“Dear Patmore,— * * * I am fortunate, as well as honoured, in having escaped, upon the whole, so comfortably from the effects of an indignation which I felt pretty sure I had provoked.
“After all, I do not think the difference between us so very wide; for I yield to your favourite all the attributes you wish as to genius, and the power of seizing at least the ridicule of character, which he does, I think, quite as well, if not a great deal better, than perhaps all modern authors.
“But to the charge that my criticism is not conceived
in a kindly spirit, I plead not guilty. Why should it be an unkindly one
because I cannot admire either the hero or heroine, though I feel the wrongs of
the gentleman as much as you would have me, and think the scene between him and
| 160 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“I shall be truly glad to hear of its success, though where to look for an account of it I don’t well know, seeing so little of the press in this retirement. I had hoped for it in the ‘Spectator’ to-day, but was disappointed.
“I am exceedingly amused with your account of the gossip in Mrs. ——’s boudoir. I have fancied her to myself a sort of Lady Hungerford. Is she so? I trust you pay proper court to her, en vrai De Clifford. If she is like the print of her in a former ‘New Monthly,’ she must be worth it, exclusive of her talents. * * *
“With this I must say farewell, for my letter is called for.
