You will be surprised, after my last letter, to hear from me so soon again, and that my assistance in the next number must be left doubtful. Some circumstances have occurred, of consequence only to myself, which will entirely occupy my time, and render it impossible to do the articles well, if I can do them at all. I have to apologize to you for this apparent mutability, but I am quite certain you would justify me if you knew my reasons.
| MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. | 23 |
The present Administration have put nobody into Parliament: they are too strong to want clever young men.
I must be candid with you, my dear Jeffrey, and tell you that I do not like your article on the Scotch Courts; and with me think many persons whose opinions I am sure you would respect. I subscribe to none of your reasonings, hardly, about juries; and the manner in which you have done it is far from happy. You have made, too, some egregious mistakes about English law, pointed out to me by one of the first lawyers in the King’s Bench. I like to tell you these things, because you never do so well as when you are humbled and frightened, and if you could be alarmed into the semblance of modesty, you would charm everybody; but remember my joke against you about the moon;—“D—n the solar system! bad light—planets too distant—pestered with comets—feeble contrivance;—could make a better with great ease.”
I sincerely hope you will be up here in the spring. It is long since we met, and I want to talk over old and new times with you. God bless you!
