. . . Order into your Book Club 'Trench on the Study of Words'; a
delightful, good, book, not at all dry (unless to fools); one I am sure
you will like. Price but three and sixpence and well worth a guinea at
least.
In spite of my anti-London prejudices, I find this Limb of London (for
such it is) very beautiful: the Thames with its Swans upon it, and its
wooded sides garnished with the Villas of Poets, Wits, and Courtiers, of
a Time which (I am sorry to say) has more charms to me than the Middle
Ages, or the Heroic.
I have seen scarce any of the living London Wits; Spedding and Donne
most: Thackeray but twice for a few minutes. He finished his Novel {275}
last Saturday and is gone, I believe, to the Continent.
_To F. Tennyson_.
GOLDINGTON, BEDFORD,
_June_ 8/52.