Z1118/1/23/4

Letter from Bernard Barton in Woodbridge [Suffolk] to George Procter at 101 Fleet Street, London I should not have troubled thee with my reply to thine with which I am favoured this morning, had not one expression in it a little alarmed me, viz that Mr.Joshua Procter may not like puffing! Do pray give me credit for better feelings and motives in the whole of our humorous negociation than a disposition to offer my services as a Puffer; the simple facts are - I am a Snuff-taker, "con amore" - or in plain English for the pure love of it; and having found it a vastly pleasant practice, wish to give it now and then in a playful way, a good word: so far as time, opportunity, and the intermission of more serious subjects may allow me. In doing this I have no idea, however, of making further reference to your repository than just to notify its existence, or as affording "a local habitation and a name" to the Lovers of my own favourite stimulant. I would not, even anonymously, be a rhyming puffer as to goodness of article, or cheapness of price etc. etc. such things "like the proof of the pudding, are found in the spending". I merely proposed in the parody sent, as well as in my future "jeu d'esprit" of what sort sort [sic] soever, to sing the praise of what I like, telling others simply where they may get it, if they choose. If Mr.J.P. however be averse to the thing in toto, or think a volume or two of verse, with a Snuff Lyric or two into the bargain dearly bought by one of his boxes or wish from any imaginable cause to decline the courtesy of a friendly interchange of our respective wares have the kindness just to drop me a line on his return home - and neither his modesty nor his property shall be in the slightest degree encroached on. My object was merely to have a pleasant joke which might cost none of us much, and might afford each of us some harmless amusement; but certainly not to give offence and least of all to offer a needless puff, to well known and respectable Tradesmen [The use of the word puff here may be covered by two definitions in Oxford English Dictionary: "to speak or behave scornfully or insolently, to swagger. Puff at, to express contempt of, to defy scornfully, to pooh-pooh" or "to praise, extol or commend in inflated or extravagant terms, usually from interested motives; especially to advertise with exaggerated or falsified praise"]

2 Aug 1822

From: 1822 To: 1822

item

Barton, Bernard,
Procter, George,
Procter, Joshua

snuff taking, poems, words