Your very kind letter induces me to trouble you with this most trivial of trifles.  My plan has been in these few pages so to mix up any observations which I had to make on the present state of society with the bustle and hurry of a story, that my satire should never be protruded on my reader.  If you will look at the last chapter but one, entitled “Lady Modeley’s,” you will see what I mean better than I can express it.  The first pages of that chapter I have written in the same manner as I would a common novel, but I have endeavoured to put in action at the end, the present fashion of getting on in the world.  I write no humbug about “candidly giving your opinion, etc., etc.”  You must be aware that you cannot do me a greater favour than refusing to publish it, if you think it won’t do; and who should be a better judge than yourself?

Believe me ever to be, my dear Sir,

Your most faithful and obliged,

B. DISRAELI. [Footnote:  It will be observed that while the father maintained the older spelling of the name, the son invariably writes it thus.]

P.S.—­The second and the last chapters are unfortunately mislaid, but they have no particular connection with the story.  They are both very short, the first contains an adventure on the road, and the last Mr. Papillon’s banishment under the Alien Act from a ministerial misconception of a metaphysical sonnet.

Thursday morn.:  Excuse want of seal, as we’re doing a bit of summer to-day, and there is not a fire in the house.

FREDERICK PLACE, May 25, 1824.

1/2 past 1 o’clock A.M.

MY DEAR SIR,

The travels, to which I alluded this morning, would not bind up with “Parry,” since a moderate duodecimo would contain the adventures of a certain Mr. Aylmer Papillon in a terra incognita.  I certainly should never have mentioned them had I been aware that you were so very much engaged, and I only allude to them once more that no confusion may arise from the half-explanations given this morning.  You will oblige me by not mentioning this to anybody.

Believe me to be, my dear Sir,

Your very faithful and obliged Servant,

B. DISRAELI.

FREDERICK PLACE, June 1824.

MY DEAR SIR,

Until I received your note this morning I had flattered myself that my indiscretion had been forgotten.  It is to me a matter of great regret that, as appears by your letter, any more trouble should be given respecting this unfortunate MS., which will, most probably, be considered too crude a production for the public, and which, if it is even imagined to possess any interest, is certainly too late for this season, and will be obsolete in the next.  I think, therefore, that the sooner it be put behind the fire the better, and as you have some small experience in burning MSS., [Footnote:  Byron’s Memoirs had been burnt at Albemarle Street during the preceding month.] you will be perhaps so kind as to consign it to the flames.  Once more apologising for all the trouble I have given you, I remain ever, my dear Sir,