Volume I Part 9 (2/2)
”Brussels, _May_ 3,1839.
”I have not been so well latterly, and am trying to get some one to order me to travel a little. As old Lady B------e always found a doctor who 'knew her const.i.tution,' and told her to take 'Curacoa' frequently, I hope to find an intelligent physician too. I have so much material in my head, which would work up advantageously in our Gossipings,--sketches of places, society stories, with some hints upon the Continent that only a residence suggests,--that I have some idea of giving them a much wider range, taking in literature, politics, manners, habits, &c., &c., mingled with sufficient incident and story, all thrown into a somewhat narrative form, and making a book of it. Mortimer O'Sullivan, to whom I mentioned this, if near you, will explain my plan, which he approved--perhaps I should say suggested--when here. I should give every city, most of the travelled routes, and some untravelled ones, sketches of the German universities, songs, &c.; and in fine, make up a slap-dash ramble abroad that would astonish better-behaved and more sedate travellers, keeping our original t.i.tle; and with the aid of Phiz, who should not want scenes for ill.u.s.tration, I think the thing would do. Of course, it should appear in 1-or 2-vol. form, and if you like may come forth in the Mag. each month. Answer me on this head soon, for if you like it I think I will go to Germany, visit the Spas, and try if we cannot beat that most insufferable humbug and bore, old Grenville. If 'Harry Lorrequer' succeed, a new work by the author, as the newspapers have it, should take the tide of public favour at the flood.
”My trip to Ireland is so very contingent upon the people who won't be sick at present, but are keeping it all for July and August, that I should like to hear from you more fully.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan_.
”_May_ 1839”.
”I have had, since I wrote, an offer, unsolicited on my part, made to me to complete Grenville's books by a vol. upon the Spas of Belgium and the North of Germany.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan_.
”BRUSSELS, _May_ 1839.
”I send you a short chapter of 'Continental Gossipings.'
”For the great abruptness of its transitions I shall apologise to you, though not to the public, by mentioning that here the choice of topics is extended, and the opportunity for variety increased; as in a _table d'hote_ dinner where there are fifty dishes, it is hard if you could not have something to your taste. And to follow up the ill.u.s.tration, if you object to the order of their service, I reply that I have lived long enough in Germany to be quite content at finding puddings precede soups and fish come after cheese. Therefore, you see, I am above or (if you prefer it) beneath criticism.
”'The Morning Post' has not said anything as yet. Remind Johnson on this head for me. 'The Morning Post' is a tower of strength, and we must contrive to have it with us. I have been so out of health that I can do but little, and have some thoughts of going over to London for the sake of the voyage, and to get presented, in which case I shall have an opportunity of going across and seeing you all in the 'sweetest city upon the Say.' Tell me, too, is the story of the Dutch Minister, who was humbugged by false despatches last summer in Paris, known in Ireland?
If not, it is too good to lose, and will be _bon_ for our 'Continental Gossipings.' This place abounds in munition for the press; but I am so circ.u.mstanced I cannot take advantage of it. One week of 'Confessions'
for Brussels would, however, be worth all Master Harry's, if he went on for a century.
”The treaty has been peaceably accepted here, and no political excitement of any kind has followed: disturbances are, however, to be feared if anything should occur in France; and it is said, upon good authority, that in such an event Leopold would abdicate. I believe with all my soul he is perfectly sick of the whole concern.
”The French is terribly mangled in 'Lorrequer.' Pray have this amended.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan._
”Brussels, May 28,1839.
”Had it not been for your urgent desire upon the subject, the German tour had been long since abandoned by me. The difficulties which I encountered in merely thinking over the plans were such as nearly floored the undertaking, However, after burning four attempts, I send you a few pages of my fifth and last essay, which, if you like, I shall continue. What I claim for myself is simply this, to praise or abuse to the top of my Irish bent everything which comes across me. I don't care for the _incognito_ further than serves to support the spirit of the thing, but, of course, purporting to be the production of a German, it had better be preserved. 'Gossips from Abroad' I think of calling the great unborn. My plan is a tour beginning at Rotterdam, sketching life, manners, &c, as we go on, telling stories, describing places, &c.; up the Rhine to Baden, into Germany, the German cities, spas, universities, the Danube, Saxony, Switzerland, Tyrol, France, Paris, Belgium, and Loire,--in two goodly vols., like 'Lady Chatterton' as to size. I could give the more touchy bits for the Mag. _de temps en temps_, and reserve the whole for publication early in the coming year. I have already some of my best material almost ready. So pray write me your views anent this. But pray write soon. My impatience for answers to my letters bodes but ill to your future welfare, if certain _blessings_ invoked by me are to have any chance of accomplishment. My trip to Dublin is not out of the question, but act as if it were, and let me hear from you. I cannot work with spirit or industry till all the detail of arrangement is got done with; and now that my busiest doctoring season is over, I should like to set to work with energy. Your idea of the woodcuts in the page is quite perfect, and I like it amazingly. A boar's head, a Swiss chalet, and Tyrol pa.s.s: a Danube skiff would take well and ornament the book.”
_To Mr James M'Glashan._
”Brussels, _June_ 4, 1839.
”I have so many things to say to you that I treasure them all up for the visit which I have promised myself to Ireland, but which I daily fear can scarcely take place. This is a season in which so many notorieties come through that I have dreaded being away. Polignac, Peel, Lords Brougham and Lyndhurst, the Bishop of Exeter, and several others have come under my hands since last summer, and I cannot with safety or prudence lose the opportunity of making such acquaintances. However, if it be manageable I must do it, for I wish very much to talk over and discuss several plans and projects I have been thinking over. Since I sent off my last MSS. to you a week ago, I have written nothing but recipes of blue pill and senna draughts....
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