[Footnote 1: The work referred to was probably that on the _Early History
of Rome_.--ED.]
Paris, April 1, 1856.
I write a few lines to you at Marseilles, my dear Senior, as you
wished.[1] I hope that you will terminate your great journey as
felicitously as you seem to me to have carried it on from the beginning.
The undertaking appears to have been a complete success. I wish that it
might induce you next year to cross over the ocean to America. I should
be much interested in hearing and reading your remarks upon that society.
But perhaps Mrs. Senior will not be so ready to start off again; so, that
I may not involve myself in a quarrel with her, I will say no more on the
subject.
I am longing to see you, for beside our old and intimate friendship I
shall be delighted to talk with such an interesting converser, and, above
all, to find myself again in the company of (as Mrs. Grote calls you)
'the boy.' You will find me, however, in all the vexations of correcting
proofs and the other worries connected with bringing out a book.[2] It
will not appear till the end of this month.
I can tell you no more about politics than you may learn from the
newspapers. Peace, though much desired has caused no public excitement
The truth is that just now we are not _excitable_. As long as she remains
in this condition France will not strike one of those blows by which she
sometimes shakes Europe and overturns herself.
Reeve has been and Milnes still is here. We have talked much of you with
these two old friends. Good bye, or rather, thank God, _à bientôt_.
A thousand kind remembrances to Mrs. Senior.