“Many happy new years to you and yours, and may you go on well however the world goes. Go as it may, it is some satisfaction to think that it will not be the worse for anything that you and I have done in it. And it is to be hoped that our work is not done yet. I have a strong hope that something may be effected in our old scheme about the reformed convents, and that would be as great a step towards amending the condition of educated women as the establishment of savings’ banks has been for bettering the state of the lower classes.
“I am reading Coxe’s Memoirs of Marlborough, by far the best of his books. Marlborough appears to more advantage in all respects the more he is known. The reading is not gratuitous, for I am to review the work.
“Longman sent me Müller’s Universal History, a surprising work,
though I find him deficient in
| 334 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 45. |
“Did I tell you concerning Morris Birbeck, that he sunk 8000l. by a speculation in soap, and was Lord Onslow’s tenant, which said Lord Onslow indited upon him this epigram:—
‘Had you ta’en less delight in Political writing, Nor to vain speculations given scope, You’d have paid me your rent, Your time better spent, And besides—washed your hands of the soap.’ |
