“Dear Patmore,—I write
chiefly to say I send you, per coach, a cargo of Christmas merry-makings,
winch, for the honour of the seat of the Okeovers, I hope
will prove good. Imprimis, a haunch of venison, doe, but delicate; item, a
hare, killed yesterday; a turkey, ditto the day before; a chine, just out of
salt. I wish I could add a barrel of excellent stingo, which makes the rustics
smack their lips at it whenever they come into its neighbourhood. Still more, I
wish I could send you our coal-pit, which makes such blazers as never were seen
in London.
| 136 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“It is dangerous to ask a critic’s opinion, even though a friendly one; but I do hope you like Lady Hungerford.
“P.S.—I am quite glad that I did not send off the inclosed before to-day’s letters came in, as it gives me an opportunity of adding my thanks (how due!) for all the kind and certainly gratifying things you say about points and persons, as to which I had some little anxiety. That you should speak of Manners and Lady Hungerford as you do is, I assure you, not only most pleasant but most encouraging, where, from my own doubts of the execution, I wanted encouragement. Lady A—— (an excellent judge, being herself one of the most sensible and best bred women in England, and of great experience as to others) allayed much of my fear, but you have converted it into confidence; and I own I grow so fond of Manners myself, that, setting all author feelings aside, I am fonder of you for seeming fond of him.
“In short, your letter has made me feel six inches taller than I was in the morning.
“I am also sincerely grateful to you for all you so warmly and delicately express on the progress of our intimacy, though I am distressed not a little at being the author of the passage which gave rise to it.”
