Volume I Part 8 (2/2)
”_Jan_. 11,1839.
”H. K. Brown has not yet written to me, and I regret it the more, because if I knew the scenes he selected, I might have benefited by his ideas and rendered them more graphic as an author corrects his play by seeing a dress rehearsal.
”Has Phiz any notion of Irish physiognomy? for this is most important.
If not, and as 'Lorrequer' abounds in specimens, pray entreat him to study the Tail* when they meet in February: he can have nothing better, if not too coa.r.s.e for his purpose. Don't fear for the conclusion. I think I can manage it safely; and if the company would like to sup where they have dined, I shall keep a broil for their amus.e.m.e.nt. My intention is, if all prospers, to bring 'Harry' to Canada in the next series, and as I have been there, something can be made of it. This is, however, for after consideration.
* This was an epithet applied to the ”Repealers,” who followed O'Connell's leaders.h.i.+p.--E. D.
”I have been so hard worked here that I have been obliged to sit up at night to transcribe, and 'Harry Lorrequer' has kept me from dinners and evening-parties innumerable.
”How will the press treat us? Conciliate by every means the editors.
Upon my conscience, I think I should have a _soiree_ of devils, if I was among you, to stand well with the men of ink. Write to me soon.
Your suggestions are most useful, and keep up my pluck and stimulate my activity.
”The ill.u.s.trations in No. 1 are very good, but why is Lorrequer at the supper at Father Malachy's made so like Nicholas Nickleby? That is unfortunate, and every one sees it at a glance. All plagiarisms in the book, I beg to say, are my prerogatives.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.
”Brussels, _Jan_. 1839.
”....In addition to the English leaving this and leaving me without occupation, I should lose my little property of chattels that I have gathered about me....
”The next few days may see me on the road: if so, I know not which water I shall ask my pa.s.sport for.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.
”Brussels, _Feb_. 12, 1838.
”Matters look somewhat better here the last few days, but still the ma.s.sing of troops continues, and already about 100,000 men and a large artillery force are a.s.sembled upon the Holland-Belgium frontier. The treaty, though signed by the King of Holland, has not been acceded to by the Belgians, and while the present excitement continues it is not probable that anything decisive will be done by the Chambers. In fact, so strong is the antipathy to the Dutch and so great the influence of the priests, that a war would be universally popular among the ma.s.s of the people; and the anti-war party in the Chamber are consequently fearful of expressing their opinions, well knowing that, let matters go how they will, they at least are very likely to be pillaged by the mob.
”The last move of the Government here is certainly, to say the least, a suspicious one. General Skrzynecki, the Pole who commanded at Ostrolenka, has been appointed a general in the Belgian service. The circ.u.mstances are worth mention. This Pole, it appears, when the defeat of his countrymen took place, fled with a very considerable force and took refuge in a portion of Poland under the Austrian rule, into which the Russians, who are no respecters of etiquette, would have followed had not Austria and Prussia at once interfered and guaranteed to Russia that _they_ would be responsible for him and his officers never entering a foreign service, nor in any wise 'troubling the peace of Europe.'
Skrzynecki consequently obtained his freedom and retired to Prague (in the Austrian territory), where he has since lived on his parole. Now comes the worst of the story. Leopold and his agents have induced him to break faith, and come here at this moment to take command, for which he has talents, and his reputed bigotry as a Catholic renders him very suitable,--and the result is that the Ministers of Austria and Prussia have both demanded their pa.s.sports and left Brussels. This tells very ill for Leopold, who at the best shows himself the mere tool of the Catholic party who have taken this man up. The Chamber has been prorogued till the 4th March, but I know from private sources that it is the king's intention to convoke them in the coming week, and, if possible, carry the acceptance of the Twenty-four Articles. If he fail, I then suppose we may have a renewed negotiation, but as there is no prospect of them getting more favourable terms, they must either accede at last or try the chances of a war, which cannot fail, once begun, to become a European one....
”Tom Steele is now here offering his services and 10,000 wild Irish to the Belgian Government in case of war. However, I think we may have no need for either....
”A French army of 48,000 men are now on our frontier, and a very large force of Prussians, with 10,000 troops from the German confederates, occupy the others. These, with an English fleet ready to set sail for the Scheldt, are the means in store for us--if the treaty be rejected.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan_.
”Brussels, _Feb_. 16,1838.
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