I beg you to thank Mr. Bate doubly for me, as well for his having presented me with a portrait of my favourite boat, as for having sent it through your hands.
As you say he is an artist, may I not be permitted to remunerate him for his skill, and can you not help me to guess what will be acceptable?
But why quarrel with Cæsar? Cæsar was borne out by the results of last night. Cæsar took the bull by the horns, and he vanquished him. Depend upon it, it is the only safe way. See how the bull was tamed! He made no fight at all. But I must again defend Cæsar from the imputation of imprudence. He really, strange to say, knew nothing of the gist of the piece. Knowing it, however, he could not have chosen better; he gave his enemy fair play—fought him, as it were, upon his own ground, and beat him.
Seriously, I never was more surprised than last night. I own I fully expected a most tumultuous uproar, and lo! all was good humour, loyalty, and almost couleur de rose, as I shall be when I get my soirée.
