| 46 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
The following letter is the first direct communication I received from Mr Plumer Ward—still, however, without his knowing me, and signed merely, “The Author of De Vere.” It is in reply to one that I was compelled to address to him personally—still, however, as “the Author of De Vere”—in consequence of a matter which would be too insignificant in itself, and too ridiculously discreditable to our periodical literature, to permit of my recording it, if it were not that one of the objects of this work is to put on record such of the “secret history” of the literature of our time, in connexion with the writers referred to in these reminiscences, as may be usefully disclosed without compromising personal feelings and private interests.
I had, on the publication of “De Vere,” been requested to write a critical notice of
| R. PLUMER WARD. | 47 |
| 48 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
Of course, I had no alternative but to address him in explanation of the facts. The following is his reply to my letter:—
“Dear Sir,—I cannot but so address a man to whom I owe so much for his repeated kind exertions on my account; and for the gratification which (from his own mind, acquisitions, and disposition) the expression of so much of his good opinion has always afforded me.
“As to the subject of your letter, I am sure you must
be confident that no excuse was necessary for entering so much into details
which it has really given me very great pleasure to read; for they have
completely satisfied me on a point which, I own, had moved my surprise; I mean
as to the allusions (but most particularly that in regard to Lord Cleveland)—which it distressed me to read in
the —— ——. At the same time, I beg
to assure you I had a sort of
| R. PLUMER WARD. | 49 |
“My concern as to the fact is certainly not diminished, but I am most truly glad that I am left fully confirmed in the notion of a discretion in yourself which certainly seemed incompatible with the procedure of which I complained. It was certainly a piece of wanton officiousness, which, after my preface, was as cruel as it was unjust.
“To touch upon a minor point, I am also glad to be set
right as to certain parts of the style. In particular, the introductory
sentences had not escaped me and others; and we, who had observed the general
justness of
| 50 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“As to the other explanations in your letter, I
scarcely know what to say, as I feel put upon the defensive myself. I
certainly, in making the confessions I did of what allusions were in my mind as
to certain traits of character, had no contemplation that they could be
construed to authorise their publication. I made them
for your own information, and perhaps convenience, as if, in the course of
conversations or comments with or from others, you found it necessary to give
any opinion upon the subject of allusions, I thought that, by knowing what I
did mean, you might be better able to manage those
who might impute to me what I did not mean. I cannot recollect my letter, but
as Mr. —— put upon it the same
construction as you did, I must suppose that I at least
| R. PLUMER WARD. | 51 |
“Not so of the sincere feeling of obligation which I
experience more than ever towards you, for the kind and active zeal you have
shown about ‘De
Vere’ and ‘Tremaine,’ to say nothing of the great benefit I have derived
from your abilities, so strikingly shown as your criticism proceeded. May I not
add (I surely hope I may), that this is enhanced by the impression (I know not
whether well or ill founded) that something like personal good-will has grown on your side, as it certainly has on
mine, as we have
| 52 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“My dear Sir,
“As Mr. —— seemed much interested about our subject, I send this open through him. He will learn by it that I enter completely into your explanations in regard to the —— ——.”
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