Volume Ii Part 19 (1/2)
”In the 'Prof. Politeness' paper there is no personality whatever. I simply expressed divergence.
”As to the practice, I have seen it over and over, and I can vouch for it in hospitals, home and foreign, as well.
”I have expunged 'Times,' and made the word 'newspapers'; I have cancelled 'C. Connellan' altogether. And now I trust your fear of an action must be relieved,--though if Corney Connellan were to be offended, I might really despair of a joke being well taken by any one.”
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”Villa Morelli, _Christmas Day._
”I send you a full measure of 'Sir B.' for next month, and despatch it now, as I have only remained here to eat my Christmas dinner, and start to-morrow for Spezzia, where I have some eight or ten days' work before me.
”I hope you will like the present 'envoy.' I have taken pains with the dialogue, and made it as sharp and touchy as I could.
”There is, I hear, a compact _in petto_ between the Whigs and the Irish by which all Irish Education is to be made over to the Church of Rome.
If so, a paper on the way in which countries, essentially Romish, reject the priest's domination and provide against all subjugation to the Church, might be well timed. It has only struck me this morning, but it is worth you turning your mind to, especially if the papers were to be ready and in print for the eventuality of the debate in Parliament, and _debate there will be on the question_.
”I am not sure I could do such a paper, but I could be of use to any one who could, and give him some valuable material, too, from Italian enactments.
”I do not know if my Belgium bit reached you in time, and our post is now so irregular here I may not know for some days.
”I hear that the Government mean to hand over Eyre to the Radicals; and though there is much in his case hard to defend, that the man did his best in a great difficulty according to 'his lights' I am convinced.
”I have such a good story for you about Drummond Wolff _versus_ Bulwer,--but I can't write it. You shall hear it, however, when I come over in spring, even if I go down to Edinburgh to tell it.
”A great many happy Christmases to you and all yours.”
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”Croce di Malta, Spezzia, Dec. 30, 1866.
”Your last pleasant note and its 'stuffing' has just reached me here, where I am consularising, bullying Custom-house folk, and playing the devil with all the authorities to show my activity in the public service. I can't endure being away from home and my old routine life; but there was no help for it, and I am here now for another week to come.
”The name I want for the author of Tony is 'Arthur Helsham,' the name of my mother's family; and the last man who bore the aforesaid was the stupidest blockhead of the house, and the luckiest too. _Faustum sit augurium_.
”As to G. Berkeley's book, it is quite impossible to do anything at all commensurate with so rascally a book. It is hopeless work trying to make a sweep dirtier, and I agree with you--better not touch him.”
XVI. FLORENCE AND SPEZZIA 1866
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”Villa Morelli, Florence, _Jan_. 3,1866.
”I came back from Spezzia this morning to find your pleasant letter and its enclosure. I thank you much for both. I wanted the money not a little, but half suspect I wanted the kind a.s.surances of your satisfaction just as much. I was not content with your opinion of the last 'O'Dowds,' most probably from some lurking suspicion that you might be right, and that they were not as good as they ought to be, or as I meant them to be. Now I am easier on that score,--and since I have seen them in print I am better pleased also.
”My Xmas was cut in two: I was obliged to go down to Spezzia the day after Christmas Day and stay there ever since, idling, far from pleasantly, and living at a bad inn somewhat dearer than the Burlington.