Volume II Part 6 (1/2)
The piece of Literature I really could benefit Posterity with, I do believe, is an edition of that wonderful and aggravating Clarissa Harlowe; and this I would effect with a pair of Scissors only. It would not be a bit too long as it is, if it were all equally good; but pedantry comes in, and might, I think, be cleared away, leaving the remainder one of _the great_, _original_, _Works of the World_! in this Line. Lovelace is the wonderful character, for Wit: and there is some grand Tragedy too.
And n.o.body reads it! Ever yours,
E. F. G.
_To Mrs. Cowell_.
[1865].
MY DEAR LADY,
I answer you thus directly because I would stick in a Bit of a Letter from Thompson of Cambridge: which relates to a question I asked him weeks ago, as I told E. B. C. I would.
You must not think I was in a hurry to have my Play praised: I was really fearful of its being bombastic. You are so enthusiastic in your old and kind Regards and Memories that I can scarce rely on you for a cool Judgment in the matter. But I gather from E. B. C. that he was not struck with what I doubted: and I am very glad, at any rate, that you are very well pleased, both of you.
E. B. C. is quite right about obscurity of Phrase: which is inexcusable unless where the Pa.s.sion of the Speakers makes such utterance natural.
This is very often not the case in the Plays, I know: and the Language, as he says, becomes obscure from elaborate Brevity.
What you tell of the Music in the Air at your Father's Death--Oh, how Frederic Tennyson would open all his Eyes at this! For he lives in a World of Spirits--Swedenborg's World, which you would not approve; which I cannot sympathize with: but yet I admire the t.i.tanic old Soul so resolutely blind to the Philosophy of the Day.
Oh, I think England would be much better for E. B. C. and you: but I can't say anything against what he thinks the Duty chalked out for him. I don't believe the English Rule will hold in India: but, meanwhile, a good Man may think he must do what Good he can there, come what may of it.
There is also Good to be done in England!
The Wind is still very 'stingy' though the Sun s.h.i.+nes, and though it blows from the West. So we are all better at our homes for the present.
Ever yours, E. F. G.
_To W. B. Donne_.
RAMSGATE: _August_ 27, [1865].
MY DEAR DONNE,
Your letter found me here, where I have been a week cruising about with my old Brother Peter. To morrow we leave--for Calais, as we propose; just to touch French Soil, and drink a Bottle of French Wine in the old Town: then home again to Woodbridge as fast as we may. For thither goes William Airy, partly in hopes of meeting me: he says he is much shaken by the dangerous illness he had this last Spring: and thinks, truly enough, that our chances of meeting in this World sensibly diminish.
You must not talk of my kindness to you at Lowestoft: when all the good is on your side, going out of your way to see me. Really it makes me ashamed.
Together with your Letter, I found a very kind one from Mrs. Kemble, who took the trouble to write only to tell me how well she liked the Plays. I know that Good Nature would not affect her Judgment (which I very honestly think too favourable), but it was Good Nature made her write to tell me.
Don't forget to sound Murray at some good opportunity about a Selection from Crabbe. Of course he won't let me do it, though I could do it better than any he would be likely to employ: for you know I rely on my Appreciation of what others do, not on what I can do myself.
The 'Parcel' you write of has not been sent me here: but I shall find it when I return, and will write to you again. I puzzle my Brains to remember what the '_Conscript_' is.
I have been reading, and reducing to one volume from two (_more meo_), a trashy Book, 'Bernard's Recollections of the Stage,' with some good recollections of the Old Actors, up to Macklin and Garrick. But, of all people's, one can't trust Actors' Stories. In 'Lethe,' where your Garrick figures in Sir Geoffrey, also figured Woodward, as 'The Fine Gentleman'; so I think, at least, is the t.i.tle of a very capital mezzotint I have of him in Character,
Oh! famous is your Story of Lord Chatham and the Bishops; {68} be sure you set it afloat again in print.
You don't tell me if Trench be recovered: but I shall conclude from your Silence that, at any rate, he is not now seriously ill.
Now I hear my good Brother come in from Morning Ma.s.s, and we shall have Breakfast. He is really capital to sail about with. I read your letter yesterday while sitting out on a Bench with her--his Wife--a brave Woman, of the O'Dowd sort; and she wanted to know all about you and yours. We like Ramsgate very much: genial air: pleasant Country: good Harbour, Piers, etc.: and the Company, though overflowing, not showy, nor vulgar: but seemingly come to make the most of a Holiday. I am surprized how little of the c.o.c.kney, in its worse aspect, is to be seen.
_To E. B. Cowell_.