MY dear Sir—That peevish letter of mine, which was
meant to convey an apology for my incapacity to write, seems to have been taken
by you in too serious a light. It was only my way of telling you I had a severe
cold. The fact is I have been insuperably dull and lethargic for many weeks,
and cannot rise to the vigour of a Letter, much less an Essay. The London must do without me for a time, a
time, and half a time, for I have lost all interest about it, and whether I
shall recover it again I know not. I will bridle my pen another time, & not
teaze and puzzle you with my aridities. I shall begin to feel a little more
alive with the
| 1824 | “AS QUAKERS, THEY DID RIGHT” | 635 |
My Sister’s part in the Leicester School (about two thirds) was purely her own; as it was (to the same quantity) in the Shakspeare Tales which bear my name. I wrote only the Witch Aunt, the first going to Church, and the final Story about a little Indian girl in a Ship.
Your account of my Black Balling amused me. I think, as Quakers, they did right. There are some things hard to be understood.
The more I think the more I am vexed at having puzzled you with that Letter, but I have been so out of Letter writing of late years, that it is a sore effort to sit down to it, & I felt in your debt, and sat down waywardly to pay you in bad money. Never mind my dulness, I am used to long intervals of it. The heavens seem brass to me—then again comes the refreshing shower. “I have been merry once or twice ere now.”
You said something about Mr. Mitford in a late letter, which I believe I did not advert to. I shall be happy to show him my Milton (it is all the show things I have) at any time he will take the trouble of a jaunt to Islington. I do also hope to see Mr. Taylor there some day. Pray say so to both.
Coleridge’s book is good part printed, but sticks a little for more copy. It bears an unsaleable Title—Extracts from Bishop Leighton—but I am confident there will be plenty of good notes in it, more of Bishop Coleridge than Leighton, I hope; for what is Leighton?
Do you trouble yourself about Libel cases? The Decision against Hunt for the “Vision of Judgment” made me sick. What is to become of the old talk about our good old King—his personal virtues saving us from a revolution &c. &c. Why, none that think it can utter it now. It must stink. And the Vision is really, as to Him-ward, such a tolerant good humour’d thing. What a wretched thing a Lord Chief Justice is, always was, & will be!
| 636 | LETTERS OF C. AND M. LAMB | Jan. |
Keep your good spirits up, dear B B—mine will return—They are at present in abeyance. But I am rather lethargic than miserable. I don’t know but a good horse whip would be more beneficial to me than Physic. My head, without aching, will teach yours to ache. It is well I am getting to the conclusion. I will send a better letter when I am a better man. Let me thank you for your kind concern for me (which I trust will have reason soon to be dissipated) & assure you that it gives me pleasure to hear from you.—
