“I have been a good deal occupied in changing and furnishing my lodgings, and have had but little time for writing, and I have no access to books, as mine have not yet been returned from Italy, but they are on the route, and I hope to keep you supplied with admissible matter. Your account of the sale is gratifying, and I should think must be satisfactory to Mr. Colburn, even should it not advance further, though his heavy expenses must demand a wide circulation.
“That you should not receive much novelty is natural enough, for who the deuce can hit upon anything new, when half the world are racking their brains to do the same. The magazine certainly improves, and as far as I can judge from those who see it here, and at Galignani’s, gives great satisfaction.
“I had heard of poor Leigh
Hunt’s adventure, I hope to heaven he will get out to
Italy somehow, for this is the very crisis of his fate, not only as it may
remove him from all the devilry with which he has been so long beleaguered, but
that it may place him within the powerful influence of Lord Byron. His non-arrival has occasioned a whole chapter of
embarrassments at Pisa, where his lordship has appropriated a part of his
palace for his reception, and has matured the other plans for which he was
wanted. What these are I do not exactly know, but Shelley is only interested as an occasional contributor, and
none of the party will dream of heretical, still less of atheistical theories,
in a periodical publication which would be inevitably sup-
| 202 | FIFTY YEARS’ RECOLLECTIONS, |
“Human punishments and rewards will generally be found sufficient for human control, so far as it can really be controlled. Jack Ketch is the most effectual devil, and the gallows the most practical hell, the theoretical ones, which could not deter from crime, are seldom much thought of by the rogue until these most tangible ones are about to punish him.
“John Hunt is a fine spirited fellow, and I beg to be kindly remembered to him.
“I am delighted with France, particularly Versailles, and do not think of an immediate return. There is very good English society here.
|
* Such were the charitable reports of those at the time, who professing outrageous orthodoxy, and exclusive piety, lived practical heretics and atheists. We have seen better times, and more charity. |
| LITERARY AND PERSONAL. | 203 |
“I never look at the magazine without wondering how you get through the labour, which I fear is too heavy to allow you any trip to this side, where I should be most happy to see you. I have taken apartments and furnished them myself, which I find a much cheaper plan.
