John Murray to Walter Scott, on reception of Tales of My Landlord, 14 December 1816:
'Lord Holland said, when I asked his opinion: "Opinion? we did not one of us go to bed all
night, and nothing slept but my gout." Frere, Hallam, and Boswell; Lord Glenbervie came to
me with tears in his eyes. "It is a cordial," he said, "which has saved Lady Glenbervie's life."
Heber, who found it on his table on his arrival from a journey, had not rest till he had read it.
He has only this moment left me, and he, with many others, agrees that it surpasses all the
other novels. Wm. Lamb also; Gifford never read anything like it, he says; and his estimation
of it absolutely increases at each recollection of it. Barrow with great difficulty was forced to
read it; and he said yesterday, "Very good to be sure, but what powerful writing is
[italics]thrown away[end italics]."'
'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Lord Holland and family Print: Book
