Your Grace,
I write in haste, the matter being sufficiently urgent that I do not trust it to the ordinary post.
My enquiries have established the reason nothing appeared in print upon the Friday named in Mr Rowland’s threat. It would be unsafe to conclude from that silence that he abandoned his purpose.
Fair copies have been made of Lady G.’s correspondence.
The originals remain in Rowland’s possession, but copies have been offered, through an intermediary, to a printer in London.
The proposal is not for a paragraph or anonymous notice, but for the correspondence at greater length, with the lady’s identity made plain.
I have further reason to believe that publication has been connected to the maturity of Lord Merrow’s principal note against Rowland. By my present reckoning, that obligation falls due within the fortnight.
I cannot yet say whether the printer has accepted the arrangement upon final terms, nor whether type has been set. My information is that negotiations have advanced sufficiently far that delay would be unwise.
This may also explain Mr Rowland’s removal into Berkshire. If Lord Merrow has made relief from the debt conditional upon success against Your Grace’s household, Rowland now has considerably less freedom than his earlier conduct suggested.
I am continuing my enquiries into the printer and intermediary. I advise against approaching either gentleman until I can establish how far the publication has advanced.
I await Your Grace’s instruction.
Your obedient servant,
J. Sowerby