. . . As to the sponsorship, I was sure that you and Mrs. Donne would
receive my apology as I meant it. Indeed I wish with you that people
would speak their minds more sincerely than it is the custom to do; and
recoin some of the every day compliments into a simpler form: but this is
voted a stale subject, I believe. Anyhow, I will not preach to you who
do not err: not to mention that I cannot by any means set up myself as
any model of this virtue: whatever you may say to the contrary.
I have consulted my friend John Allen concerning your ancestor's sermons:
he says that the book is scarce. . . . I think that you should be
possessed of him by all means, considering that you are his descendant.
Allen read much of him at the Museum, and has always spoken very highly
of him. As to doctrine, I believe Jeremy Taylor has never been quite
blameless; but then he wrote many folios instead of Donne's one: and I
cannot help agreeing with Bayle that one of the disadvantages of much
writing is, that a man is likely to contradict himself. If he does not
_positively_ do so, he may _seem_ to do so, by using different
expressions for the same thing, which expressions many readers may
construe diversely: and this is especially likely to be the case with so
copious and metaphorical a writer as Jeremy.
According to the principles contained in page 1 of this letter I will
tell you that I thought the second volume of Southey {42} rather dull.
But then I have only read it once; and I think that one is naturally
impatient of all matter that does not absolutely touch Cowper: I mean, at
the first reading; when one wants to know all about him. I dare say that
afterwards I shall relish all the other relative matter, and contemporary
history, which seems indeed well done. I am glad that you are so content
with the book. We were all talking the other night of Basil Montagu's
new Life of Bacon--have you read it? It is said to be very elaborate and
tedious. A good life of Bacon is much wanted. But perhaps it is as
difficult to find a proper historian for him as for anyone that ever
lived. But enough of grave matters. I have been very little to the
Play: Vandenhoff's Iago I did not see: for indeed what I saw of him in
other characters did not constrain me to the theatre to see his Iago. . .
Spedding is just now furnishing chambers in Lincoln's Inn Fields: so that
we may look on him as a fixture in London. He and I went to dine with
Tennant at Blackheath last Thursday: there we met Edgeworth, who has got
a large house at Eltham, and is lying in wait for pupils: I am afraid he
will not find many. We passed a very delightful evening. Tennant is
making interest for a school at Cambridge: {43a} but I do not know if he
is likely to succeed. And now I have told all the news I know, except
that I hear that Sterling {43b} is very ill with an attack on his chest,
which keeps him from preaching: and that Trench has been in London.
Neither of these men do I know, but I hear of them.
_To John Allen_.
[GELDESTONE HALL],
_January_ 1, 1837.