George Dyer at Overbury, near Tewkesbury, to [Messrs Vernor and Hood], 24 September 1806.

Dr Sir,

   In reply to yours, I beg leave to send you, that, when you proposed to me to be the Editor of your Museum, I informed you that my engagement would sometimes call me out of town, – and that you make no objection on that account: on the contrary, you said, the proof sheets could in the interim be overlooked by yourself, or some other person connected with you. Indeed, I could have easily myself applied to a friend in town, who would have very readily attended to them in my absence. But in the present instance I saw no necessity for your trouble to any one. I attentively looked over and arranged the papers before I let town, and I do not see that the press could have stopped a single day; for the printer would have regularly received the ^proof^ sheet by return of post, and free of all expence. I must add, that I could have overlooked the proof-sheets to greater advantage here; because our Ladies here would have overlooked them after me; and as I am extremely near-sighted, two or three good pair of eyes would have been much better than one, and that a very bad pair.

   But I should be extremely unwilling to undertake a book, which should require me to be always resident in London, and very sorry that any thin should happen, thro’ my engagements, which you should think inconsistent with your interest: should therefore, my engagements and this work clash I had better give up the latter. But I shall be in town in a few days; and then we will talk over the matter.

   I remain, dr Sir,

         With every good wish

                     Respectfully yrs

                                 George Dyer

Overbury near Tewkesbury.

Sept. 24, 1806.

Text: MS. Montagu d. 4, fol. 196, Bodleian Library, Oxford.. More comments about his role as editor of the Museum.