“My dear Patmore,—Your letter, as all your letters do, only added to my obligations to you. I cannot thank you enough for the trouble you have taken for me with ——, who may be a very good Tory, but certainly understands little of good manners. I am neither surprised nor disappointed by his thinking the papers not available, for I did not expect they would suit his publication. Still he might have returned them with less delay.
| R. PLUMER WARD. | 95 |
“The question is, what is to be done; for I own I think the Edinburgh wight so ignorant and cowardly in his critique, as well as so malapert, that I wish much for the publication, late as it is. I would be very glad, therefore, to profit by your more extensive experience and judgment in these matters, and would give you a carte blanche as to the means of bringing out the critique, short of revealing my name, which, if I did, I would do it in form, as a regular answer; but this many things forbid.
“Upon this I would ask your advice how to proceed, though the work, I fear, is too long for a magazine, and too short for a pamphlet. If, however, you think it may do, and you have interest to effect it (which you, of course, have, so well and advantageously known), London or Edinburgh would be the same to me. I fear this would give you the trouble of looking into it, which I by no means wished to impose upon you.
“As to your own MS., I am quite sorry to perceive your
unwillingness or fear to bring them out. I sincerely think you ought to do so,
both for your own and the public’s
| 96 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“I am here still in my hollow-tree—a most comfortable
one—caring nothing for the world, which I have outlived. Why should I, when I
am absolutely so blessed by Heaven at home? How lucky, too, that I am fond of
all our connexions who abound
| R. PLUMER WARD. | 97 |
“P.S.—Do you remember Lady Louisa Anson the day you dined with me? The Anson family are all going to have rare doings on her marriage, in a week or two, at Shugborough, her father’s fine place. Whether from philosophy or fear of rheumatism, I have declined going, but duly send my family and wife. Yet I should like it, for there will be many Lady Lauras there, though I fear not one Isabel.
“By the way, did I ever tell you who Isabel was? Partly (whether you believe it or not) ——; chiefly, however, Lady ——, the earl’s wife, whom I met in Nassau, and not a word too much for her.”
