The Life and Letters of John Gibson Lockhart
Chapter 18: 1837-43
John Gibson Lockhart to Henry Hart Milman, 27 December 1845
“December 27, 1845.
“My dear Milman,—You
could not have told me more agreeable news. Be early ready, and be sure you
shall have the last touch at the last proof. ![]()
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I quite understand that a profane hand might do harm by the least alteration
of a colon—to say nothing of a diphthong.
“I suppose you rather approve of sending a few
Littlemore black sheep for the wide tables of the New Zealanders. G. will for the present be occupied with
anti-agricultural schedules and devils-dustrial calculations; but, depend on
it, his creed will by-and-by show itself in Elections of Antipodal
Mitres—if—if—if—if the
Government endureth—a right pregnant if.
“Ellenburgh is
writing a Proclamation, say his colleagues to be—but on what subject, or
what place he is to have, I have not as yet been informed. I think, in case of
war with Jonathan, he would do well at the Admiralty.
Indeed, I don’t know why he might not replace Arthur
presently as well as Albert. The Queen could make him a Field-Marshal if she
liked, and I back him to invent a hat that would please even Jeames.1
“All good things be on you and your household, now
and ever. Amen.
“P.S.—Have you read
Arnold’s second volume? I
suppose his work ought to be reviewed, and I am sure you are the proper
person, if you should feel disposed.
“I shall get to London about the end of this
month, and so I suppose will you—so my rural flir-
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| 222 | LIFE OF J. G. LOCKHART. | |
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tations with the house of Maryburgh must lie over
until another season. Tell me, if you write again, what you think of the
Duke’s health. I take it for granted you have seen a good deal of him
as well as of your other neighbours; also whether you have heard anything
particular lately touching
Lord
Brougham.
“Kindest respects to Mrs. Milman, in spite of all her sarcasms upon
Thomas Arnold (1795-1842)
Of Corpus Christi College, Oxford; he was headmaster of Rugby School (1827-42) and father
of the poet Matthew Arnold.
Henry Peter Brougham, first baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)
Educated at Edinburgh University, he was a founder of the
Edinburgh
Review in which he chastised Byron's
Hours of Idleness; he
defended Queen Caroline in her trial for adultery (1820), established the London University
(1828), and was appointed lord chancellor (1830).
Edward Law, first earl of Ellenborough (1790-1871)
Tory MP; he succeeded his father as second baron Ellenborough in 1818 and was president
of the Board of Control (1828-30, 1834-35, 1841, 1858) and governor-general of India
(1841).
John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854)
Editor of the
Quarterly Review (1825-1853); son-in-law of Walter
Scott and author of the
Life of Scott 5 vols (1838).
Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868)
Educated at Eton and Brasenose College, Oxford, he was a poet, historian and dean of St
Paul's (1849) who wrote for the
Quarterly Review.
