Percy Bysshe Shelley Letter to William Godwin Oxford, February to March 1811.
Sir. Although unacquainted with you otherwise than by your writings,
I am nevertheless induced by the spirit of your liberal investigation and agency for the rights of humanity which they breathe to address to you,
to lay aside all bandages of etiquette, to address you as a common friend to nature, justice and reason.
I enclose you therefore attract,
which I have compressed from much prolix reasoning in which I believe to come near to the truth which I submit to your inspection.
Your opinion or the reasons which induce you to think any part of the enclosed reasoning, incorrect or false, will much oblige me.
The truth of it, if established,
would very much fascinate the approach of that period when mankind shall see the truth of and be actuated by the morality of political justice.
I do not add more, but after an attentive perusal,
perhaps you will favour me with a letter containing your opinions relative to its comparative truth or fallacy.
Your friend Jennings Stokley, Mr. Monday's Printer High Street, Oxford.
The book is not and I fear cannot be published.