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Literary Life of the Rev. William Harness
William Harness to A. G. K. L'Estrange, 27 February 1869
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Contents
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
Chapter XI.
Chapter XII.
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“Kensington Gore,
“Feb. 27, 1869.

“Many thanks, my dear L’Estrange. for your present, with which my brother and I opened our dinner yesterday. They are excellent and most acceptable.

“I enter my eightieth year to-morrow fortnight! All my romance about convent life is put to flight for ever; and I am told, by those who have seen the nuns, that their ugliness is past belief. I think it would be an excellent thing—as very many Roman Catholics do—that it would be a great reform of their ecclesiastical system, if the clergy were allowed to marry, i.e., if no vow of celibacy were enforced on ordination; but I must condemn the man who first voluntarily takes the vow, and then considers himself justified in breaking it.

“I don’t understand about zoophytes; you must teach me. I was very much shocked to hear of poor Delawarr’s death. He was an excellent and charming person. Considering that he always looked delicate and consumptive in early life, it was a marvel that he lived to be so old. He and I were, great friends once; but I never could be at the trouble of keeping up noble friendships, unless the coronet did two-thirds of the business.

“I believe there was no actual quarrel with
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Byron. It was simply a case of incompatibility. The ardour of B. was more than D. could adequately meet. But I must be off to read the Chief Justice’s charge anent the nuns; and I have very little time to do it in, as I must go and see poor Dyce, who is very ill indeed. Mrs. Disney is dead. The Dean is in deep grief.

“My sister’s kind remembrances.

“Yours ever affectionately,
“William Harness.”