“I am sincerely glad you have made so promising an engagement, and that you are likely to have your mind undisturbed for so long a period by harassing negotiations with booksellers.
“My illness is of a nature absolutely to preclude writing, and I have no prospect of any change from constant and dreadful suffering.
“I honour exceedingly the perfect openness of the statement preceding the request in your letter. I allude particularly to the use you made of the probability of another advance from me, if necessity should urge you to apply again. Let there never be any false shame or concealment between us.—Farewell, and believe me ever your attached and faithful friend,
