FRIENDSHIP WITH BURKE (1781-1783) Thus far I have followed the guidance of Crabbe's son and biographer, but there is much that is confused and incomplete in his narrative.

The story of Crabbe's life, as told by the son, leaves us in much doubt as to the order of events in 1780-1781.

The memorable letter to Burke was, as we have seen, without a date.

The omission is not strange, for the letter was written by Crabbe in great anguish of mind, and was left by his own hand at Burke's door.

The son, though he evidently obtained from his father most of the information he was afterwards to use, never extracted this date from him.