“You will oblige me very much by making an occasional enquiry at Albany, at my chambers, whether my books, &c. are kept in tolerable order, and how far my old woman[67] continues in health and industry as keeper of my old den.  Your parcels have been duly received and perused; but I had hoped to receive ‘Guy Mannering’ before this time.  I won’t intrude further for the present on your avocations, professional or pleasurable, but am, as usual,

     “Very truly,” &c.

[Footnote 67:  Mrs. Mule.]

* * * * *

LETTER 213.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “February 4. 1815.

“I enclose you half a letter from * *, which will explain itself—­at least the latter part—­the former refers to private business of mine own.  If Jeffrey will take such an article, and you will undertake the revision, or, indeed, any portion of the article itself, (for unless you do, by Phoebus, I will have nothing to do with it,) we can cook up, between us three, as pretty a dish of sour-crout as ever tipped over the tongue of a bookmaker.

“You can, at any rate, try Jeffrey’s inclination.  Your late proposal from him made me hint this to * *, who is a much better proser and scholar than I am, and a very superior man indeed.  Excuse haste—­answer this.  Ever yours most,

     “B.

     “P.S.  All is well at home.  I wrote to you yesterday.”

* * * * *

LETTER 214.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “February 10. 1815.

     “My dear Tom,

“Jeffrey has been so very kind about me and my damnable works, that I would not be indirect or equivocal with him, even for a friend.  So, it may be as well to tell him that it is not mine; but that if I did not firmly and truly believe it to be much better than I could offer, I would never have troubled him or you about it.  You can judge between you how far it is admissible, and reject it, if not of the right sort.  For my own part, I have no interest in the article one way or the other, further than to oblige * *; and should the composition be a good one, it can hurt neither party,—­nor, indeed, any one, saving and excepting Mr. * * * *.

“Curse catch me if I know what H * * means or meaned about the demonstrative pronoun[68], but I admire your fear of being inoculated with the same.  Have you never found out that you have a particular style of your own, which is as distinct from all other people, as Hafiz of Shiraz from Hafiz of the Morning Post?

“So you allowed B * * and such like to hum and haw you, or, rather, Lady J * * out of her compliment, and me out of mine.[69] Sun-burn me, but this was pitiful-hearted.  However, I will tell her all about it when I see her.