“Very few things could give me more pleasure than what you communicated in your last; and I trust it will, for the present at least, quiet your not unnatural anxieties. I cannot at all flatter myself that anything was able to say to —— influenced his change of decision; but from very sincere regard for your interest, and very unceasing wonder, as well as regret, to think you in a position so totally unworthy your attainments and deserts, I should be glad to think I could have been of the smallest service; which, however, I do not.
“I would have answered your letter much sooner, but
have been, I trust not dangerously, but uncomfortably ill, so as to be
particularly disabled from writing, the attack having been of bilious
giddiness. I quite enter into the propriety of your resolution, as soon as
possible to set yourself free from the uncertainties of a situation so totally
| 164 | R. PLUMER WARD. |
“As to my bantling, I am an utter blank concerning it, having heard no one word about it, good or bad; except, indeed, from my sister-in-law, Lady Mulgrave, who, upon the information of about half the first volume, compliments me upon what she calls a freshness equal to ‘Tremaine.’ Well, if the world will think so too, no bad account.
Next week, I suppose, will bring something.
“Enough this, for a still giddy man; so I will no more than that I am as usual, “Much yours,
“I could not make out the name you gave to your supposed author of ‘Cecil.’ Pray repeat it. I have looked in vain for any other review than yours of the ‘Engagement.’ Extraordinary!”
