“P.S.  I have redde * *.  It is full of praises of Lord
     Ellenborough!!! (from which I infer near and dear relations at the
     bar), and * * * *.

     “I do not love Madame de Stael; but, depend upon it, she beats all
     your natives hollow as an authoress, in my opinion; and I would not
     say this if I could help it.

     “P.S.  Pray report my best acknowledgments to Mr. Gifford in any
     words that may best express how truly his kindness obliges me.  I
     won’t bore him with lip thanks or notes.”

* * * * *

TO MR. MOORE.

     “January 13. 1814.

“I have but a moment to write, but all is as it should be.  I have said really far short of my opinion, but if you think enough, I am content.  Will you return the proof by the post, as I leave town on Sunday, and have no other corrected copy.  I put ‘servant,’ as being less familiar before the public; because I don’t like presuming upon our friendship to infringe upon forms.  As to the other word, you may be sure it is one I cannot hear or repeat too often.

     “I write in an agony of haste and confusion.—­Perdonate.”

* * * * *

LETTER 157.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “January 15. 1814.

“Before any proof goes to Mr. Gifford, it may be as well to revise this, where there are words omitted, faults committed, and the devil knows what.  As to the dedication, I cut out the parenthesis of Mr.[9], but not another word shall move unless for a better.  Mr. Moore has seen, and decidedly preferred the part your Tory bile sickens at.  If every syllable were a rattle-snake, or every letter a pestilence, they should not be expunged.  Let those who cannot swallow chew the expressions on Ireland; or should even Mr. Croker array himself in all his terrors them, I care for none of you, except Gifford; and he won’t abuse me, except I deserve it—­which will at least reconcile me to his justice.  As to the poems in Hobhouse’s volume, the translation from the Romaic is well enough; but the best of the other volume (of mine, I mean) have been already printed.  But do as you please—­only, as I shall be absent when you come out, do, pray, let Mr. Dallas and you have a care of the press.  Yours,” &c.

[Footnote 9:  He had at first, after the words “Scott alone,” inserted, in a parenthesis,—­“He will excuse the Mr.——­’we do not say Mr. Caesar.’”]

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

     ["1814.  January 16.]

“I do believe that the devil never created or perverted such a fiend as the fool of a printer.[10] I am obliged to enclose you, luckily for me, this second proof, corrected, because there is an ingenuity in his blunders peculiar to himself.  Let the press be guided by the present sheet.  Yours, &c.

     “Burn the other.