Jeffrey?’—­’there is nothing but roguery in villanous man.’  But I absolve him of all attacks, present and future; for I think he had already pushed his clemency in my behoof to the utmost, and I shall always think well of him.  I only wonder he did not begin before, as my domestic destruction was a fine opening for all the world, of which all who could did well to avail themselves.

“If I live ten years longer, you will see, however, that it is not over with me—­I don’t mean in literature, for that is nothing; and it may seem odd enough to say, I do not think it my vocation.  But you will see that I shall do something or other—­the times and fortune permitting—­that, ’like the cosmogony, or creation of the world, will puzzle the philosophers of all ages.’  But I doubt whether my constitution will hold out.  I have, at intervals, ex_or_cised it most devilishly.

“I have not yet fixed a time of return, but I think of the spring.  I shall have been away a year in April next.  You never mention Rogers, nor Hodgson, your clerical neighbour, who has lately got a living near you.  Has he also got a child yet?—­his desideratum, when I saw him last.

     “Pray let me hear from you, at your time and leisure, believing me
     ever and truly and affectionately,” &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 264.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Venice, March 3. 1817.

“In acknowledging the arrival of the article from the ‘Quarterly[129],’ which I received two days ago, I cannot express myself better than in the words of my sister Augusta, who (speaking of it) says, that it is written in a spirit ’of the most feeling and kind nature.’  It is, however, something more; it seems to me (as far as the subject of it may be permitted to judge) to be very well written as a composition, and I think will do the journal no discredit, because even those who condemn its partiality must praise its generosity.  The temptations to take another and a less favourable view of the question have been so great and numerous, that, what with public opinion, politics, &c. he must be a gallant as well as a good man, who has ventured in that place, and at this time, to write such an article even anonymously.  Such things are, however, their own reward; and I even flatter myself that the writer, whoever he may be (and I have no guess), will not regret that the perusal of this has given me as much gratification as any composition of that nature could give, and more than any other has given,—­and I have had a good many in my time of one kind or the other.  It is not the mere praise, but there is a tact and a delicacy throughout, not only with regard to me, but to others, which, as it had not been observed elsewhere, I had till now doubted whether it could be observed any where.

     “Perhaps some day or other you will know or tell me the writer’s
     name.  Be assured, had the article been a harsh one, I should not
     have asked it.