ID: 1008 [see the .xml file]
Identifier: NLW 5500C, no. 8
Editors: Transcribed by Ffion Mair Jones; edited by Ffion Mair Jones; encoded by Vivien Williams. (2019)
Cite: 'Thomas Pennant to Richard Bull 8 September 1780' transcribed by Ffion Mair Jones; edited by Ffion Mair Jones; encoded by Vivien Williams. (2019) in Curious Travellers Digital Editions [editions.curioustravellers.ac.uk/doc/1008]

Dear Sir

I sent for Ingleby on the receit [sic] of your favor. he assures me that yr Book1 shall be finished by the day you wish. If no public calamity happens, I hope to put my second & last part of the welsh tour2 in the press in october. a copy on large paper will beg yr acceptance.3 I mean that two on that size shall be sent as every six sheets are worked off: & Ingleby if you desire, shall instantly copy all the marginal eaditions [sic], Moses puts on my copy.

In respect to Robson he was very faulty in not seeing the catch word V. at the bottom of the p. in my swiss views;4 but I hope he will be honest enough to do me justice & that I shall not suffer for his neglect. I had heard many complaints since Faulder left him of having only raw lads in his shops, which will certainly injure him. As I have sent the book back, I shall be extremely obliged to you for watching the arrival of the second part of the description. It must now be new bound in two. viz. the plates in one & description in the other. If you give yourself the trouble of calling at Robsons next week you will see what a fine book it was. I admire it much for the great fidelity of the views in all parts of Swisserland which I visited.

I am most extremely sensible of your friendship but will not trespass on it too far. I may perhaps trouble you once more about the binding of the book5 which has plagued me so much.

I remain
with true regard
Dear Sir
your obliged & most
obedt Servt

Tho. Pennant


Editorial notes

1. This appears to refer to Bull's copy of Pennant's A tour in Wales 1770 [1773] (1778). See discussion in 1007.
2. The Journey to Snowdon (1781) was not in fact the final volume of Pennant's Welsh tours.
3. Bull's large paper copy of The Journey to Snowdon (1781) has not been located. For Pennant's, see here [external link].
4. There is no trace of a publication directly on Switzerland by Pennant and no manuscript compilation has been identified either. The 'swiss views' discussed here is clearly a printed work (vide Robson's involvement and the reference to 'the letter press of the swiss views' in 1009). Pennant may be referring to a personal copy of a work by another, clearly with a strong visual element. The evidence of two drawings labelled in pencil as the work of 'T Pennant' and which appear to be related to the latter's travels in Switzerland should also be considered. The drawings in question are included in Pennant's extra-illustrated manuscript copy of his Literary life (NLW 12706E). One of them is a print and it seems possible that it formed part of a publication on Switzerland by Pennant himself. As a gentleman, Pennant would have been wary of circulating his own drawings in print, and this may account for the disappearance of this publication from public view and from the public record.
5. Referring once again to 'swiss views'.

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