early Talent for English Verse' and adding that if he sends him any of his compositions he will send back 'the Best that this Country produces'; he ends by stating his willingness to fulfil any commissions that the young Lord might like to give him in Ireland and sends his respects to Lady Warwick and his service to Mr Pountney and Mrs Bunny, 2 pages, quarto, integral blank, one or two unobtrusive brown spots, Dublin Castle, 19 May 1709

Addison had entered into a friendly relationship with the household of the widowed Countess of Warwick in 1708, taking a particular interest in the education of the young Earl, then aged fourteen - in 1716 Addison married the young Countess and Warwick became his stepson. In December 1708 Addison was appointed Secretary of the Irish government, hence his writing from Dublin. The present letter is partly quoted by Peter Smithers, The Life of Joseph Addison, 1968, pp. 159-160. John Pountney was the young Earl's tutor.

£2,500