[Footnote 48:  The following characteristic note, in reference to this passage, appears, in Mr. Gifford’s hand-writing, on the copy of the above letter:—­“It is a pity that Lord B. was ignorant of Jonson.  The old poet has a Satire on the Court Pucelle that would have supplied him with some pleasantry on Johanna’s pregnancy.”]

* * * * *

LETTER 198.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Newstead Abbey, September 7. 1814.

“I should think Mr. Hogg, for his own sake as well as yours, would be ‘critical’ as Iago himself in his editorial capacity; and that such a publication would answer his purpose, and yours too, with tolerable management.  You should, however, have a good number to start with—­I mean, good in quality; in these days, there can be little fear of not coming up to the mark in quantity.  There must be many ‘fine things’ in Wordsworth; but I should think it difficult to make six quartos (the amount of the whole) all fine, particularly the pedler’s portion of the poem; but there can be no doubt of his powers to do almost any thing.

“I am ‘very idle.’  I have read the few books I had with me, and been forced to fish, for lack of argument.  I have caught a great many perch and some carp, which is a comfort, as one would not lose one’s labour willingly.

“Pray, who corrects the press of your volumes?  I hope ‘The Corsair’ is printed from the copy I corrected, with the additional lines in the first Canto, and some notes from Sismondi and Lavater, which I gave you to add thereto.  The arrangement is very well.

“My cursed people have not sent my papers since Sunday, and I have lost Johanna’s divorce from Jupiter.  Who hath gotten her with prophet?  Is it Sharpe, and how? * * * I should like to buy one of her seals:  if salvation can be had at half-a-guinea a head, the landlord of the Crown and Anchor should be ashamed of himself for charging double for tickets to a mere terrestrial banquet.  I am afraid, seriously, that these matters will lend a sad handle to your profane scoffers, and give a loose to much damnable laughter.

     “I have not seen Hunt’s Sonnets nor Descent of Liberty:  he has
     chosen a pretty place wherein to compose the last.  Let me hear from
     you before you embark.  Ever,” &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 199.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “Newstead Abbey, September 15. 1814.