1814.

"I enclose you a letter_et_ from Mrs. Leigh.

"It will be best _not_ to put my name to our _Ode_; but you may
_say_ as openly as you like that it is mine, and I can inscribe it
to Mr. Hobhouse, from the _author_, which will mark it
sufficiently. After the resolution of not publishing, though it is
a thing of little length and less consequence, it will be better
altogether that it is anonymous; but we will incorporate it in the
first _tome_ of ours that you find time or the wish to publish.
Yours alway, B.

"P.S. I hope you got a note of alterations, sent this matin?

"P.S. Oh my books! my books! will you never find my books?

"Alter '_potent_ spell' to '_quickening_ spell:' the first (as
Polonius says) 'is a vile phrase,' and means nothing, besides being
common-place and _Rosa-Matilda-ish_."

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"April 12. 1814.

"I send you a few notes and trifling alterations, and an additional
motto from Gibbon, which you will find _singularly appropriate_. A
'Good-natured Friend' tells me there is a most scurrilous attack on
_us_ in the Anti-jacobin Review, which you have _not_ sent. Send
it, as I am in that state of languor which will derive benefit from
getting into a passion. Ever," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 175. TO MR. MOORE.

"Albany, April 20. 1814.

"I _am_ very glad to hear that you are to be transient from
Mayfield so very soon, and was taken in by the first part of your
letter.[24] Indeed, for aught I know, you may be treating me, as
Slipslop says, with 'ironing' even now. I shall say nothing of the
_shock_, which had nothing of _humeur_ in it; as I am apt to take
even a critic, and still more a friend, at his word, and never to
doubt that I have been writing cursed nonsense, if they say so.
There was a mental reservation in my pact with the public[25], in
behalf of _anonymes_; and, even had there not, the provocation was
such as to make it physically impossible to pass over this damnable
epoch of triumphant tameness. 'Tis a cursed business; and, after
all, I shall think higher of rhyme and reason, and very humbly of
your heroic people, till--Elba becomes a volcano, and sends him
out again. I can't think it all over yet.

"My departure