On March 19th, Sir Richard finished his last volume of the Supplemental Nights, and in May he was visited at Trieste by his old friend, F. F. Arbuthnot.

On the 15th of April (1888) occurred the death of Matthew Arnold, who had for some years enjoyed a Civil List pension of (pounds)250 a year; and the event had scarcely been announced before Lady Burton, without consulting her husband,[FN#553] telegraphed to the Government to “give Burton Arnold’s pension.”  This step, characteristic as it was indiscreet, naturally did not effect its purpose.

Chapter xxxiii 19th March 1888-15th October 1888 The Last Visit to England “The Supplemental Nights”

Bibliography: 

76. 1st Vol.  Supplemental Nights, 1st December 1886. 6th Vol. 1st August 1888.

152.  Meeting with Mr. Swinburne and others, 18th July 1888-15th October 1888.

Burton’s health continuing weak, he again endeavoured to induce the Government to release him from his duties.  Instead of that, they gave him what he calls “an informal sick certificate,” and from the following letter to his sister (26th May 1888) we may judge that it was not given gracefully.

“Yesterday,” he says, “I got my leave accompanied by some disagreeable expressions which will be of use to me when retiring.  We leave Trieste in June and travel leisurely over the St. Gothard and expect to be in England about the 10th. ...  The meteorologists declare that the heat is going to equal the cold.  Folky[FN#554] folk are like their neighbours, poor devils who howl for excitement—­want of anything better to do.  The dreadful dull life of England accounts for many British madnesses.  Do you think of the Crystal Palace this year?  We have an old friend, Aird, formerly the Consul here, who has taken up his abode somewhere in Sydenham.  I don’t want cold water bandages, the prospect of leave makes me sleep quite well.  With love and kisses to both,[FN#555] Your affectionate brother, R. F. B.”

Burton and his wife reached Folkestone on July 18th.  Next day they went on to London, where they had the pleasure of meeting again Commander Cameron, Mr. Henry Irving, M. Du Chaillu, Mr. A. C. Swinburne, and Mr. Theodore Watts[-Dunton].  What Burton was to Mr. Swinburne is summed up in the phrase—­“the light that on earth was he."[FN#556]

153.  H. W. Ashbee.

His principal place of resort, however, during this visit was the house of Mr. H. W. Ashbee, 54, Bedford Square, where he met not only Mr. Ashbee, but also Dr. Steingass, Mr. Arbuthnot, Sir Charles Wingfield and Mr. John Payne, all of whom were interested, in different ways, in matters Oriental.  Ashbee, who wrote under the name of Pisanus Fraxi (Bee of an ash), was a curiously matter-of-fact, stoutish, stolid, affable man, with a Maupassantian taste for low life, its humours and laxities.  He was familiar with it everywhere, from the sordid purlieus of Whitechapel