“My dear Milman,—Clowes has outdone himself in blending your paper, but I see through all his mists the worth of the work, which I beg you to correct twice ere I see it again, for I don’t wish to come dulled to the true edition, and am sure that will need to be edition third.
“I hope you will give a note on the doctoring of the ivories, which interests whoever hears thereof.
“I also hope you will select a few of the best
woodcuts. Perhaps it might do to cram two pages
| 318 | LIFE OF J. G. LOCKHART. |
“I desiderate your allusion to the Papal confirmation of Queen Semiramis’s system of tonsure.
“Please get me made one of the three paid Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whose office, however, must not, as they are to be laymen, infer any tonsure at all. Upon my word, this is saddling Mother Church with three costly incubi. Senior, I suppose, can’t be one of them, as well as Master of Chancery and Tutor-General of the Whigs. Yet another £2000 a year would repay him for some extra exertion.
“The Archbishop will appoint some little saint and Lord John two big sinners. This is another very decided step towards the commencement of the end. Oh, my Philpotts! my bowels are disturbed for thee; this is worse than the Surplice question, or even the Catholic one.
“I suggest for Commissioners at £2000—Ex parte Lambeth, Mr. Fitzsam Wilberforce, R.N., or Mr. Fitzbore Raikes. Ex parte Crown, Escott, Esq., Hon. Grantley Berkeley.—Yours ever,
