Letter from W H [William Henry] Smyth, St John's Lodge, near Aylesbury, to Sir John [Frederick William Herschel] He delayed replying to Herschel's kind gift of Book 2 of 'The Iliad' until he had read it. The hexameters suit the stern Homeric times much better than 'the pseudo-epic'. He thanks Hreschel and craves more. Smyth has been ill and confined to home, but able to work. Mrs Smyth sends compliments to the ladies. 12 May 1863