Volume Ii Part 37 (1/2)
We are a small party just now, for my daughter Mary has been decoyed to Andover for the election week, in the Conservative interest; think of my feelings as a Radical parent! The wrong-headed member and his wife are the friends with whom she hunts, and she helps to receive (and _de_ceive) the voters, which is very awful!
But in the week after next we shall be in great croquet force. I shall hope to persuade you to come back to us then for a few days, and we will try to make you some amends for a dull Sunday. Turn it over in your mind and try to manage it.
Sincerely yours ever.
[Sidenote: Professor Owen, F.R.S.]
GAD'S HILL, _Wednesday, July 12th, 1865._
MY DEAR OWEN,
Studying the gorilla last night for the twentieth time, it suddenly came into my head that I had never thanked you for that admirable treatise.
This is to bear witness to my blushes and repentance. If you knew how much interest it has awakened in me, and how often it has set me a-thinking, you would consider me a more thankless beast than any gorilla that ever lived. But happily you do _not_ know, and I am not going to tell you.
Believe me, ever faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: The Earl Russell.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Wednesday, Aug. 16th, 1865._
MY DEAR LORD RUSSELL,
Mr. Dallas, who is a candidate for the Scotch professional chair left vacant by Aytoun's death, has asked me if I would object to introduce to you the first volume of a book he has in the press with my publishers, on ”The Gay Science of Art and Criticism.” I have replied I would _not_ object, as I have read as many of the sheets as I could get, with extreme pleasure, and as I know you will find it a very winning and brilliant piece of writing. Therefore he will send the proofs of the volume to you as soon as he can get them from the printer (at about the end of this week I take it), and if you read them you will not be hard upon me for bearing the responsibility of his doing so, I feel a.s.sured.
I suppose Mr. Dallas to have some impression that his pleasing you with his book might advance his Scottish suit. But all I know is, that he is a gentleman of great attainments and erudition, much distinguished as the writer of the best critical literary pieces in _The Times_, and thoroughly versed in the subjects which Professor Aytoun represented officially.
I beg to send my regard to Lady Russell and all the house, and am ever, my dear Lord Russell,
Your faithful and obliged.
P.S.--I am happy to report that my sailor-boy's captain, relinquis.h.i.+ng his s.h.i.+p on sick leave, departs from the mere form of certificate given to all the rest, and adds that his obedience to orders is remarkable, and that he is a highly intelligent and promising young officer.
[Sidenote: Mr. Marcus Stone.]
HoTEL DU HELDER, PARIS, _Wednesday, Sept. 13th, 1865._
MY DEAR MARCUS,
I leave here to-morrow, and propose going to the office by tidal train _next Sat.u.r.day evening_. Through the whole of next week, on and off, I shall be at the office; when not there, at Gad's; but much oftener at the office. The sooner I can know about the subjects you take for ill.u.s.tration the better, as I can then fill the list of ill.u.s.trations to the second volume for the printer, and enable him to make up his last sheet. Necessarily that list is now left blank, as I cannot give him the t.i.tles of the subjects, not knowing them myself.
It has been fearfully hot on this side, but is something cooler.
Ever affectionately yours.
P.S.--On glancing over this note, I find it very like the king's love-letter in ”Ruy Blas.” ”Madam, there is a high wind. I have shot six wolves.”
I think the frontispiece to the second volume should be the dustyard with the three mounds, and Mr. Boffin digging up the Dutch bottle, and Venus restraining Wegg's ardour to get at him. Or Mr. Boffin might be coming down with the bottle, and Venus might be dragging Wegg out of the way as described.