a conversation once or twice in five years, if so often; and so we find or pick what we call our proper path, though it be only from stone to stone, or from island to island, in a very rude, stilted, and violent fashion.  With such solitariness and frigidities, you may judge I was glad to see Clough here, with whom I had established some kind of robust working-friendship, and who had some great permanent values for me.  Had he not taken me by surprise and fled in a night, I should have done what I could to block his way.  I am too sure he will not return.  The first months comprise all the shocks of disappointment that are likely to disgust a new-comer.  The sphere of opportunity opens slowly, but to a man of his abilities and culture—­rare enough here—­with the sureness of chemistry.  The Giraffe entering Paris wore the label, “Eh bien, messieurs, il n’y a qu’une bete de plus!” And Oxonians are cheap in London; but here, the eternal economy of sending things where they are wanted makes a commanding claim.  Do not suffer him to relapse into London.  He had made himself already cordially welcome to many good people, and would have soon made his own place.  He had just established his valise at my house, and was to come—­the gay deceiver—­once a fortnight for his Sunday; and his individualities and his nationalities are alike valuable to me.  I beseech you not to commend his unheroic retreat.

I have lately made, one or two drafts on your goodness,—­which I hate to do, both because you meet them so generously, and because you never give me an opportunity of revenge,—­and mainly in the case of Miss Bacon, who has a private history that entitles her to high respect, and who could be helped only by facilitating her Shakespeare studies, in which she has the faith and ardor of a discoverer.  Bancroft was to have given her letters to Hallam, but gave one to Sir H. Ellis.  Everett, I believe, gave her one to Mr. Grote; and when I told her what I remembered hearing of Spedding, she was eager to see him; which access I knew not how to secure, except through you.  She wrote me that she prospers in all things, and had just received at once a summons to meet Spedding at your house.  But do not fancy that I send any one to you heedlessly; for I value your time at its rate to nations, and refuse many more letters than I give.  I shall not send you any more people without good reason.

Your visit to Germany will stand you in stead, when the annoyances of the journey are forgotten, and, in spite of your disclaimers, I am preparing to read your history of Frederic.  You are an inveterate European, and rightfully stand for your polity and antiquities and culture:  and I have long since forborne to importune you with America, as if it were a humorous repetition of Johnson’s visit to Scotland.  And yet since Thackeray’s adventure, I have often thought how you would bear the pains and penalties; and have painted out your march triumphal.