Page:Life of Edmond Malone.djvu/277

Rh A humble and once useful visitor from the country found a ready reception from his hospitality. This was “good Mr. Jordan” of Stratford, who in many notes and messages of kindness sent thither, was not forgotten. In 1797 Malone directs one of his inmates, being too busy himself on the works of Reynolds, to send Jordan a print of himself and of Lord Southampton. Another honour appears likewise to have been in store for him—for it is added, “Mr. Harding has not yet engraved your portrait. When he has, I will endeavour to fulfil your request.”

Two years afterward (July 1799) Jordan found his way to London. Thence he describes to Mr. Peyton, one of the assistants in the hunt after Shakspearian affairs, his reception by the critic, whose kindness gratified, while his skill in working out ancient materials for his purpose appears to have puzzled him.

According to promise before I left Stratford, I write this to inform you that I breakfasted, dined, drank tea, and supped at Mr. Malone’s last Thursday; and am happy to inform you that I was treated in the most respectable and genteel manner by that truly great, good, and honourable gentleman, who very politely acknowledged the receipt of my letter from Stratford; and made a very satisfactory apology for not returning me an answer while I was at Stratford, by both assuring and showing me that his time is wholly employed in the publication of the works of Dryden.

He has postponed the life and works of our immortal poet till the others are published, but he has not declined or given it up, as he convinced me by showing me the manuscript copy of the Genealogy of the Shakspeare Family, in which he has already proved to a demonstration that they resided at Rowington at a very early period. By what means he pro-