mortal,—if a queen of the Amazons may be
believed, who says [Greek: ariston cholos
oiphei]. I quote from memory, so my Greek is
probably deficient; but the passage is _meant_
to mean *.
“Seriously, I am in, what the learned call, a dilemma, and the vulgar, a scrape; and my friends desire me not to be in a passion; and, like Sir Fretful, I assure them that I am ’quite calm,’—but I am nevertheless in a fury.
“Since I wrote thus far, a friend has come in, and we have been talking and buffooning till I have quite lost the thread of my thoughts; and, as I won’t send them unstrung to you, good morning, and
“Believe me ever, &c.
“P.S. Murray, during my absence, omitted the Tears in several of the copies. I have made him replace them, and am very wroth with his qualms,—’as the wine is poured out, let it be drunk to the dregs.’”
* * * * *
TO MR. MURRAY.
“February 10. 1814.
“I am much better, and indeed quite well, this morning. I have received two, but I presume there are more of the Ana, subsequently, and also something previous, to which the Morning Chronicle replied. You also mentioned a parody on the Skull. I wish to see them all, because there may be things that require notice either by pen or person.
“Yours, &c.
“You need not
trouble yourself to answer this; but send me the
things when you get
them.”
* * * * *
TO MR. MURRAY.
“February 12. 1814.
“If you have copies
of the ‘Intercepted Letters,’ Lady Holland
would be glad of a volume;
and when you have served others, have
the goodness to think
of your humble servant.
“You have played the devil by that injudicious suppression, which you did totally without my consent. Some of the papers have exactly said what might be expected. Now I do not, and will not be supposed to shrink, although myself and every thing belonging to me were to perish with my memory. Yours, &c. BN.
“P.S. Pray
attend to what I stated yesterday on technical
topics.”
* * * * *
LETTER 163. TO MR. MURRAY.
“Monday, February 14. 1814.
“Before I left town yesterday, I wrote you a note, which I presume you received. I have heard so many different accounts of your proceedings, or rather of those of others towards you, in consequence of the publication of these everlasting lines, that I am anxious to hear from yourself the real state of the case. Whatever responsibility, obloquy, or effect is to arise from the publication, should surely not fall upon you in any degree; and I can