Editor’s Notepg 352Editor’s Note1257To William Baldwin13 January 1797 (Aet 48)

Sir

Understanding /I understand/ myself to possess by favour of Mr Colquhoun, for a General license to /trouble/address myself to/ wait upon you on the subject of the Convict business, I look forward to a period at which that honour may be as useful as it is flattering to me. But as that period (though I hope not far distant) is not yet arrived, and as every moment I can command is occupied at present by a pursuit which will admitt of no adjournment, I mean the thorough discussion of the Poor Bill, I may not perhaps seek to avail myself of the indulgence, till some specific occasion /happens to/ presents itself on my part unless in the mean time you on your part should have any commands for me in relation to that or any other subject, in which event I should have great pleasure in attending you at your office or elsewhere at any time you will have the goodness to name.

Mean time I take the opportunity of begging the honour of your acceptance for a copy of an published work on the Penitentiary business for the present, untill a copy in a more commodious state shall have been returned from the Binders.

In regard to the construction of the building the details have in good measure been superseded by more recent amendments.

What concerns the article of management may be considered as unchanged.²