Thomas Gray to John Chute (<hi rend="it">c.</hi> 6 October 1746) Alexander Huber Editor Thomas Gray Archive
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 UK Sherborne St John The Vyne Chute of The Vyne, Sherborne St John

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 Correspondence of Thomas Gray, 3 vols. Ed. by the late Paget Toynbee and Leonard Whibley, with corrections and additions by H. W. Starr. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971 [1st ed. 1935], letter no. 122, vol. i, 245-247 http://www.e-enlightenment.com/search/letters/print/?printref_sourceedition=graythOU0084&printref_docnumber=122 The Letters of Thomas Gray, including the correspondence of Gray and Mason, 3 vols. Ed. by Duncan C. Tovey. London: George Bell and Sons, 1900-12, letter no. LXVIII, vol. i, 144-145 https://www.thomasgray.org/texts/diglib/primary/ToD_1900i/1/144 The Works of Thomas Gray, 5 vols. Ed. by John Mitford. London: W. Pickering, 1835-1843, section IV, letter XI, vol. iii, 19-20 https://www.thomasgray.org/texts/diglib/primary/MiJ_1843iii/1/19 Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771 London, United Kingdom Chute, John, 1701-1776 Fareham, United Kingdom

Julian

 English Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797

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This letter is part of the correspondence calendar of the complete correspondence of Thomas Gray. The calendar contains detailed bibliographic records for all known original, copied, or published letters written by or to the poet as well as the full-text, where available. Each record is accompanied by digitised images of the manuscript, where available, or digitised images of the first printed edition.

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To John Chute Esq at Mr Whithed's of Southwick near Fareham in Hampshire

My God! Mr Chute in England? what & have you seen him? and did he say nothing to you? not a Word of me! such was my Conversation, when I first heard News so surprising, with a Person, that (when I reflect) it is indeed no great Wonder You did not much interrogate concerning me, as you knew nothing of what has past of late.

But let me ask you yourself, have a few Years totally erased me from your Memory? You are generous enough perhaps to forget all the Obligations I have to you, but is it Generosity to forget the Person you have obliged too? while I remember myself, I can not but remember you; & consequently can not but wonder, when I find no where one Line, one Syllable, to tell me you are arrived. I will venture to say, there is no body in England however nearly connected with you, that has seen you with more real Joy & Affection than I shall. You are, it seems, gone into the Country whither (had I any Reason to think you wish'd to see me) I should immediately have follow'd you: as it is, I am returning to Cambridge; but with Intention to come back to Town again, whenever you do; if you will let me know the Time, & Place.

I readily set Mr Wh:d free from all Imputations. he is a fine young Personage in a Coat all over Spangles just come over from the Tour of Europe to take Possession, & be married: & consequently can't be supposed to think of any Thing, or remember any body. but You —! however I don't altogether clear him. he might have said something to one, who remembers him when he was but a Pout. nevertheless I desire my hearty Gratulations to him, & say I wish him more Spangles, & more Estates, & more Wives.

Adieu! my dear Sr, I am ever Yours T GRAY. London–Oct: .. To T:G: of Peterhouse, Cambridge.

P:S: My Compliments to Mrs Chute (who once did me the Honour to write to me) & say, I give her Joy very sincerely of your Return.