“My dear Patmore,—I have been ungratefully faulty in not sooner answering your last kind letter (I am afraid even to look at the date), nor will I make things worse by the only cause, not excuse, I can assign for it—too much leisure, and consequent procrastination. In short,
“‘I blush and am confounded to appear Before thy presence, Cato.’ |
“By the bye, were you ever called Cato before? * * *
“I shall be quite sorry to come to town, though it may
give me an opportunity of seeing the few friends I have not survived in the
world, you among the best of them. My deafness, however, and the hours I am
obliged
| 114 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“I could sometimes wish it otherwise, as I did lately, when Peel asked me for a few days to Drayton, to meet some of our old political friends, which I felt forced to decline on account of my being a bore from my infirmity [his deafness]. I mention it, however, chiefly to add his amusing mode of invitation. He said he was glad to see, as I had quitted politics, that I had betaken myself to literature, adding, ‘tam Marti, quam Mercurio,’—‘by which,’ said he, ‘you see, I suppose Mars had a seat at a military board, perhaps the Ordnance.’
“Now pray tell me what was the ill-usage or discouragement which, in one of your letters, you said the Tories had given you? Peel’s name made me recollect this. All I can say is, that if they disgusted you, they were uncommon fools for their pains.
“You talk of reviewers, and well. I have
| R. PLUMER WARD. | 115 |
“By the way, have you ever happened to hear more of the pamphlet? It got to Edinburgh; for Lord Rosebery (my wife’s cousin) wrote word he had been reading it after the review. Do you recollect whether one was sent to Lord Lonsdale? If not, pray order one to him. He wrote me about the essay, and said it had disturbed all his views about the character of the Revolutionists of 1688; and thought I had a great deal of courage not to fear the hornets of the present day. I think, however, I pride myself upon it, and, having just read the essay again, own (though I am not a proper judge) that I value it as a work, and think it may in time be valued by the sober part of the world as much as ‘Tremaine.’
“So much for self-deceit. * * *
“Pour moi, I necessarily read and write a great deal—both chiefly concerning the great subject ‘Human Life,’ which may possibly produce more fruit.
| 116 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“I find the ‘Pictures’ more spoken of, and read much here. My real studies, however, are biblical, in which, with ten thousand differences with the orthodox, I venture to hope I can satisfy myself.
“Adieu. Pray write to me, notwithstanding I don’t deserve it. But tell me what you are about, and answer me in respect to your wishes as to ——. Meantime, believe that I am,
