bewildered.  To me he was much, to Hobhouse every thing.—­My poor Hobhouse doted on Matthews.  For me, I did not love quite so much as I honoured him; I was indeed so sensible of his infinite superiority, that though I did not envy, I stood in awe of it.  He, Hobhouse, Davies, and myself, formed a coterie of our own at Cambridge and elsewhere.  Davies is a wit and man of the world, and feels as much as such a character can do; but not as Hobhouse has been affected.  Davies, who is not a scribbler, has always beaten us all in the war of words, and by his colloquial powers at once delighted and kept us in order.  H. and myself always had the worst of it with the other two; and even M. yielded to the dashing vivacity of S.D.  But I am talking to you of men, or boys, as if you cared about such beings.

“I expect mine agent down on the 14th to proceed to Lancashire, where I hear from all quarters that I have a very valuable property in coals, &c.  I then intend to accept an invitation to Cambridge in October, and shall, perhaps, run up to town.  I have four invitations—­to Wales, Dorset, Cambridge, and Chester; but I must be a man of business.  I am quite alone, as these long letters sadly testify.  I perceive, by referring to your letter, that the Ode is from the author; make my thanks acceptable to him.  His muse is worthy a nobler theme.  You will write as usual, I hope.  I wish you good evening, and am,” &c.

* * * *

LETTER 67.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Newstead Abbey, Notts., Sept. 14. 1811.

     “Sir,

“Since your former letter, Mr. Dallas informs me that the MS. has been submitted to the perusal of Mr. Gifford, most contrary to my wishes, as Mr. D. could have explained, and as my own letter to you did, in fact, explain, with my motives for objecting to such a proceeding.  Some late domestic events, of which you are probably aware, prevented my letter from being sent before; indeed, I hardly conceived you would so hastily thrust my productions into the hands of a stranger, who could be as little pleased by receiving them, as their author is at their being offered, in such a manner, and to such a man.

     “My address, when I leave Newstead, will be to ’Rochdale,
     Lancashire;’ but I have not yet fixed the day of departure, and I
     will apprise you when ready to set off.

“You have placed me in a very ridiculous situation, but it is past, and nothing more is to be said on the subject.  You hinted to me that you wished some alterations to be made; if they have nothing to do with politics or religion, I will make them with great readiness.  I am, Sir,” &c.&c.

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Newstead Abbey, Sept. 16. 1811.[26]