“I cannot write a word of business till I have first
spoken of the information in your letter, which excited infinitely the most
emotion. You are by this time married. I would say something that should convey
my feelings: but what are common-place expressions of wishing you joy, hoping
you may be happy, or pretending to moralize on a subject which depends so
almost entirely on the feelings of the parties. There is not anything on earth
so requisite, as well to the every-day, as to the exquisite, happiness of man,
as the love and friendship of woman. I know you deserve
| 110 | WILLIAM GODWIN |
“I have received the bill for £266, 6s. Would you were a man of business as well as a poet. I requested you not to send me the money, but a letter of credit. It might have saved me £8 or £10. I lose now on the whole £16, 8s. 0d. This is a trifle. . . .
“I shall do my utmost to procure books. I begin to have doubts of my securing the work of Madam de Stael. . . . I would by no means libel a nation: but the habits and manners of the people are such, that a promise is frequently here nothing better than warm breath. I have had a quarrel on the subject, still I am not without hopes. When I say a quarrel, you know with what caution and desire of doing right I conduct my quarrels. . . . I think I understand, permit me the expression, the whole history of Le Voyageur. You shall have it with the first parcel, but I think, for Madam de Genlis, it is sad trash. This lady lives at Versailles: distance and bad weather prevented a visit; and Lady Mountcashel gave the letter to me, which has been duly sent. Mr Marshal has not answered my question concerning books of science, agriculture, the fine arts, &c.
“You enquired of S. concerning
Fanny’s marriage. The young
man is not what his letters appeared to paint him. I forbear to say more,
except that Fanny behaves like an
angel, I give you this under my own hand, and, as I can well perceive,
feels no regret. She is strongly invited to assist Lady Mountcashel in the education of her daughters: and we
sincerely wish you were here to help us to consider the question and to decide.
Nothing but the utmost independence will be suffered, nor, I believe, will
anything else be offered. Lady M. is a woman of uncommon
powers of
| LETTERS FROM HOLCROFT. | 111 |
