“If Lady Belcher could
procure Miss Mitford’s letters to Miss Goldsmid we should be very much obliged to her.
Miss Goldsmid is a very clever and learned lady, and
Miss M.’s letters
| 274 | CRITICISM. |
“Miss Mitford’s connection with the Mitfords of Mitford Castle was (as I always understood) this: Dr. Mitford’s father was first cousin to the father of the Bertram Mitford who was head of the family; and when she went to the North she stayed with Lady Charles Aynesley. Lady Charles and her sister stood in the same relation to him as Dr. Mitford, as the children of brothers. Miss Mitford was another generation removed.
“I think we shall have a charming book; but we must go through
all the letters and complete it before we talk to any publisher about it; for my views
respecting the plan of publication change as I see more and more what it is we have to
publish. My present view is that the book should be called ‘Life and Opinions of M. R. M., as given in her Letters, with Notes by the
Editors.’ I like all the letters I have read, except parts of the
letters to Sir W. Elford, which (except when she
forgets whom she is writing to and is herself again) are in conventional English and
almost vulgar in their endeavour to be something particularly good. If I send you off a
lot of letters without date, should you have time to read them
over and exercise your
| LONDON IN OCTOBER. | 275 |
“You can have no idea of the utter dreariness and solitude which we have been experiencing since the end of July in this ‘Deserted Village.’ Till yesterday and to-day we have had nothing but rain and mist, with evenings so cold that one was obliged to have a blazing fire—not, as usual at that season of the year, for cheerfulness-sake, but for actual warmth and comfort. Adieu, with kindest regards from my sister and cousin, and my best compliments to Mr. and Mrs. L’Estrange.
“Of an evening I’m re-reading the first volume of Froude’s History, to prepare my memory for the enjoyment of the four last. Adieu!”
