Shame, shame, always shame---- Yet two lines will I write in the midst
of a crowd. My mornings have been very much taken up with preparing
and correcting (though in a minute and almost imperceptible way)
my new Edition, which will be out the 1st of June. My afternoons
(barring the House of Commons) have been a good deal devoted to
Madame Necker. Her husband and the rest of her servants leave this
country next Tuesday, entertained with the Island, and owning that
the barbarous people have been very kind to them. Do you know that
they have almost extorted a promise to make them a short visit at
Paris in the Autumn. But pray, Madam, when do you set out, the month
of June draws near, and both myself, the Portens and the inhabitants
of Sheffield Place are impatient to be informed of the time and
circumstances of your intended journey.
Poor Mallet![330] I pity his misfortune and feel for him probably
more than he does for himself at present. His "William and Margaret,"
his only good piece of poetry, is torn from him, and by the evidence
of old Manuscripts turns out to be the work of the celebrated Andrew
Marvel composed in the year 1670. Adieu, dear Madam.
I am most truly yours,
E. GIBBON.
[329] Almack's Club, in Pall Mall, surpassed White's in the
extravagance of its gambling. Brooks, a money-lender and
wine-merchant, took up the management of the club, which was
dispersed when he opened the new premises of Brooks' Club, in St.
James's Street, in 1778.
[330] Mr. Child (_The English and Scottish Popular Ballads_,
part iii. p. 199, Boston, 1885) says that Mallet passed off as
his own, with very slight changes, a ballad called _William and
Margaret_, a copy of which, dated 1711, has been discovered. But
the resemblances between the two poems scarcely seem to justify
Mr. Child's criticism, though Gibbon's statement confirms it. The
writer of the article on Mallet, in the _Dictionary of National
Biography_, throws no doubts upon Mallet being the author of
_William and Margaret_, nor does the writer on Marvell, in the
same series, lay any claim for Marvell to its authorship. Thomas,
better known as "Hesiod," Cooke, who published his _Life and
Writings of Andrew Marvell_ in 1726, and who not only disliked
Mallet, but characterised his _William and Margaret_ as "trash,"
nowhere suggests that Mallet was not the author. The first stanza
is taken from Beaumont and Fletcher's comedy of _The Knight of
the Burning Pestle_, where old Merrythought sings--
"When it was grown to dark midnight,
And all were fast asleep,
In came Margaret's grimly ghost,
And stood at William's feet."
In Percy's _Reliques_, vol. iii. p. 331 (ed. Dodsley, 1759),
Mallet's poem is printed with the following note: "This Ballad,
which appeared in some of the public Newspapers in or before the
year 1724, came from the pen of David Mallet, Esq.; who in the
edition of his poems, 3 vols., 1759, informs us that the plan was
suggested by the four verses quoted above ***, which he supposed
to be the beginning of some ballad now lost."
282.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
June the 6th, 1776, from Almack's, where I was chose last week.
*To tell you any thing of the change or rather changes of Governors
I must have known something of them myself: but all is darkness
confusion and uncertainty; to such a degree that people do not even
know what lyes to invent. The news from America have indeed diverted
the public attention into another and far greater channel. All that
you see in the papers of the repulse at Quebec as well as the capture
of Lee[331] rests on the authority (a very unexceptionable one) of
the Provincial papers as they have been transmitted by Governor Tryon
from New York. Howe is well and eats plentifully, and the weather
seems to clear up so fast that according to the English custom we
have passed from the lowest despondency, to a full assurance of
success.
My new birth happened last Monday, 700 of the 1500 were gone
yesterday. I now understand from pretty good authority that Dr.
Porteous,[332] the friend and chaplain of St. Secker, is actually
sharpening his goose quill against the last two Chapters.* Mrs. G.
has not yet signified her intentions about the London and Sheffield
expedition. I have not advanced one single step with regard to
Lovegrove. Palmer will not interfere till he has seen the abstract
of the title with Duane's observations, which we cannot get them to
communicate even to their own friend. Adieu. I embrace My lady and
the Maria.
[331] The report of General Lee's capture was false. He was taken
prisoner December 13, 1776.
[332] Beilby Porteus, Bishop of Chester, afterwards Bishop of
London, had been chaplain to Archbishop Secker, whose Charges
he published in 1769. He did not publish any reply to Gibbon's
_Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire_.
[Sidenote: SECOND EDITION OF HIS BOOK.]
283.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Almack's, June 29th, 1776.
*Yes, yes I am alive and well; but what shall I say? Town grows
empty and this house, where I have passed very agreable hours, is
the only place which still unites the flower of the English youth.
The style of living though _somewhat_ expensive is exceedingly
pleasant and notwithstanding the rage of play I have found more
entertaining and even rational society here than in any other Club
to which I belong. Mrs. G. still hangs in suspense and seems to
consider a town expedition with horror. I think however that she
will be soon in motion, and when I have her in Bentinck-street we
shall perhaps talk of a Sheffield excursion. I am now deeply engaged
in the reign of Constantine, and from the specimens which I have
already seen, I can venture to promise that the second Volume will
not be less interesting than the first. The 1500 Copies are moving
off with decent speed, and the obliging Cadell begins to mutter
something of a third Edition for next year. No news of Deyverdun or
his French translation. What a lazy dog! Madame Necker has been gone
a great while. I gave her _en partant_ the most solemn assurances
of following her _paws_ in less than two months, but the voice of
indolence begins to whisper a thousand difficulties and, unless
your absurd policy should thoroughly provoke me, the Parisian
journey may possibly be deferred. I rejoyce in the progress of *
* * towards light. By Cork Street I suppose you mean the Carters
and highly approve of the place. We are in expectation of American
news. Carleton is made a Knight of the Bath.[333] The old report
of Washington's resignation and quarrel with the Congress seems to
revive.* I shall say nothing of Lovegrove, the beast makes me very
uneasy, as I cannot devise any expedient to force, persuade, or bribe
him out of his obstinate silence. Adieu.
[333] Sir Guy Carleton was gazetted K.B., July 6, 1776.
284.
_To his Stepmother._
Almack's, July 4th, 1776.