e mean while, I think my
noble friend is something like my old peacock, who chooses
to bivouac apart from his lady, and sit below my bedroom
window, to keep me awake with his screeching lamentation.
Only I own he is not equal in melody to Lord Byron, for
_Fare-thee-well--and if for ever_, etc., is a very sweet
dirge indeed. After all, _C'est genie mal loge_, and that's
all that can be said about it.

I am quite reconciled to your opinions on the income-tax,
and am not at all in despair at the prospect of keeping L200
a year in my pocket, since the ministers can fadge without
it. But their throwing the helve after the hatchet, and
giving up the malt-duty because they had lost the other, was
droll enough. After all, our fat friend[35] must learn to
live within compass, and fire off no more crackers in the
Park, for John Bull is getting dreadfully sore on all sides
when money is concerned.

[Footnote 35: Shortly after Beau Brummell (immortalized
in _Don Juan_) fell into disgrace with the Prince
Regent, and was dismissed from the society of Carlton
House, he was riding with another gentleman in the Park,
when the Prince met them. His Royal Highness stopt to
speak to Brummell's companion--the Beau continued to jog
on--and when the other dandy rejoined him, asked with an
air of sovereign indifference, "Who is your fat friend?"
Such, at least, was the story that went the round of the
newspapers at the time, and highly tickled Scott's
fancy. I have heard that nobody enjoyed so much as the
Prince of Wales himself an earlier specimen of the
Beau's assurance. Taking offence at some part of His
Royal Highness's conduct or demeanor, "Upon my word,"
observed Mr. Brummell, "if this kind of thing goes on, I
shall be obliged to cut Wales, and bring the old King
into fashion."]

I sent you, some time since, The Antiquary. It is not so
interesting as its predecessors--the period did not {p.104}
admit of so much romantic situation. But it has been more
fortunate than any of them in the sale, for 6000 went off in
the first six days, and it is now at press again; which is
very flattering to the