“When I last wrote I had not received your letter, mine must have passed it on the road. I write to say I am very sorry there should have been any misunderstanding between us, which I now discover was all through your substituting the word print for type. You sent me word the ‘Farewell’ was in print, which I always understand to mean printed,* and which I think most people would take in that sense. It now seems you meant in type, ready for printing.* I did not tell you to destroy the ‘Farewell,’ I asked you to send it back, or said I would transmit it to the ‘Morning Post’ on receiving the MS. from you. The piece I said I had sent to that paper was the ‘Lines on New Year’s Day!!’ However, I should be very sorry, on account of former friendship, that there should be any ill-feeling between us, when it can be avoided. I thank you for your expressions of kindness towards me, which I believe to be sincere. Therefore, if you have no objection we will, though ten miles apart, mentally shake hands and give the matter bon repos. In future, therefore, let me subscribe myself,
“By the by, you were in precious humour last time you
* Two neat blunders: for 1st, publishing, and 2nd, being really printed.—W. J. |
| 316 | AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. |
(On back of letter.) “Pray read it, for it’s the clearing-up shower.”
