“My friend Mrs. Reid has just arrived; and she brings me the very agreeable news that your sermons are coming to me from yourself. I had seen the advertisement, with a sort of envious feeling of those in whose way that book would come; and I am not a little pleased at the prospect of having it, and from your hand.
“A parcel will soon be coming to me from Mrs. Reid’s (6, Grenville Street, Brunswick Square), and I shall be much obliged if you will either have the book left there, or tell her servants to which of my publishers to send for the parcel.
“Some months ago, when publishing ‘The Hour and the Man,’ I ordered a copy to be sent to you. I did this, not with any idea that you would not
* Miss Mitford’s letter of April 3rd, 1815, to Sir William Elford. See Vol I., at pages 305-6 of her Life. |
HARRIET MARTINEAU. | 149 |
“You will have heard (so many common friends as we have) that I
am not better, nor expecting to be so. Your experience among the sick will prevent your
being surprised, perhaps, at what has surprised me—that I have never once felt the
slightest and most transient desire to be well. The divine repose of life in two rooms (especially with a fine sea-view); the simplification of duty
to one rather prone to be tender-conscienced; and the perpetual feast of the heart
administered by the kindness of friends, are good things, in the midst of which bodily
troubles are lost and forgotten on review, if not from moment to moment. Into another
part of the matter, Pascal had insight:
‘Quand on se porte bien, on ne comprend pas comment on pourrait faire si
l’on était malade; et quand on l’est, on prend médecine gaie-
150 | HARRIET MARTINEAU. |
“I should not have thought he had known enough of health to write the above. On the whole, his deficiencies seem to be those which arise from want of knowledge of a healthy state, and of sympathy with those who are well.
“Pray remember me kindly to Miss Harness, and believe me, very truly yours.