“If ever I attended a public dinner, I should like to have been present at that which the people gave to you.  Never let them be quiet until the Church has gone to the devil, its lawful owner, and till something a little like Christianity takes its place.  If parsons are to be Lords, it is but right and reasonable that the Queen should be Pope.  Indeed, I have no objection to this, but I have to the other.  What a singularity it is that those who profess a belief in Christ do not obey Him, while those who profess it in Mahomet or Moses or Boodh are obedient to their precepts, if not in certain points of morality, in all things else.  Carlyle is a vigorous thinker, but a vile writer, worse than Bulwer.  I breakfasted in company with him at Milman’s.  Macaulay was there, a clever clown, and Moore too, whom I had not seen till then.  Between those two Scotchmen he appeared like a glow-worm between two thistles.  There were several other folks, literary and half literary, Lord Northampton, &c., &c.  I forgot Rogers.  Milman has written the two best volumes of poetry we have seen lately; but when Miss Garrow publishes hers I am certain there will be a total eclipse of them.  My friend Hare’s brother, who married a sister of the impudent coxcomb, Edward Stanley, has bought a house at Torquay, and Hare tells me that unless he goes to Sicily be shall be there in winter.  If so, we may meet; but Bath is my dear delight in all seasons.  I have been sitting for my picture, and have given it to Mrs. Paynter.  It is admirably executed by Fisher.

“Yours ever,

“W.S.L.”

* * * * *

These letters are all written upon the old-fashioned square sheet of letter paper, some gilt-edged, entirely written over, even to the turned-down ends, and heavily sealed.

Mr. Forster says no word about the Deputy-Lieutenantcy, and Landor’s anger and disgust in connection with it.  He must necessarily have known all about it, but probably in the exuberance of his material did not think it worth mentioning.  But it evidently left almost as painful an impression on Landor’s mind as the famous refusal of the Duke of Beaufort to appoint him a justice of the peace.

During the later portion of my life at Florence, and subsequently at Rome, Mr. G.P.  Marsh and his very charming wife were among our most valued friends for many years.  Marsh was an exception to the prevailing American rule, which for the most part changes their diplomatists with the change of President.  He had been United States minister at Constantinople and at Turin before he came to Florence with the Italian monarchy.  At Rome he was “the Dean” of the diplomatic body, and on many occasions various representative duties fell upon him as such which were especially unwelcome to him.  The determination of the Great Powers to send ambassadors to the Court of the Quirinal instead of ministers plenipotentiary, as previously, came as a great boon to Mr. Marsh.  For as the United States send no ambassadors, his position as longest in office of all the diplomatic body no longer placed him at the head of it.