m most anxious to
hear from you, though I doubt whether I ought to mention the subject on
which I am so anxious. If, however, what I heard last night, in a letter
from town, be true, you will know immediately what I allude to, and just
communicate as much or as little upon the subject as you think
proper;--only _something_ I should like to know, as soon as possible,
from yourself, in order to set my mind at rest with respect to the truth
or falsehood of the report." The following is his answer:--

LETTER 233. TO MR. MOORE.

"February 29. 1816.

"I have not answered your letter for a time; and, at present, the
reply to part of it might extend to such a length, that I shall
delay it till it can be made in person, and then I will shorten it
as much as I can.

"In the mean time, I am at war 'with all the world and his wife;'
or rather, 'all the world and _my_ wife' are at war with me, and
have not yet crushed me,--whatever they _may_ do. I don't know that
in the course of a hair-breadth existence I was ever, at home or
abroad, in a situation so completely uprooting of present pleasure,
or rational hope for the future, as this same. I say this, because
I think so, and feel it. But I shall not sink under it the more for
that mode of considering the question--I have made up my mind.

"By the way, however, you must not believe all you hear on the
subject; and don't attempt to defend me. If you succeeded in that,
it would be a mortal, or an immortal, offence--who can bear
refutation? I have but a very short answer for those whom it
concerns; and all the activity of myself and some vigorous friends
have not yet fixed on any tangible ground or personage, on which or
with whom I can discuss matters, in a summary way, with a fair
pretext;--though I nearly had _nailed one_ yesterday, but he evaded
by--what was judged by others--a satisfactory explanation. I speak
of _circulators_--against whom I have no enmity, though I must act
according to the common code of usage, when I hit upon those of the
serious order.

"Now for other matters--poesy, for instance. Leigh Hunt's poem is a
devilish good one--quaint, here and there, but with the substratum
of originality, and with poetry about it, that will stand the test.
I do not say this because he has inscribed it to me, which I am
sorry