Holograph, signed.

Date range based on mention of "Somerset House" in text of letter, possibly "Somerset house gazette and literary museum, or, Weekly miscellany of fine arts, antiquities, and literary chit chat", published in London from 1823-1824.

First paragraph refers to a review of "Lanman" in that day's Gazette stating that it is his "impartial opinion of his talent" and offers his opinion that Lanman's new work will be popular. Second paragraph makes an urgent request for recipient to send "the matter for the back-page" mentioning a need for early publication for the railway trains, and includes the statement: "We had this day to get a hundred additional stamps from Somerset House, & keep a stop-press all the afternoon".

William Jerdan was the founding editor of "The Literary Gazette" (1817-1850), a periodical published in London by Henry Colburn from 1817-1862. Cf. Graham, Walter. English literary periodicals, 1930.

Recipient of letter is unknown.

With some foxing and staining on edges and along fold.