ter, she haunted
them and all the Colaltos. She is described as very beautiful and
fair. It is well authenticated."

[Footnote 10: Here follow some details respecting his friend Charles S.
Matthews, which have already been given in the first volume of this
work.]

[Footnote 11: The ghost-story, in which he here professes such serious
belief, forms the subject of one of Mr. Rogers's beautiful Italian
sketches.--See "Italy," p. 43. edit. 1830.]

* * * * *

LETTER 399. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, 9bre 18 deg., 1820.

"The death of Waite is a shock to the--teeth, as well as to the
feelings of all who knew him. Good God, he and _Blake_[12] both
gone! I left them both in the most robust health, and little
thought of the national loss in so short a time as five years. They
were both as much superior to Wellington in rational greatness, as
he who preserves the hair and the teeth is preferable to 'the
bloody blustering warrior' who gains a name by breaking heads and
knocking out grinders. Who succeeds him? Where is tooth-powder
_mild_ and yet efficacious--where is _tincture_--where are clearing
_roots_ and _brushes_ now to be obtained? Pray obtain what
information you can upon these '_Tusc_ulan questions.' My jaws ache
to think on't. Poor fellows! I anticipated seeing both again; and
yet they are gone to that place where both teeth and hair last
longer than they do in this life. I have seen a thousand graves
opened, and always perceived, that whatever was gone, the _teeth_
and _hair_ remained with those who had died with them. Is not this
odd? They go the very first things in _youth_, and yet last the
longest in the dust, if people will but _die_ to preserve them! It
is a queer life, and a queer death, that of mortals.

"I knew that Waite had married, but little thought that the other
decease was so soon to overtake him. Then he was such a delight,
such a coxcomb, such a jewel of a man! There is a tailor at Bologna
so like him! and also at the top of his profession. Do not neglect
this commission. _Who_ or _what_ can replace him? What says the
public?

"I remand you the Preface. _Don't forget_ that the Italian extract
from the Chronicle must _be translated_. With regard to what you
say of retouching the Juans and the Hints, it is all very