“PORTSTEWART, _Saturday night_.
“In a gale of wind, slates flying, and the chimneys (such of them as are
not blown down) smoking.
“I send you by private hand the proof of chaps, iii., iv., and v. of
‘Lorrequer,’ and am sincerely happy to find they are to your likings,
and I hope in the ensuing chapter, which I expect to transmit next
week, to do something better. Meanwhile, no comparison with my friend
Carleton, I beseech you--so far, very far, indeed, beyond the standard
by which I could wish anything of mine measured.
“I hope you may like the enclosed, as you will, better than the
preceding chapters. I purpose in the succeeding ones to give you ‘Dr
de Courcey Finucane’s Adventures in Bath,’ ‘First Love,’ &c. I have, in
plain truth, written all the night, besides employing another hand* to
transcribe, for which the printer will remember me in his prayers. Now,
‘Fair play is a jewel,’ as Dr Finucane would say; so send me a proof, if
possible, before Wednesday.”
* His wife’s.
M’Glashan’s instinct told him that ‘Lorrequer’ was a windfall. Fearful
lest Colburn should secure the young Irish humorist, he despatched to
Portstewart an ambassador* whose instructions were to secure Lever at
any cost. If money would not buy him, flattery might win him.
* Mr George Herbert--afterwards a well-known Dublin
publisher.--E. D.
Lever, always a victim to impressions of the moment, and always hungry
for praise, fell an easy victim to M’Glashan’s ambassador. Ere long the
knowledge that his writings were in brisk demand caused him to dream
of a wider life than Ulster could promise; his mercurial mind travelled
back to the bright days when he had been a sojourner on the Continent.
On January 30 he wrote to Spencer:--
“After doctoring many for the last few days I am at last stricken
with influenza, and hardly able to answer your letter, which I am most
unwilling to defer lest I grow worse, not better. I am most gratified to
find that Lady Charleville has interested herself for me, and hope
the best results from it. It is singular enough--and perhaps fortunate
too--that it is through Sir George’s mother, the Duchess of Richmond,
whom Alderman Copeland has procured as a patroness, [?she] has applied,
so that if the opportunity to serve me is in her power she may perhaps
feel disposed for it.
“As to Moatfield, I thought I should have got £500, but if you think
that it is out of the question, offer it to John for £400, and let him,
if he accepts, have any convenience as to half of it he proposes. Of
course this is contingent on my going to Brussels, for if I do not
I shall not want it--at least at present. If Mr Crowther--for whose
misfortune I am really sorry--goes to Brussels I shall be glad to hear,
for there are many points I am most desirous to be informed upon.
“Cusack was right in respect to the prohibition to practise,--there is
a _permis_ to be procured from the Belgian government before any
foreign physician can prescribe; but this, if I am connected with the
Ambassador, will be, I suppose, a mere matter of form.
“PS.--The influenza, which has been killing others, has been keeping
me alive, though I find my outlay always a very respectable distance in
advance of my income. The rival doctor here has been dangerously ill,
and I have been greatly engaged.
“I have just got a letter from Brussels from another and more competent
source than the former. It speaks encouragingly of my prospects, there
being ‘but one good English physician in Brussels, and he constantly
in jail for debt. It is right’ (I quote the words) ‘to mention that
the physician’s fee is but five francs, and that living is much more
expensive than formerly, and the English residents fewer in number.’
This, on the whole, is somewhat gloomy, but I know many well-informed
persons who think the small fee more profitable, as it is always offered
and taken for each visit, and tendered for illnesses which rarely would
elicit the guinea. On the whole, I am more discomfited at the dearness
of the place than the amount of the remuneration.”
At the end of February he made up his mind finally to voyage to
Brussels, and he announced to Spencer his intention of travelling by way
of Belfast, Liverpool, London, and Antwerp.
“PORTSTEWART, _Feb_. 24, 1837.
“I have just received intelligence that the party who interests himself
to obtain for me an introduction to Sir G. S. has failed, and I am again
stranded. What course to take I really know not, but think my best plan,
so far, at least, as I can see, is to set out for Brussels and present
such letters as I already have, making myself acquainted with the
bearings of the whole matter--to such an extent, at least, as personal
observation can point. Longer hesitation would be not only miserable but
injurious, for, having been obliged to make known my intention to many
persons here, the thing has got abroad, and I am considered _en route_
already. Must, therefore, either resolve to go--or stay--without further
delay. The expense of the _voyage d’expérimenté_ will, I know, be very
heavy, do what I can,--and I can but ill spare the money,--but what else
to do I know not. I wish you would write to John and say that if his
friends have not heard from their correspondents, perhaps they would
give me a letter to wait on Lady Seymour, which would decide the affair
at once. Copeland will give his letter to Bulwer, and I have already one
to Crampton. Should I fail in becoming known to and acknowledged by the
Ambassador, I have great doubt that it would be prudent to embark in so
bold an enterprise under any other sanction or patronage whatever.... I
am writing away for Currys’ Magazine, and I have got into a series which
will occupy some months, but the pay is small (seven guineas a sheet),
and I cannot get a settlement until several sheets are due....
“I shall merely stay,” he continues, “in London one day to procure an
introduction to Mr Bulwer, and wait on those persons who interested
themselves for me.... I go with no very sanguine hopes of success, and
yet I think it better to make the trial than afterwards to regret that I
haven’t made it. One thing I have determined on--that I am ready to
make any sacrifice of comfort or personal indulgence should my chance of
succeeding give me any fair reason for remaining there [at Brussels].”
On the 27th March Mrs Lever wrote from Portstewart to Alexander
Spencer:--
“I had a letter from Charles on Thursday, in which he expressed a strong
wish that you should know what he is about. He left this for Brussels
on the 1st of March, and will be detained there until after the 28th or
30th. I am not sure if you are aware that a permis is necessary before
any physician can practise there, and it is obtained by the person
applying for it undergoing an examination. Strange to say, the
interested persons, the M.D.’s of Belgium, are the examiners. Charles,
however, has been making interest to obtain it without--and hopes to
succeed. I shall give you an extract from his letter. ‘I cannot give any
idea of the excitement my arrival has caused. Six families have written
to Dublin to investigate my claims, character, &c.... Sir
George Seymour’--he had two very handsome introductions to the
Ambassador--‘told Crampton that if I am not the man destined to carry
away _all_ the practice he is greatly mistaken. If I get the _permis_
(and I dont(sp) know whether I shall or not) the game is certainly dead in
my favour.’ Another extract. ‘Sir Hamilton Seymour continues to be most
kind, and is doing all possible to forward my views. In fact, if great
anxiety on all sides here can ensure success, I have every prospect.’
Speaking of living in Brussels, he says: ‘It is fully as cheap as most
parts of Germany, and half--actually half--as cheap as Paris. I can get
a house unfurnished for £60 per annum, and furnish it complete from
top to bottom for £150.’ An extract from the letter before the last.
‘Different persons of quite different opinions on all things, agree in
saying that from £800 to £1000 per annum can be made here by the first
man. Ten families of the first rank here have been mentioned to me as
being ready to support me if I stay.’”