To Edward Fergus Graham, May 29, 1810

                                                                                                                Eton College 

                                                                                                                                May 29, 1810

My Dear Graham 

    Another letter from Merle and with a high flyer, perhaps you have not lately seen. It takes up an entire sheet in his small writing. Will he not leave me alone? I shall write to him to-day. No I shall not write to hi at all. I shall leave him entirely to his own ideas. 

    He talks about his "proud youth disdaining" and it is altogether so mysterious and unintelligible an epistle, that not knowing how the devil to answer it I shall leave it quite alone. 

    It says he wishes to conceal his sorrows and his guilt. May I ask you, Graham, out of curiosity, what he means by either? in short I am resolved to have no more to do with him, not even for drawing utensils, as I fear the man has some deep scheme. Where does he come from, and who is he?  

    Will you write to Mary under cover to Miss Pigeon, Clapham Common, Surrey, where I wish you to send the books, also for Mary. They are all very well, and would be delighted at a letter from you. 

My mother has had a violent bilious fever; she is now getting much better. 

    I had a letter from Harriet this morning in which she tells me the crayons will do very well. Will you pay Merle the 11s., for I believe he is a liberal fellow; but I have seen too much of the world not to suspect his motives. 

                                                                                              Your most affectionate, 

                                                                                                        P.B. Shelley.

    Will you come on the 4th? How is my father? 

    In the name of the most merciful God - "Arabian Nights." Will you send "Zastozzi" directed to the Revd. - Sayer, Leominster, near Arundel. Sent it directly. I have written to say it was coming. 

                                                    (Addressed to Edward Fergus Graham Esq., 

                                                                            29 Vine Street, Piccadilly, London

                                                                               (postmark - May 30, 1810) 

The identity of the Merle mentioned in this letter is not known for certain. It has been suggested that it refers to William Henry Merle. What Shelley might suspect Mr. Merle of is unclear. The Mary referred to is Shelley's sister. The Harriet refers to Harriet Grove, Shelley's first love. The reference to Arabian Nights remains a mystery to me. 

(Letter taken from 1909 Edition of The Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley edited by Roger Ingpen and published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, London)