■"^ '., ■" 'k ^ V + V N ^' ^ *N '^s i U >' ESTES & LAU2IAT, HEW AND OLD BOOKS, BOSTON. (L *- d LETTERS OF THE LATE EDWARD BULWER LORD LYTTON, TO HIS WIFE. Wiik Extracts from her MSS. " Autobiography,'' and other Documents. PUBLISHED IN VINDICATION OF HER MEMORY. BY LOUISA DEVEY, EXECUTRIX TO THE DOWAGER LADY LYTTON. NEW YORK: G, JV, Dillingham, Publisher^ Successor to G. AV. Carleton & Co. MDCCCLXXXIX. Copyright, 1889, BY Geo. a. Tread wEix. PR U^. / A3 ii^] INTRODUCTORY. First Meeting of Miss Wheeler with Mr. Edward BuLWER, at Miss Benger's, in October, 1825. Abridged from the '' Autol)iography." And now was about to dawn the most fatal era of my life, I had been reading out to my dear grand uncle (Gen- eral Sir John Doyle) a book that all the M'orld was wild about — Vivian Grey. It is just out, and no one knew who had written it. I was quite hoarse from reading aloud so long, and had a cold besides. When the carriage was announced, my uncle said, ''My child, you must be mad to think of going out with such a cold." "Oh no, my furs — or rather yours, for I'll take one of your Turkish iDclisses — will defy both fog and frost ; and my poor dear Miss Benger would never forgive me if I did not go, as I have promised to take some people home for her." And so I went. As usual, dear Miss Benger was all kind- ness ; and in honour of my cold, she placed me on a sofa near the fire. Then Miss Landon arrived, and she looked remarkably well. She had a sweetly-pretty bin sh-rose com- plexion : her forhead, eyebrows, eyes, and eyelashes were beautiful ; the mouth not bad ; the defaulter was the nose, being one of the most homoeopathic ignoble snubs that ever attempted to do duty for that feature. Her hands, feet, ankles were also very pretty, and her figure so light and petite that its flatness and angularity were almost unobserved. She flung herself at my feet in her usual theatrical way, with a tirade about its not being " idolatry to kneel !" while poor Miss Landon was still hurling her avalanches of flattery on my devoted head, there was a slight commotion and a sudden cessation of voices at the other end of the room, and Miss Benger said to me, Sotto Voce, — '* Oh ! hero is tliat odd, rich old woman, Mrs. Bulwer Lytton, and her son — her favourite. He is very clever, they say ; his was the prize poem this year at Cambridge. I must introduce you to them.'* Diil iv Introductory. " Oil no, pray don't, on any account," I said as Miss Boiit;cr hurried away to meet the new arrivals. As she did so, stopping at the door to shako hands with them, I had time to take an inventory of both, and both were new and curious in their way. \^Thc description of Mrs. Bulivcr is too long to insert. '\ It is proverbial, Qne Us extremes se touchent and the adage was certainly not belied in the present instance ; for if this lady was the incarnation of the dowdy and the out- oC-fashion, her sou upon whom she leant was altogether her antipodes — in modes & fashions considerably in advance of their age. He had just returned from Paris, and was resplendent with French polish — as far as boots wont. His cobweb cambric shirt-front was a triumph of lace and embroidery, a comljination never seen in this country till six or seven years later (except on babies' frocks) studs, too, except in racing stables, w^re then 11071 est ; but a perfect galaxy glittered down the centre of this fairy-like lingerie. His hair, which was really golden and abundant, he wore literally in long ringlets that almost reached his shoulders. He was unniistakably gentleman-like looking. Poor D'Orsay's linen gauntlets had not yet burst upon the London world ; but Mr. Lytton B ilwer had three inches of cambric encircling his coat cuffs,, and fastened with jewelled sleeve-links. And although it wanted full five years till every man in society was caned, he also dangled from his ungloved and glitter- ing right hand a somewhat gorgeously jewel-headed ebony cane ; and the dangling was of the scientific kind, evi- dently ''learnt, marked, and inwardly digested." Miss Landon and I, thus taken unawares, both laughed at the strange tableau of contrast at the door, as I exclaimed — " Sir Plume, of amber snuff-box justly vain ; And the nice conduct of a clouded cain." The quotation was as involuntary as the laugh. Oh, Nemesis ! I little dreamt with what a ruinous usury of tears, you would make me me pay that laugh through all my life ! While Mrs. Bulw^er Lytton and her son were still at the other end of the room, I heard Miss Spence's little nibbling sotto voce over my shoulder, " Oh ! my dear," (or "Meddear," as she pronounced it), "don't let Miss Benger introduce you to that old Mrs. Bulwer Lytton, for Introductory, v I see liev son has uever taken his eyes off you ; and she has beliavcd in the meanest manner to me about my book ; so differently to Lady Caroline,'^ etc. While Miss Landon and I were still hiugliing at poor Miss Spcnce's latest contribution to Calamities of Authors, Miss lienger made her way back to us, and said to me, *' You must let me introduce yon to Mrs. Bulwer Lytton, she has asked me so particularly twice to do so, as she has a party to-morrow evening, and wants to ask you." " Oh, no ! pray on no account, I would so much rather not, and indeed my cold is so bad I ought to stay in bed." "Nay, to please her, I am sure you luill, like a dear, kind unselfish soul, as I know you are ; and if you ivill come this once to please me, I will never again ask you to do anything you don't .like," per^^isted Miss Benger ; "besides," added she, "do you know you have made a desperate conquest of the young man ; and he is so clever ; and tliough a younger sou, I dare say he will be a good imrti, as I believe his other brothers are provided for, and he, they say, is the old lady's favourite." " Very likely,^' I stiid," hwt partis, as you may have perceived, are nothing to me. I have, up to the present time (and I am just verging on the superannuation of three-and-twcnty), escaped all iiartis. My uncle says if I go on I shall be an old maid. 1 tell him yes ; my vocation is to be a sensible woman." " Oh ! there they are both looking at us ; you really must let me introduce you to them ; for as they know I have asked you to do so and that I am speaking to you, you cannot refuse without being markedly rude, which I know you never wish to be." " But I really feel so ill, and so stupid, and there don't appear to be much inspn-ation in them ; and what on earth can I talk to them about?" "Why, taste, Shakespear, and the musical glasses ; and you, who are so fond of poetry, Avill be quite at home, as the young man's was the prize poem at Cambridge this year, and is really verv good, I hear." " Of course all prize poems are. What was the subject?" "I forgot, but you must ask him ; that will be a very good opening." " That is only for the Alma, but what on earth shall I vi Introductory. do with the Mater, who looks truly formidable ? unless I ask her if she has been sitting for the family picture as Mrs. Primrose, after that worthy matron had asked the limner to jnit in as many jewels as he could for nothing ?" " 2fec]iante," said Miss Benger, as she went back to her other guests, " how do you know but what you are ridicul- ing your Mother-in-law ?" " I hope not," I replied. Seeing Miss Benger now retracing her way with the mother and son in l)cr wake, I had nothing for it but to resign myself to my fate ; and as she approached, stood up lo undergo the ordeal of jjresentation ; and Mrs. Bulwer Lytton tt)ld me slie was " at home " on the following even- ing, and should be vast!}', or, as she always pronounced it, ** vaustly," happy if I would do her the honour of coming with Miss Benger, adding, as soon as I had conditionally accepted her invitation, "if my cold was not worse." and saying, " \n-dy, my dear madam, be seated ; though I'm sure you look so vawstly well, no one could suppose you were labouring under any sort of indisposition." Mrs. Bulwer Lytton now passed on, and left her son standing before me, evidently bent upon taking high degrees as a conversationalist, and carrying my wonder and, of course, admiration by storm. His first essay, however, was a covp manque, owing to the fulsomeucss of his compli- ments, which were quite in keeping with the foppery of his dress. Finding me flattery proof, he glided into some- thing like rational conversation, and toned down his fiatical manner ; so that I began to think that, despite his souffle surface, there was something in him; but not e'vugh to make me wish to meet him again so as to ascertain thi fact ; and it was a relief to me when a telegraphic look from Iiis mother summoned hmi to her side at the other end of the room. Very soon afterwards the carriage was announced. No sooner had I reached the drawing room door than Mr. Lytton Bulwer darted across the room, to offer me his arm to take me down-stairs, and packed me up as carefully as if I really had been something of value. "What splendid sable !" he exclaimed, as he inducted me into the Persian-green Turkish Pelisse. " Yes, is it not ? as it is oiily borrowed finery I may extol it ; it is one of two that the Grand Vizier gave my uncle, and scandal ous to say, they have both been left tossing about for years Editor s Preface. vH hanging up in the servants' hall till I took possestion of this one. The moth got into the large hanging sleeve of the other, and the saljle must be magnificent as Poland asked £250 to replace it with the same tail sable as the rest." The night was raining; and I begged of him not to come out, but he would put me into the carriage, and regardless of the little cataracts that were falling from tlie servant's umbrella, still stood, hoping that I would honour his mother on the following evening. EDITORS PREFACE. For printing the following letters I fear I may incur some blame from those who consider the publication of such private correspondence to be generally indiscreet. I must doubtless be prepared for such animadversion, but trust little explanation will, if it does not entirely silence the censure I should regret, at any rate show that no other course was open to me. If tlie intention were simply to satisfy a morbid curiosity, I should certainly have withheld these letters from the pub- lic, although many biographies would have been left singularly incomplete from an undue exercise of restraint : as an example may be mentioned the case of Keats, where it is doubtful whether his letters to Fanny Brawne have not afforded a better clue to his character than could possibly have been gathered from other sources. To the literary critic I would at the outset explain that I lay no claim to either stylistic skill or indeed to the impartiality that an Editor, pure and simple, is usually expected to show. The former short coming is, I think, of small import- ance in a book of this nature ; as regards the latter, I am rather in the position of an advocate than an impartial judge : and in loyalty to my esteemed and much valued friend, I feel bound to show in the strongest possible light what is the naked truth. viii Ediioj-s Preface. During the last years of the life of the late l^owager Lady Lytton, I had in conversation frequently noted her extreme anxiety that these letters, with other papers she had carefully preserved, should on some fitting occasion be us?d for clearing her memory from the harsh judgmrnt; Avhich had been pronounced and circulated to her disparage- ment. With this object she left to me by will all her papers, including these letters, an incomplete "Autobiography," and another MS. of autobiographic character, called ''Nemesis;" and she Avas so nervously anxious that her intention should not through any inadvertence be frustrated that she directed that they should not by reason of any pretext " however plausible and apparently truthful," be permitted to pass into the hands of any member of certain families she named. My first intention was to delay this publication for some years ; but I am coinpelled to hasten my action in conse- quence of the recent appearance of the " Biogi-aphy of Edward Lord Lytton," for, although I might not have considered it incumbent on me to correct inaccuracies so far as the late Lord alone was concerned, yet in the unjust notices of Lady Lytton I feel that delay would be preju- dicial to the very object of my trust and the faithful dis- charge of a duty I had unreservedly accepted. Of course I do not disguise from myself the fact that this cannot be faii'ly curried out without disillusioning the public on many points where they have been misled through generous feeling to a favourite author, and by having recently had presented to them as a true portrait what is really but a fancy picture, sketched jointly by father and son with undoubted artistic skill, but lacking in vrcd sem- blance. This I cannot hel[), but I rather regret that it will shake our faith in Biographies generally, when written under like conditions, where filial piety or friendly par- tisanship accept materials that do or reject materials that do not accord with a fixed purpose. This, however, will be more clearly seen by any reader vlio carefully compares the " Biography " with this most necessary supplement ; nor can its author offer any reason- able objection to such assistance, for which he uninten- tionally anticipates the value when he whites, that " to form an impartial judgment of his father's character, his Editor s Preface. ix oiun Letters will now enable all candid persons to judge for themselves," etc., etc. Thus, I only add to their opportunities for forming an unbiassed judgment, from a more extended acquaintance with what he considers the "only authentic records,"* this plan has also another special advantage, for, as he adds that he does not wish to " sit in judgment " on his parents, it will relieve him from an unenviable task, and leave him to reconcile this homage to a worthy sentiment, with the well-known circumstance of his having, years ago, {sepa- rated himself from the mother, and identified all his inter- est with the father — indeed it will be remarked how the references to his parents genei-ally, although shaped to plausibility and priority, plainly indicate that it is only by constrained effort that the exaltation of one is not still more forcibly contrasted with a more pronounced dis- paragement of the other. The reader of the "Biography" will remark how the opening chapteis elaborate, at tedious length, the ancestral glories of the Robinsons, and are followed by uninteresting recitals from unfinished works; then comes the real bio- graphical work, interspersed with a judicious selection from Letters, which help fill in the fancy sketch, already care- fully outlined by the autobiographer over the more danger- ous period of '' The Life," where the least mistake would have been fatal, and where the talent of the novelist is exhibited in the congenial field of fiction ; for, although his work was left unfinished, it could readily be completed without risk, by aid of the well-assorted materials left, with directions for their use, in conformity with the inten- tion indicated. The letters now offered for perusal afford probably the best assistance for restoring a fair and natural conception of the cliaracfcers, both of Lord Lytton and his wife ; these l('ttei\s Avere ai)parently written without any secondary object — except tliose of latter date, where we remark the old talent for interspeising subjects of j^ersonal grievance with general ones, thus preventing their use by adopting a tone of injury and form of complaint, rather than of excuse. It needs no special direction to show how Lord Lytton was always influenced by an overwhelming selfishness in every * Vide "Biography," Vol. ii., p. 152. X Ediiu7''s Preface. thou gilt and action, by a morbid craving for notoriet}-, and by the desire to be marked under every condition he thought fit to accept, and in every attitude he assumed. It. has already been remarked that Mr. lUilwer's letters to Miss Wheeler exhaust tlie whole vocabuiary of amatory declamation ; but their want of reticence and dignity too c'early betray a sensual abondonment to what she called th(! "love of a i3asliaw,"* not concealed by the affected but ponderous philandering of his phiyfal corresiiondence under the names of "■ Puppy" and *' Poodle." His inten- tions of purchasing a seat in Parliament arc explained with amusing cynicism ; of his great talent for public speaking he feels not the least doubt ; and with a prescience, apparently assisted by occult enquiry, he foretells the great I);irt he will play in the House, which shall astound all England for a bohlness uneqali.ed since the days of Pitt, *' the Arch-cheat of the Country." f Not that even this splendid position was valued for working any great public good ; for although he would advocate all those liberal jirinciples with which he professed to have been associated from his earliest years, he confessedly aims only at fower, considering that " in politics, like whist, tricks lire more certain than honours, "| and avows his intention of playing for the first and trusting to chance for the latter, winding up, in characteristic style, by moralizing upon how he despised what he would take so much trouble to win. Perhaps a like feeling may account for his anxiety to secure a succession to one of the baronetcies in the Doyle family, for which he desired to obtain Miss Wheeler's assistance and the requisite interest with the Government. Failing to obtain this, other influences were set to work, which will, no doubt, contrast oddly with the information we may expect to obtain in the latter Volumes of the " Biogiapiiy " as to how this and other titles were pressed for his reluctant acceptance. His want of disinterestedness was, however, no less marked than than his want of religious feeling, shown in his refusal to be influenced by or submit to any unseen power, and emphasized by the expression of unbounded self-reliance, and a refusal to "accept any other judgment than his own."§ ■ * See Letter C XXVIII. f See Letter LXVI. XlUd. S See Letters XXXIV and CCLXXXV. Editor s Preface. xi His ungenerous criticism of others, his intolerance of any assumed rival, make him call Walter Scott the " Great Fidcllestick/'* and express a liope that he " may live long enough to see justice done to the " Arcli-quack "; ho dis- claims also, as a disgrace, heing considered a friend of Byron's, f Of morose and violent temper ; accepting a credit for generosity that was chea[)ly and conveniently earned by a reckless extravagance for all that concerned personal adornment or self-gratification, but balanced by a nice calculation whenever other disbursements were in consid- eration ; frightened at the least ailment ; sensitive of con- tradiction or adverse opinion, he was the dandy of the Great Georgian period ; a " man about town," as it was understood in those days, but with a rose-water affectation in substitution for virility that in some degree atoned for its misdeeds, for Bulwer was hardly a representative Corin- thian of the " Tom and Jerry " school, but rather a would- be Rochester or Buckingham in a travestie of the Restora- tion. It is remarkable how the '' Biography " works to one point in portraying a character always so artificial, but I have avoided any risk of misdirection by giving the follow- ing Letters without abbreviation or omission — except in cases of special triviality (twenty letters of this description being reserved), so that a just estimate may be formed where he had the smallest object for disguise. In some res|)ects we may remark many points of simi- larity between Byron and Bulwer ; both are best^ known in masquerade, but Bulwer had, perhaps, the greater power of adaptability for change. The "real Lord Byron" dif- fered widely from the Byron as he chose to be known to others, but tlie characters were fixed ; the real Bulwer, however, needs to be contrasted with many other Bulwers and there will be inevitable risk of disagreement, through portraitures varied by his multifold transformations. J>oth were impressed with a self-consciousness that belonged rather to parvenous ; there was, however, this difference, — Byron retired from the English world in dis- gust, and with an affected disdain that did not prevent his publishing his private thoughts through '' Domestic • See Letter CVI. + See Letter CXLVI. xii Editor s Preface. Pieces"; Bnlwer had no such thoiight of retirement, bnfc while reticent of his own domestic relations, and only dreading ridicule, he persisted perfas et ncfas to turn lo advantage every opportunity that should present itself for personal advancement. He left no stone unturned to procure the baronetcy, which shouhl reward a well-timed political pamphlet in the Whig interest ; and then secured, thougl: a judicions change of j-olitical faith, the barony wliich marked his allegiance to liis Tory friend and new chief. The celebrated remark of Lord AEelbourne to a friend who had solicited a higher step in the Peerage would have appeared to Bulwer as singularly inappropriate, and he would rather have thought the '' d — d fool " was the man who did not push his claim to every such distinction ; yet Soutliey refused, and Scott was satisfied with, a baronetcy, that assuredly adds nothing to their fame, while Bulwer stifled his elation, and assumed the bearing of a man to whom it was indifferent, or acce[)ted only as an instalment of what was due to his hierit. We may in passing remark how among the guests accustomed to assemble in the drawing-room at Gore Plouse, wheie the Countess of Blessington collected a set of literary and other celebrities, there would be seen the figures of four men, whose like objects were directed to the single purpose of personal success, to be obtained through means which are unmistakably suggestive of their different chai'acters. Each believed in himself, while none could withhold a tacit acknowledgment of the other's worth, in the direction of their separate enterprise. First stands D'Israeli, of whom we may speak with undoubted prai>se and respect, in spite of his many political mistakes ; next to him is Louis Napoleon, the well-known hahitue of the Opera and lounger at Clubs, scheming his Strasbourg and Boulongo ad ventures; the other two are Bulwer and D'Orsay, the one planning to secure the jiower he so much coverted, and the other with all his dilettantism content with sartorial glories, and proud that his name should go down lo posterity as the successor of Brummel and the Dandies, immortalized by the shape of a hat or the length of a wrist- band. So little, however, was Bulwer inclined to admit their rivalry, that he was ready to conteat the supremacy of each Ediors Preface. xlii — prepared alike for official residence in Downing S(Tcct, to assist a conspiracy, or receive honourable mention in Dandydom — while as a Novelist he had a leiiitimate field for action where he could certainly rise above them all. Whether these remarks are justified by a perusal of the Letters, or not, I leave for the decision of the reader ; but I would more especially direct attention to their baariiig on the (lotnistic rehitions of Lord Lytton, with which J am mainly concerned, and for which the "Biography" will be found to be equally inaccurate. The Editor hardly con- ceals his partisanship in his curt remarks and allusions to his Fatlier's and Mother's early engagement, — he gives his opinion that " Miss Wheeler Avas not disposed to regard Mrs. Bulwer Lytton's disapproval as an absolute obstacle to a marriige seriously desired by that lady^s son,"* "■ who would probably have been weaned from encouraging hopes and wishes associated with Miss Wheeler, he had received from her a disiinct assurance that she was resolved not to marry him without his mother's approval. No such announce- ment came in aid of his struggie. "f Although not an avowed part of the " Autobiography," this remark may with tolerable confidence be regarded as inspired by the father, but such a statement, which would be inexcusable if true, outrages all feelings of delicacy and decorum, when well known to be an invention, and can be treated only as a positive misrepresentation, not alone from its improbability, but by the written avowal of Lord Lytton himself, that Miss Wheeler had three times broken off their engagement ; though, alas ! it was as often renewed through arguments that were unfortunately successful, and with the a.ssurance of hia Mothers eventual consent. That this was at last dispensed with can hardly be regarded as the fault of Miss Wheeler, but as the inevitable consequence of a persistent influence that allowed no withdrawal, and at one time even induced him to urge a private marriage. J The unmanly and ungenerous endeavour to throw tliis slight upon Lady Lytton is only one of the many proofs of a systematic effoi-t to paint a character which is wanting in all true likeness to the original. I need hardly repeat the story of a life which is known * F«fo Vol. ii., 135 of Biography. f Ihid, p. 186. X Letter XLIV. xiv Editor s Preface. to most readers, nor need I point out how the poor wife suffered every conceivable ontrnge and persecution (witness the dying deposition of her maid Byrne), till under feelings of exasperation that may now be readily understood, after f even years of long-suffering and forbearance. She had the a'ulncity to letaliate, and thus gave advantage for the lir.miulgation of misstaten)cuts unscrupulously used and encouraged, while the husband was rciiearsing a new role preparatory to the eulogy of a dutiful son, who shows so unmistakably liis (juestionable selections for illustrating the " virtues of a great man" and " tl)e errors of a good one," and then rids himself of other difficulties by writing with affected delicacy that he could not dismiss the subject with the simple statement that his father married for love, and that his marriage was imprudent and unhappy. Let, then, these Letters tell their own tale : th.ey will jirove the reality of an attacliment which, although sensu- ous in its expression, was probably as generous as the writer's nature would j-ermit, and also afford a curious illustration of what the Biographer calls his valuable direc- tion to a young girl, placed through unfortunate domestic circumstances in a very difficult and unhappy ^wsition.* The correspondence carries the reader with some intervals though the years of courtship and early married life, and it is remarkable that Miss 'Wheeler's letters over the same period are so carefully suppressed, thus afford- ing reasonable ground for believing that they would hardly support the general tenor of the " Biograpiiy." Copies of some of her letters are now published at the end of this Volume, with extracts from her "Journal," showing the gradual neglect and personal violence to which she was sub- jected ; I could very effectively quote more from her own " Autobiography," but I prefer to rest almost exclusively on anthority that cannot be questioned ; else it could be shown how she accepted reconciliations for tlie sake of her children, how a separation was eventually forced on her by the versatile actor, who skilfully adoi)tcd himself to the role of outraged husband, how she bore all these wrongs till at last even her children were taken away from her : then indeed the Mother, " outraged by such remorse- less persecution," gave vent to her anger and indignation * Vide Biography, Vol. ii., p. 162. Editor s Prejace. xv at the falsehood and meanness of the man, who, an imposi- tion to all the world besides, stood revealed in his true character to her alone, and who also by pretending to have made sacrifices, had in reality robbed her of the happiness he had promised and so ruthlessly destroyed. After making all allowances, it is evident that the intention of the Biographer, in his own immediate work and in the inspired labours of supposed independent critics, has very much fallen short of what had been wished. Lord Lytton's personality evokes neither love nor sympathy, it fails to direct interest to the man who outside his literary sphere was almost insolent in the expression of his self-satisfied assumption, and barely sympathetic for any- thing when his self-interest was not the main object. In literature no one will dispute his pre-eminence, but even this is limited to the charming novels he has written ; it is true he has given us some very pretty poetry, and that after some failures he was successful as a dramatist — but the poetry shows little more than a facility for versification on lines that were then almost extinct, and have since been buried beneath the fame of Byron, Shelly and the Lake Poets, so that it is doubtful whether one in a thousand could repeat half a dozen consecutive lines from any of his poetical works. Indeed, it is only as an accomplished Novelist be will be remembered, but here he will always remain in the front rank, although he had a certain tricki- ness of style and was not always original in his conceptions, for even the ''Caxtons" is but an imitation of " Tristram Shandy," and he reduced the virtues which did not adorn his life to mere abstractions, so that the Good, the Beauti- ful and the True (all of course in capitals) are made to do the work of substantives, while retaining their limited and more shadowy significance under sometimes very ques- tonablo use. As to his career as a politician, we can hardly adopt his own singularly modest estimate of his abilities without a smile, es|)ecially when we look at the result of his own prog- nostications ; that he should have been made a Cabinet Minister, however creditable to a powerful Minister, as a proof of his old friendship, yet can only be remembered as making a distinct failure, judged either by the public good or even his own success. No doubt he could be relied upon for obedience to orders, xvi Editor s Preface. and his name is identified witli some measures of utility, but wo cannot help feeling that this was a weakness only permitted to throw a ti'ansient gleam over himself, rather than to benefit the claS'S with wliom the Superdne Senator could hardly be expected to sympathise. As a speaker he was unimpressive, theatrical, and superficial — so that his carefully prepared speeches did not evince that great orator- ical talent that he so naively took credit for, but gave the impression of being only studied essays, delivered with the mechanical gestures he had so successfully mastered in the University Debating Society. I find ibis well sketched by a contemporary, who wrote that Sir Bulwer Lytton inevitably suggests ideas of Don Quixote when he is silent, and of the; windmill which the the Knight of La Manclia attacked when he is speaking, his exuberance of gesture justifying the saying of Lord Palmer- ston that '"'the House l)ad seen the speech of the right hou. gentleman." Perhaps some day a correct Life of the late Lord Lytton may be i)ublished, lait for this it is evident that these Letters, and the Autobiography of the late Dowager Lady Lytton, must be taken into account, as a set-off to the mis- takes of self-directed opinion, the influence of family pre- tention, political partisanshi]), and other evidence of work " to order.''' There are not many biographers like Boswell or auto- biographers like Trollope ; and we can well understand Thackeray's objection to be subjected to the usual i)rocess for misleading the public. It may be a question of taste how far the publication of private correspondence may be justified, where it only sup- ]ilements opinions already formed ; but there can be no doubt of its necessity, when used to redress wrong, or to correct misstatements, that are not only false in themselves, but compel us to repudiate them with indignation as attempts to impose upon our credulity. We may better believe the words of Lady Lytton when she ;\ rites : " Had any Angel op'd the book of "Providence and let me read my fate, my heart had broke when I beheld the sum of ills which one by one I have endured." Louisa Devey. Montresor, Upper Norwood. CONTENTS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LETTERS. Letter Page Introduction 3 III. Dr. Johnson.— Mr. Heivey 23 VI. Lady Caroline S5 YIII. Early attachments. — The yearning weakness of his nature. — Fears his love was not shared. — His Mother's favourite sou. — Fears that bis Mother will not consent to his mar- riage. — Pleads for her love. — Without which she takes the last anchor that attaches him to existance . . .27 X. Astrology. — His lingering and slow disease. — Devotion to free principles. — Bitter recollections of the past. . • 35 XIII. Death of a sit;ter.— Visit to ]\Ialvern 41 XIV. Return from JIalvern, to tell Sir John Doyle of their en- gagement. — Proposes to write to his Mother, without whose consent it would be better to forget him. . . 42 XVI. Inconsistency of Moral feeling. — A ring. — 111 at ease. . 45 XXI. She overrates bis character. — Hypochondria . . .53 XXVI. The Mendicant who had just buried her children . . 59 XXIX. Spoken to his mother about " any marriage. — Plans for the future. — power and reputation. — Literature and poli- tics. — This servile and aristocratic country. — Buy a seat in the House of Commons. — His talent for public speaking. — Diffidence of literary success. — Another secret more valuable than any other 63 XXX. Her attachment ardently returned, but ill repaid. — Re- morse. — Subject to disease in the heart. — Utterly incura- ble. — A retreat from the censure of prudes. — Gloom and despondency.— Passion. --Danger. — Alone upon the world again. — Farewell for ever 67 XXXI. Restless irritability. — Visions of ambition. — Firm pos- session of resources which no other in this country can command. — Deadly pulsation of lieart. — Death. — Bittei'- ncss of thought. — Penetrated the hidden recesses of truth. — Xo hope iu the future. — " One day." — " One night." . 70 XXXII. One more meeting ........ 74 XXXIV. His want of belief. — Darkness of his own opinions. — Eldest brother coming back to England . , . .75 XXXVI. Adam Smith.— Writing to his mother.—" My fate is yours." — Lady Caroline. — Miss Spence . . . .79 XXXIX. Lord Grey's Vindication of Canning . . . .86 XL. Has written to his mother. — lias a very bad cold. . . 87 XLI. Verses by Miss Landon. — Verses by Miss Wheeler.--No letter from his mother. — Writting a Satire. . . .87 XLII. His mother's opposition to his marriage. — Proposed sej)- xviii Contents. Letter Pase eration. — Solemn declaration of belief that bis mother would ultimately have consented. — Waits her reply. . 89 XLIII. A last leltL'r October 14th, 1826 92 XLIV. Asking her to marry at once 1)3 Lil. Better to wait than ton\arry now. — Saw Brodie about pain in heart. — " Don Juan." — Platos.— Miss Landon's book. — Diminution of her fame 99 LIII. Nai)ok'on.— Elizabctii. — Lady Caroline. — Pen-and ink minalure. — "'I hou didst annihilate the Earth to me." . 103 LIV. Verses on Mi^s "Wheeler's sister, Ilenrietta.— Just linisbed novel.— Going to send it toColburn. — Hypocliondria . . 105 LV. Delighted at her liking his verses. — Never can tell wlietber what he writes is good or bad till sometime after composi- tion .... 107 LVII. Prays that bis rude temper and morbidity of mind be al- layed. — Never to give her a moment of uneasiness . . 110 LX. Disappointed with "Falkland." — Not his own character. — "The iSasidwich islands.'" — "Memoirs of a Gentleman." 114 LXIII. Tootliache.—" The Last Man." . . . . . 119 LXIV. Murray. — Lady Caroline's introduction. — Miss Wheel- er's Ariel Letters. ........ 123 LXVI. Cockburn ill— Map of China.— Pitt the Arch Cheat of the Country 125 LXIX. Elizabeth.— Lady Caroline's note. — Proposed Military career. — Cockburn, dissimilarity of pursuits . . . 131 LXXIL Death of Duke of York.— Fear of arrest.-— " Memoirs of a Gentleman." 137 LXXV. Gambling.— Murray.— Ottley.— Cockburn . . .141 LXXVI. Saunders and Ottley.— Degradation of making money from publishers. — " Our letters would never do for a Court of Ju.stice." 143 LXXVII. "Falkand"nnt likely to be received by Colburn . 145 LXXIX. His masculine dignity offended at manner in which she receives his counsel 148 LXXXII His letters transcripts of his feelings.— Fever, faint- ness, change of health. — Praise of her share in " Dame Rebecca Berry." — Going to the seaside. — " Mortimer." . 153 LXXXVL Colburn. — "Mortimer." — Quarrel and reconciliation with his Mother 159 LXXXVIL Kemoved to St. James's Square 101 XC. Lady Caroline to be despised. — (M)iection to her letters. — Their expression of resentment. — Her pride. — Want of love. — Fear of an ulitmate break 164 XCIV. Villiers.— Napoleon 174 XCV. R. O. S. E.— Arch quack of tale-writing— Walter Scott, . 176 XCIX. "Falkland," proposal for making it longer. — Cut off his whiskers. — Mr. Ollier's letter respecting "Falkland " . 183 CI. "Falkland."— Whole expression of face altered. — Not fit to be seen 185 CVI. "Falldand" altered.— The "Great Unknown."— Vanity. 193 CVII. " Falkland " finished at last.— Preface still to write . . 194 CVIII. Miss Boore.— 3lr. Jerdan.— Miss Landon.— Not recon- Contejits. xix Letter Page cilcfl to his mother. — Dislike of Cockhurn. — Writing " Pil- ham," a gentleman like Gil Bias. — Mrs. Cunuingbam 1y exertion in literature, and power almost Lord Lytto7is Letters. 65 solely by devotion to politics. Now ii; is our object to obtain jjoiver rather than reputation ; the latter gratifies vanity, not pride; it gives eclat, but no real importance. In this servile and aristocratic country v/e must make to ourselves a more independent and commanding rank. For myself I should not care a straw about the fame of string- ing couplets and making books ; and for you, for whom alone I covet distinction, I would wish to find a station and a destiny more worthy of your chiiras to admiration. Literary honors are not, therefore, so desirable as political rank ; but they must not for that reason be despised ; they are the great stepping-stones to our more ultimate object. To get j90?yer I must be in the House of Commons. To obtain my seat there, I must pay a certain sum of money — I find either a large sum at once, or a proportionate sum a year. The former is too precarious. Parliament may be dissolved the next day, and my mother would only assist me once in tlie purchase. It remains, therefore, to pay the annual sum. This is a difficult pi-oceeding ; not done without some interest, because, though connived at, it is illegal. I find, however, that it can be done through the ministry for £1,100 a year ; and directly I can raise that sum I can enter the House. My mother will pay £600 a year only — the remaining £500 I must, therefore, make up myself. I can spare nothing from my present income, and this deficiency I therefore hope to supply by writing. The age is luckily generous to authors. Grattan, who wrote " Highways atid Byetoays," makes £1,000 a year. I do not think I arrogate too much when I lay claim to the half of his literary abilities. I shall therefore, directly the winter begins, commence regular author. Fancy me in "foolscap livery," etc.! If my works succeed, in the course of the winter, I expect before the end of that same Spring to be in the House. Then I consider the road clear. 66 Lord Lytto?is Letters. If I have any ability less inconsiderable than another, any one of which I luive devoted the most time, labour, thought, patience, any one in which I surmounted the dis- advantages of nature, and acquired the powers of art, it is the talent of public speaking. For three years I practised it constantly, for the greatest part of that time with the most wretched success. Never was there anything truer than Cicero's observation, that if the poet is born the orator is made ; but I did succeed at last, and with such a success as to justify my most sanguine expectations. If by the money earned in literary exertion I can get into the House, the reputation which must necessarily go with the money will very materially shorten and facilitate the road to our wishes, but I will own that I am very, very diffident of literary success. That is the great and first step, and I will not disguise from you that it is by far the most arduous. But fortune never deserted the resolute — to dare to win. There is another power I possess, still more valuable then the art of speaking, still more valuable than any ability or talent I could possibly derive from nature ; this makes almost sure my success in the House, and of its nature I will tell you in another letter. It is a great and important secret, which no ojie has yet known, and the value of which your mind will perceive in an instant. It will show you still further the more hidden recesses of my powers, such as they may be ! and — but enough of this for the present. I have already bored you too much. With what softness of heart I turn from these worldly visions, only dear to me as connected with you, and dwell only upon your remembrance. Oh ! that I could express a tenth part of the love which I bear for you, which has penetrated as it were into my very existence, and constitutes the divincst and most sacred portion of my soul. Write to me, I beseech you ; every word I receive from you strengthens my resolutions ; your image is indeed to me Lord Lyttons Letters. 67 like a consolatiou and a guide ; it redeems me from the past, it smiles to me from the future ; it sheds a new light over existence, and breathes into my spirit a new capacity for enjoying it. My plans for the moment are not yet decided ; before I leave London for good I shall come for an hour or two to Brocket to see you. Adieu, my dearest friend. I am yours /ro/H and ivitli all my soul. Athenaeum. E. Lyttoit Bulwer. XXX. To Miss Rosin'A "Wheeler, At the Hon'ble W. Lamb's, Brocket Hall, Welwyn, Herts. [Her attachment ardently returned but ill repaid. — Remorse. — Sub- ject to disease in the heart. — Utterly incurable. — A retreat from the censure of prudes. — Gloom and despondency. — Passion. — Danger. — Alone upon the world again. — Farewell for ever.] Wednesday/, Seiyt. 13th, 1826. I am detained in town a day or two longer than I had expected. My direction will be at the Post Office, Chelten- ham ; but I ought not to wish to hear from you, and I sifc down to write under the full impression that your happi- ness requires that this should be the last of our correspond- ence. Never for a moment, since that last evening I saw you, have I ceased to reproach myself. Never once have I ceased to recall those tears, every one of which went to my very heart. I sat by you almost in silence. I could scarcely attempt to console you. What was my conviction at that moment ? That in desiring your happiness I had only prepared your misery, I became fully aware of the feelings I had not even analyzed before. The sickness of hope deferred, the weariness of pursuits which the heart loathed while the head conceived, the labour of years and waste of youth in the occupations which should belong only to age. 68 Lord Lyttons Letters. doubt and uncertainty at the best, the probability of disap- pointment, the possibility of treachery ; to all these I had looked forward as tny fate, and all these I felt that I could bear. But I had not reflected on the lot I was preparing for you. I did not remember that the best and most beautiful years of your life might j)o.3sibly pass away in the vain expec- tation of an uncertain future ; that you would have the anxiety, the fear, the separation — but not the union — the consolation, the enjoyment of love. I did not remember that I was wasting the affections which you might have bestowed freely and happily on another, and that if at last our hopes should be destroyed, and our separation rendered final, that I should have embittered your youth without finding a recompense for your later years, your attachment to me {returned indeed how ardently, but repaid how ill) would have prevented your forming ties under auguries more auspicious, years not to be recalled would have been dark- ened, and opportunities of happiness and independence suffered to escape which it would be no longer in the chances of the future to renew. All this, if you link your fate with mine, you must have the misery to fear : all this is possible you may suffer, and /ought to shield you from the smallest evil, I shall have the eternal remorse of being the cause and the origin of all. There is yet another uncer- tainty which you have not foreseen, and which, from the wish to avoid the vanity of creating an undue and fictitious interest in your mind, I should not mention if I did not feel that I owe it to you no longer to conceal it. It is very, very possible that I may die before I could obtain the object for which we are to wait. I am subject to a disease in the heart, which, though precarious as to the time of its ultimate effect, is utterly incurable, and may terminate suddenly at no very distant period. What then would be your reflections, and what your reward for a constancy and devotion which even my life could not have repaid, and Lord Lyttons Letters. 69 wliicli, if bestowed on another, would have ensured you long years of unclouded happiness ? "If love be an episode in men's lives, it makes indeed the whole historii of a woman's/' all her affections, hopes desires, all the treasures of her nature are hoarded tliere. And there, where you garner up your heart, let it not be through me if you meet with disappointment and despair. Had fortune been more kind to either of us, the customs of the world would not have prevented our union. Had she been less so, we might have dispensed with the customs themselves, and have found in our own hearts a retreat from the censure of the prudes we bad offended. As it is, oil ! Rosina, I dare not look to the future any longer ! Formerly I regarded it only for myself, and I smiled at every evil I could foresee. Our last meeting has awakened me from selfishness to reflection. I now look to the here- after, and I tremble at the prospect, because I look no longer for myself, but for yoii. Separate yourself from me before it be too late, and your affection has not yet become more powerful than your reason. Many bright years may be in store for you, but not with me. I know from the gloom and despondency which have become to me a second nature, I know that I am fated to be wretched ; avoid me, shun me, and be happy ! Oh ! Rosina, in those moments too dear for words, when I could not exj)ress feeling even by a murmur, wlien your hand was in mine, when I felt you breathe upon my cheek, wlien I pressed my lips to yours, can you think those moments were not accompanied with danger ? Can you tliink that I love you only with the ten- derness, and not also with the passion of love ? Can you think in those moments that even to touch did not light a very fire witiiin my soul, and that I would not have perished a thousand times to have felt for one instant that you were all my own ? How, in spite of the dictates of our love, and the temptations of your beauty, how could we remain for 70 Lord Lyftons Letters. months, perhaps for years, under tlie feeling that that love was not perfected, and that those years were uuen joyed ? My own — you are yet, though for uii instant, my own — my adored Rosina, I repeat it, divorce yourself from my destiny, forsake me and be hapjiy. Save yourself from a love from which you yourself only anticipate disappoint- ment and regret, and where the very passion that can alone afford us the strengtli to hope may only end in your despair. I write incolierently, for I reason against myself ; but you will understand and appreciate what I would express. laui alone, alone upon the world again ! All seems darkened before me, and my heart seems to break when it tears itself from its latest tie, and feels that in bidding you farewell, your own happiness demands it should he forever. E. L. BULWER. XXXI. Miss Rosina Wheelek, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square, London. [Restless irritability. — Visions of ambition. — Firm possession of resources wbicli no other in this country can command. — Deadly pulsation of heart. — Death. — Bitternesss of thought.— Penetrated the hidden recesses of truth. — No hope in the future.] Cheltenham, Sept. 17th, 1836. Friday niglit. It is past two ! I have been answering foreign letters of mucli importance, the consideration of which, as they turn on one of the most intricate political questions, has occupied and excited me into a restless and feverish irri- tability. I turn from these to the sweet and soothing recollection of you. It is since I have derived from our attachment some object in awaking them that I have been more sensible and confident of whatever powers I possess. I have given myself uj) more deeply to their analysis and Lord Lyttofis Letters. 71 more seriously to their exertion. I have looked unshrink- ingly on the resources I command, I have indulged and revelled in the visions of an ambition I disregarded before. I have gone, when (as now) in the loneliness and stillness of night, from step to step, till I have stood at a hight which, however idle such reveries may seem, I do not con- sider even in my calmer moments too difficult either to attain or secure. Like Castruccio Castrucani, I have stretched my hands to the east and the west, in the eager- ness and daring of a spirit which success cannot satisfy nor failure dismay ; but, however extended might be the vistas I have drawn, I have closed them each with your image, and repose on your remembrance at last. Vanity of vanities ! Even now in this foolish confidence fulness of my pride, in the firm possession of resources which no other in my country can command, with everything to justify my conviction of attaining those objects for which others fritter away life, and honour, and happiness in vain, even now I stop to listen to the deadly pulsation of my heart, each of those heavy and feverish throbs comes upon me like a knell, fraught with the sense and certainty and warning of death. This is only felt in moments like these of an over wrought excitation. Whenever I become restless and agitated for the future, this proof of the idleness of all human expectations comes across me ; whenever in the arrogance of self-conceit, I would aspire to the loftier objects of desire ; whenever I would essay some proof of the supposed immortality of the mind, I am brought back to remember the certainty and mortality of the body. Like the Eastern King amidst the delirium of vanity and the conciousness of power, a voice goes forth to remind mo that I must die. I raise my eyes towards my windows, they look upon the resting-jdace of the dead. Perhaps there is something in the churchyard of a place like this, more 72 Lord Lyttons Letters. associated with ludicrous than serious ideas ; but I am not now disposed to jest upon cpitaplis which ignorance or levity have converted into epigrams, or to wrong by an ill-seasoned merriment the mysterious solemnity of deatb. There is not one beneath tbose mounds of earth who has not burned like me with the restless ambition of his hopes ; to him they were not the less important because they were more confined. His aspirations after honor or emolument or love constituted with him, as witli me, the spring and spirit of his existence; the action of tiie lesser machine does not differ from that of the greater. What matters it for the fever of his life, or the repose of his death, whether his wishes were bounded to his village, or whether they knev/, like mine, no limits but tlie world ? All the pomp of epitaphs but maintains while it strives to vary the monot- ony of the one truth. The tomb of Napoleon and that of his meanest countryman say the same : " Igi git." But, at least, those who now sleep beneath me had one hope of which I am debarred ; from the deceit and turbulence of the world they looked for a haven and a security above ; and in their dreams of an Eternal Life they forgot tlie darkness and triumphed over the agony o£ Death. If they died in youth, and left behind them the ties and affections whicli had given its charm to existence, they thought not of the separation of decay, but of the union of eternity. If they died in age, they turned from the cold and hollow hearts, which surrounded them, ^' in the mockery of woe," to the remembrance of the loved they had lost, but whom they were about to rejoin. To either of them death had at least its consolation, and the dai-kness, the corruption, the loathsomeness of the grave vanished, before their visions of the rapture and immortality of heaven. But for me, who have drained to its dregs the bitterness of thought and have penetrated into the more painful and hidden recesses of the truth, to me all such Lord Lyttons Letters. 73 hope seems but the arch-mockery of our existence. There where I lie shall I moulder and mingle with the clay which surrounds me. I have no hope for that mind which seems to me inseparable with the body, alike in its life and its decay. Darker than all, I have no hope that the grave will unite me to those from v\^hom I shall be torn. Love, desire — all which now thinks feels, burns, maddens — within me, find both their origin and their end in the body. " Can tiie dead praise thee, Lord ?" In the grave all things are forgotten. But, come when it will, I am prepared. Li sufferings or in death I shall be at least as I have been. I will cringe to no unseen and undefinable power. I know of no resources but those of my own mind. On those alone do I depend, with those alone will I meet and dare whatever destiny may await me. The soul which Avears away and consumes can also support us till its fate be fulfilled. The lightning does not vanish in the cloud till it has blazed, though for an instant, before men. Let me for one day place my foot upon the destinies of Europe ; lot me for one night feel your bosom heave beneath my own, and then this wild and tumultuous breathing may be still forever. E. Lytton Bulwer. This letter is endorsed by Lady Lytton thus : — This letter upon loliicli I wrote Mm word that nothing would mahe^ne marry him. Wretch that Iivas to break my vow ! Have I not deserved my fate ? The hypocrite swore he had only written it to try me, and I like a fool, believed him.* * The reader will note this letter for forcible illustrations of the opinion of Lord Lytton's biographer (see Vol. ii., p. 152) : — "I iiave now given, from the only authentic record of them, all the particulars relative to the circumstances of my father's marriage. Their multi- plied evidence of hi.s early affection for my mother is, I think, no 74 Lord Lyttons Letters. XXXII. To Miss Wheeler, 40 Somerset Street. [One more meeting.] Upon receiving your letter I came to town, in tlie hope that you will allow me to see you once more. I implore you to grant me this request. Yours unaltered and unalterably. E. L. B. Marshal Thompson's Hotel. Thursday, Ardently as I long to see you, you will not of course come out to risk your health. I will wait in town any time, for y^ hope of that happi- ness. XXXIII. To Miss Wheeler. [Reconciled.] Thank you and kiss you for oo letter, mine own prettiest of Roses ; me is so, so happy, now that we are reconciled, but yet how I could be wretched and uneasy about oo ? Good heavens ! to think of you swooning in the night, and remaining so long on those cold boards ! why — why — why was I not there to bring oo back and nestle oo warm again ? and then those horrid spasms ! But oo will, and must, and sail be quite well on Monday, will oo not, dar- lingest ? Oh, if oo knew, if oo could but know, how I unworthy tribute to her character and conduct at a time when a young, unmarried girl, she was placed in a very difficult and unhappy position. And on my father's side the history illustrates with great force that depth and strength of character, which it is my object to portray with the utmost fidelity in my power." — Ilis own letters will now enable all candid persons to judge for themselves. < Lord Lyt ton's Letters. 75 prize and love you ; but you will know it some time or other. It is very late, and me must now get up, as me leave Town at ten ; me will write 00 a line before me goes, together with 00 things, some of which me sends 00 back now. Me has not had the heart to open them, as 00 m;iy suppose but sends them just as they were. You zoill take care of yourself, love, will 00 not ? XXXIV. To Miss Eosina Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square, London. [His want of belief. — Darkness of his own opinions. — Eldest brother coming back to England. Malvern Wells, Sept. 28ih, 1826. My Dearest Eosina, — I am now at leisure to answer your letters. I half think I write coldly to-day — if so, you will forgive me ? It was from nothing in your letters, nor from anything in my own feelings. I thank you for your interest for me. Whatever may be my own reasons for my belief, they have not been taken lightly, nor is it likely they will easily be conquered. However that be, I shall never detail them to you, nor would I weaken for a single moment any opinion from which you have derived consolation or hope. Whatever may be the result of my belief, tlie con- sequences shall rest with me. If I have been bold enough to state my opinions before the world, I will never at least give my motives for forming them : and if I am thus for- bearing to people whom I dislike or despise, it is not prob- able that I shall ever try to cloud t'le briglitncss of your hopes by the darkness of my own opinions ; but enough of this subject only let me beg of you to have the same for- bearance for me. Do not charm away all my reasonings by one word from your lips; be contented with having all my love here. Your illustration from Chemistry is very, very 76 Lord Lyttoiis Letters. good ; I do not attempt to answer it. The great proof of genius, by-the-bje, is not knoivledge but the application of truths. Your two requests are commands ; I will learn Avhat I am already trying to do — concealment. You have made me ambitious. I must also become artificial, one crouches in order to spring ; as for the other, I sit up to think of you instead of sleeping to forget you ; besides, I have to obtain you, which is not to be doue by sleeping twelve hours out of the tv/enty-four. However, you need not, dear Rosina, scold me any more. I have inured raj^self so early to fatigue that lean endure anything except losing you. Perhaps a time will come when I shall go to bed earlier. Beaiitiful ! how very, very rich and varied is the country beneath ray windows; what an exchange for my churchyard at Cheltenham ; and such hills ; more beauti- ful than those by Windermere. When I was at the latter place, I remember — it does not signify what. I v/as very unhappy — I had cause to be so. Now I ought to be happy, but you are not here. Pray let me know where we are to meet in London. I shall stay here no longer. My heart has taken up its residence with you, and is very homesick ; accordingly, I shall only wait till certain people have left town, and then I shall set off for that place, which however dull and foggy, contain? for me all that is most beautiful on earth, my own love, whom I really do love a thousand times more than 1 can express (though you do as certainly know much more than you need do), my own love, do turn from all things past and present, and remember that we are all in all to one another, if, says La Bruyere (the best in my opinion of all the French thinkei's), if we cannot make all the liappiness, we Avould make all the unhappincss of the woman we love. This is so far true, that I don't see that any one has a right to make you unhappy except me, and that I wish I alone could do so, because then you should never he unhappy. Lord Lyitons Letters. yj It amuses me, your calling me a boy. I have not one feel- ing left that is not at least sexagenarian except my love for yon, and that indeed is very, very young. Oh Rosina, if you have deceived me, tremble not for my peace, but for yours. There are moments now in which I could doubt you if I Avould ; but I can never suspect for more than an instant until I am convinced for ever ; but it is only when I am away from you that I refuse to listen utterly to my heart, with you I am only sensible of the charm which you breathe around you. Whatever doubts I may feel when I "look in yoiu' face," it is indeed to ''forget them all.'* My eldest brother is coming back to England. I am very anxious that you should charm him completely. Eemem- ber that ; but I must tell you his particular ideas of Avomen when we meet. You say you look pale and lifeless, and that I should not think you beautiful were I to see you. Were you ever to lose those very unequalled charms which attracted me first, I feel convinced that you would not noio be less dear to me ! I long more to be with you when you are ill and unhappy, than when I recall your image in all the fulness of its beauty. I don't think you can read these crossings. I certainly cannot, but as you ask for them, it is just that you should have the punish- ment of deciphering them. There is such a beautiful star above me, it reminds me (yet 1 want no such remem- brance) of you ; but so does everything I have been accus- tomed to love the most. We have quoted French much in our last letters. I will give you one extract from Mad. d'Epinay, prettier and truer than all : " Je ne suis pas souvent ou mon corps est. Je sais ou ma pensee me porte, et c'est tonjours ou est-ce-qiie faime." Do not fail to tell me where we are to meet in London and remember always that I am yours entirely for ever. E. L. B. 78 Lord Lyttons Letters, XXXV. [Cockburn in love and writing poetry.] 4, Craven Hill. Well, Rosp, I am returned. I waited for yonr letter and then set off. I arrived here about half an hour ago, and that space of time has been employed in the sentimen- tal occupation of dinner. It is not only my night's sleep tliat you rob me of, even my last support, the latest stronghold which I retained against your influence, my citadel of bachelorship and bravery, yea, my very after- noon dinner nap is attacked, besieged, and destroyed at last ; the fire is warm, the sofa at hand, all things inviting to repose, — magnanimously I reject them all. I renounce not only sleep, but dreams, for the sober certainty of indit- ing epistles to No. 40 Somerset Street, viz., I renounce seeing, hearing, kissing you to the barren pleasure of writ- ing. Be grateful, Rose, and send me a long, long sum of [kisses] or, or I'll bite you to death when we meet. Ten billion kisses, my darling, for your letter, and twenty billion more for your good conduct in walking two hours in the square. I should have written too oo yesterday, but intended to leave Knebworth that day. I rode this morn- ing through Brocket, but did not stop there ; I only paused by the bridge. Do you remember the day we stood there, and Miss Spence stood afar, fearful of colds and rheums and damp grass ? I think, darling, we shall grow soon like Mr. Blount, who, pettily enough says, " If I think of you, all my conversation turns into " Do you remem- ber ?" AVhen the G — s at home ? I expect my eldest brother m town very soon ; perhaps he is arrived now. I have much to say to you on many subjects, and long ardently to see you. I hope and trust you keep your for- Lord Lyttoiis Letters. 79 mer intention of letting me have that liappiness on Friday, though, as I have said before, never do anything to subject yourself to danger. If you will meet me at twelve, I will have a cab ready. Let me know, as I shall be in town to-morrow, at eleven. Direct to Thomson's hotel, wirh regard to your mother's message or note, I don't think, however unkind it may seem, that she really means to be so. It is your conduct, as compared to hers, which hurts her, and when proud and ill-tempered people are hurt, they always get cross upon it. I judge her by myself, and think if I had behaved very ill to any one who had rewarded me good for evil, I should be very loth to show either the penitence or the gratitude I felt. I should mask all feelings under one amiable appearance of sulki- ness ; but I should thaw at last ; and so darling, will your mother, if you go on acting like an angel as you are. A twopenny post-letter can it be yours ? I won't open the seal yet. " George Butler," very like, and yet very unlike your hand-writing ! Only Cockburn ! d — n the fellow. I have read his letter, well ! the poor child has fallen in love, and rhymes on the strength of it. I send you some verses he has enclosed, not very good, but show- ing some talent. He says some of the ideas are mine, yet I don't recognize them. Well Poodle, and did 00 dream of Pup ? Really and truly now that is a curious coincidence. (Tlie conclusion of this letter is wanting.) XXXVI. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square. [Ad:im Smith. — Writing his mother. — " My fate in yours." — Lady Caroline. — Miss Spence.] My Dear, Own And Only Love, — there are three pretty epithets for you. Your very sensible and very saucy epistle contains sentiments extremely proper for young ladies, and 8o Lord Lyttons Letters. quotations metaphors, and allusions enough to supply me for an epic poem, or a maiden speech. I wish I had my Autlior's Best Companion : or, Complete Commonplace Book here to answer them. Certainly never did science or literature look half so attractive as when they come from you — you put your own new cap on them and give them th^i figure cVange Avhich your own fair face ought only to possess. I will own, however, that in spite of your quota- tion from Adam Smith (a very shallow, though a very original thinker by-the-bye) that you have not clearly made out your propositions. You talk very sagely about poverty, '* wealth of a cottage, and all that sort of thing." Tell me I shall not be reconciled to it, hint that you shall not ; and after all this preamble which is meant to deprive me of seeing you now, permit me to hope that on New Year's Day I shall have the happiness of sharing the said poverty, etc., with you till (God knows when) I shall leave you in widow's weeds, etc. Oh, Rose, my own dear, dear love, I do {not in this jesting manner, but) from my heart of hearts accept and claim your promise of being mine. Whatever disadvantages may arise, whatever dangers may occur, I know, I feel that you will, amidst them all, be happier with me than if you were wise and prudent and separated from me for ever. I believe that we are indeed formed for each other, you to be my guide and my pre- server, and /to be your consoler from the remembrance of the past and your refuge from your anxieties for the future. This is, perhaps, the most critical, certainly the most inconsistent, period of my life. It will now be decided whether I may become useful to mankind, whether the bitterness of late years may be moulded and mellowed into selfishness, or whether I may be as I have been, a very weed iipon the stream without an object or a use. The world is a deadly destroyer to all the visions of boyish benevolence ; to mingle with men is to despise them. Loj'd Lyttons Letters. 8i Who can see the knaves and fools who surrround us, the two great classes of society, the cheaters and the cheated, and go home to dream over the early projects of general amelioration and the vague generosity and self -abandonment of an inexperienced philanthropy ? Two years since and there is not one earthly blessing (7 did not then Jcnoio you) which I would not have sacri- ficed for the benefit of others. Now I have learnt to despise what I once respected, and to loathe Avhat I once made it a duty and a principle to love. If I go in the world I am infected with the inquietude and fever Avhich pervade it. "I am jostled," said my own Bolingbroke, ''in the crowd. I do not jostle again — am trampled.'" This, perhaps the most universal feeling among all men, the least separated by character from others and makes the most ordinary motive of ambition. It was in that better moment, when all my purer principles were shaken and none of those Avhich are more callous had yet replaced them, that I first saw and adored the perfection which I fancied, or rather Avhich I fell and heheld in you. Your mind so generous and so noble shall breathe into my own the beauty of its holiness ; and as you have brought back to me the passions, you shall also restore to me the prin- ciples of my freshest and least-contaminated years. And now, my own Rose, that I have told you that this is a very critical period in the "life of a lover," and now that I have expressed my hope that I am going to become very good under your guidance and direction, I will tell you what I am going this very night to do in order to effect this great object. I am going to pen a very long, sensible, well-written letter, all in your style, only without the various helles chases, literary and scientific, with which you have embellisheJ yours, to my mother. Directly I have her answer you shall hear from me again ; and then if she consents, I will put to you six or seven very categorical 82 Lord Lyttons Letters. questions, to which you shall give me very direct replies, and then my suspicions will all be answered. I will believe you in preference to every one for I do place the most devoted and entire confidence in you. Don't talk to mo about men in general ; I am not like them, nor am I very likely to be led in my opinions by any human being whatsoever, as my poor mother always complains — "Edward, excepting you " — who changed me like a kaleid- oscope (very ugly simile that, by-the-bye). Nevertheless you have the satisfaction of thinking that if I am to be led by opinions about beauty, etc., that every one will only lead me back to my adoration of you. I like my rides in the Regent's Park which, whichever way I turn, always restore me to the same spot — just opposite Portland Place. And now. Rose, when am I to see you ? When, when, when ? I really think you are like the Frenchman who left his mistress in order to write to her, or the poor French girl who said to me, ^' Go from me, that you may be with me the more." I must own that those of such very wiredrawn sentiment never made a part of my exist- ence. I prefer a thousand times to writing these long rambling letters one word from those beautiful lips, and there is one thing infinitely more precious to me than even your letters, and that is the hand which wrote them. Tell me when I may see you. If you won't let ine to-morroAV, or as soon as you can, I shall go and hide myself at Kneb- worth, where I faithfully promise that I will not write to you a single word till I see you. I have no idea of any letters being more acceptable than myself. You tell me not to give uj) poetry. I wish I could write out a long tale, as long as the ''Corsair," written at Versailles, in order to convince you I have not. I shall publish it if I can get anything else to succeed first. I wonder if you will like any other book (in prose). It is very, very impassioned — it will make all the old ladies angry. I Lord Lyttons Letters. 83 intend to write the most passionate parts now, yet, after all, I tiiiuk I have never been so stupid, or Avritten so ill, or talked so badly as since I fell in love with you. When one feels most, one expresses worst. If this be true with me, I hope it is not inversely so with you, for your letters are THE most beautiful. But I won't flatter, since we are going to marry, for husband and wife are never to say a civil thing to one another. Your verses, your verses, llosina, how more than exquisite they are ! Oh, Rose, if you feel as truly as you iinagine beautifully, I promise you never, when you are once mine, shall you, during my life, repent that my " fate is yours.'' I will repay to you all else that you may lose. You asked me about Lady Caroline. I must tell you some day my history with her ; it is exquisitely comic. Another time I must also let you into the mysteries of my Maltese chain, which was very near proving tragic ; but these are tales of a later day. 1 can't get my brother to do anything about poor Miss Spcnco and her novel. Good night, dearest Rose ; may your dreams be as soothing to you as the dews which fall upon your namesake. E. B. Athenaeum. — Scene. — Two easy arm-chairs at the corner of the fire, in which are deposited two persons, one old and one young one sleeping, and one gaping — three elderly men in an opposit corner talking, about Sir H. Davy. My coffee coming in and the fire going out. XXXVII. [Love verses.] Eh Bien ! — Wiiat am I going to write you about ? — that I love you ? That you know ! That you arc pretty and handsome and beautiful, and all that ? That you know 84 Lord Lytto7is Letters. also. But write I must ! Ah, Rose, out the abundance of the heart tlie mouth speaketh, and the hand writeth. I sit here alone, and recall the moments I have passed with you, moments so full of rapture, the charm of existence. What to us, then, were the past and the future ? All life was centered in one period, and that was present. To touch, to kiss you, to mingle my very soul with your breath. For what years of privation would not such a privilege repay me ? I love almost more to sit by you in silence than to speak. Do you remember that Italian verse which says '' The lips are silent, ^^ar/e Vdmef The charm which you shed around you enters into my existence, and I become animated with a new and deep and passionate spirit, only because I am with you. At such moments I long for words to express my feelings. I address you but in the common place of admiration, and the infinite variety of my emotions can only vent itself in three words, " I love you.'' Oh, Eose, every moment that I with you but seems to swell the amount of the love which I bear to you, and — but this is all very silly and very trite, and much better expressed in these lines from Campbell : — ■."Flowers of my life, so lovely and so lone, Whom I would rather in the desert meet. Scorning and scorned by Virtue's foes, than own Earth's pomps and treasures lavished at my feet 1" I forgot the rest, but they are all beautiful ; and it is a pity as that all things beautiful remind me of you, you cannot remind me of all things that are beautiful. I shall not go to Mr. Fitzherbert's this evening. I shall call there to-morrow instead. Passing though Piccadilly, in my way to the Athenseum, where I am now writing, I met one of my ** things of dark imaginings,'' one of my J , whom I knew was just come here from Russia. " Ah !" said he, such news from Moscow 1" Never was I so fully impressed Lord Lyttons Letters. 85 with the just value of worldly things ! It was a quarter of an hour before I recolleoted where Moscow was. You may be sure I did not give up my thoughts and recollections of you for the private history of the Russiiiu conspiracy. By — the bye, I never showed you the versos I was going to prefix to the book, and which was my secret reason for showing you that poem. They are very cold to what I should say now : — "Fairer than aught which erst at midnight stole. In vision'd beauty on my boyish soul, When wild, warm, circling as the summer air ; Love glow'd o'er all which Fancy deemed most fair ; If at thy will these thoughts were pour'd along ; Till the rude truants softened into song, Forgive me, lad}^ that I fain would see My task made sacred by one smile from thee." My own love ! I shall dream of you to-night ! Ah, that first of January ! when will I come ? Oh, how I long for the moment when your head shall rest on my bosom, and your lips repeat to me the vanity of the world in com- parison to the rapture of love ! Farewell, my own Eose ! world that, like tlie nightingale, my voice alone could be with you in solitude and through the night, and the dark- ness borrow music to speak to you of love. ^ Ever your adorer, E. L. B. XXXVIII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Told his brother Henry of his intention to marry in a few weeks. My Darling Angel Darling Poodle, — 1 got home safe and well, and found Henry waiting dinner for me. Mo soon put him in good humour with me, and then me told him of my intention to marry 00 in a few weeks. lie was exceedingly kind and good-natured about it, and pleased me 86 Lord Lyttons Letters. v^ery much. My mother, I hear, is very unwell ; so me cannot write to her for a day or two, till she is recovered. Me has been very angry with myself for hasting oo to-day, and making oo prick up oo ears, zoo booty ; however, me has endeavoured to forgive myself by the reflection that oo will soon be in Puppy's paws, and then he can kiss and make it up to oo. Tell me how oo is, how oo got home, what oo said to oo uncle, etc., etc., etc. Meanwhile, me has just shaken out 2 pieces of grass from my hair, which me thinks oo put there, and which me would send oo, but they have fallen under the table, and me can't find them. Well zoo darling booty, me must wish you good bye and God bless oo. Zoo's own idolatrous and fond Puppy. XXXIX. To Miss R. Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Lord Grey's vindication of Canning.] My Darling Angel Poodle, — I was very low spirited and wretched all the morning, or would have written to oo. I was quite glad when my horse came to the door, and then I rode to Mr. Colburn's, for 1 have it in design to write a pamphlet on the present administration and Lord Grey's Speech in Vindication of Canning. I am to decide by Monday. If so I shall make Colburn a present of it, and publish it with my name. Yes, my own darling, I think I shall go out of town to-morrow ; but I am so very unwell to-night and have such a very severe cold, that I may de- lay it for a day or two. How very kind it was of oo to write to me last night ; me was so much obliged to oo, for me was very unhappy when me came home, — and oo letter restored me. Me has got oo parasol, but me cannot send it, it would look so — therefore oo must meet me some day and me'll then give it oo. Me has heard of another place in Surrey, which me Lord Lyttons Letters. 87 thinks may suit us better ; but me shall have further par- ticulars to morrow. Mo has a long letter for my mother to write, which me is much too unwell to do now ; so me shall go to bed and curl myself with my tail in my mouth and dream of Poodle. Good-night, my own dear, dear, dear, darling Angel \marlcs of kisses. '\ XL. Miss Wheeler. [Has written to his mother. — Has a very bad cold.] My Darling And Bootiful Poodle, — 1 write one line to enquire after 00, to tell 00 that me has written to my mother 6 sheets, that me has a very bad cold, or w*^ call on 00 uncle to-day ; but me's coughing my lungs out. Tell me, my prettiest, all 00 says, etc., etc. Can 00 get me those books with any good life of Canning — for if me writes the pam- phlet, me must directly ; and me cannot get the books any- where ? Ever zoo own heart's Puppy. XLI. Marshall Thompson's Hotel,' Satioi'day. [Verses by Miss Landon. — Verses by Miss Wheeler. — No letter from his mother. — Writing a satire.] Twelve kisses — such hisses — do I owe you for your first letter ! Your conduct about the money is like that of my own Eose, my own high-minded and noble girl, who answers every iota of what is at once most valuable and most endearing in woman. Never while you are with me shall I indeed sink into the mei'e politician. You shall make mo more worthy of yourself. My own pretty Eose, Miss Landon docs not say half as much as she ought with such an inspiration as you should lend her; she has said nothing 88 Lord Lyttons Letters. that can do you justice ; but the versos are very, very, pretty, and contain great strengtli and richness of descrip- tion ; and as for yours, they are feeling made music. You certainly shed over all that you write of softness only equalled by your smile, and a brilliancy, which nothing can equal but your own bright glances. As you have given me portrait, you must let me have another, and when I come to Town again, give me the likeness of the only thing which can equal your mind, your face. I shall be in Somerset Street long before two, and have sent to get a cabriolet to save you some part of the walk. Your mother's letter is very characteristic of the Godwin or Woolstencraft school; but shows feeling, and I am very happy to find by your second note (for which, my own love, I owe you twelve kisses more) that she has seen and done you justice. Keep yourself as calm and quiet as you can, tho' I know you will laugh at this advice. I have had a letter from my mother — not an answer yet — in which she wants me to go to Knebworth about some business ; as she will therefore send her answer there, I shall go down Monday, and stay four or five days to write my satire. Yet I am too happy now to be ill-natured. You say that I once said we had na present, and that I contradicted this yesterday. A passage in my book is before me which I will reconcile the contradiction : '' Constantly engaged as we are, in looking behind us or before, — if there is one hour in Avhicli we are only sensible of the time being, and that each of those moments is fraught with the fulness, the enjoyment, the transport of existence, it is when we are with the one person whose life and spirit have become the great part and principle of our own V I look forward with such anxiety to see you, and express how much I admire and adore you. Ah, Rose, how shall I express that ? not indeed, as you say, by language ! but had I your eyes, I do not think I should have cause to despair. I am so stunned Lord Lyttons Letters. 89 and surrounded in this d — d coffee room by some delightful young men, that I scarcely know Avhat to write : they are just arrived from Italy ! "Verily Egypt must have been glad of their departure !" Adieu, my dearest love ! Ah that I were with you ! E. B. XLII. Post Mark, October 12, 1826. Knebworth, Stevenage. Wednesday. [His mother's opposition to his marriage. — Proposed separation. — Solemn declaration of belief that his mother would ultimately have consented. — Waits her reply.] For the last 24 hours I have been in such a state of utter and perfect wretchedness, that if it could continue in the same intensity 24 hours longer, I do really believe that I should not be alive ; but I now have now made myself better and calmer, and feel at last enabled to control my feelings sufficiently to write to you. I will not however speak immediately of what is to be the main purport of this letter ; for indeed I cannot. I will rather endeavour to glid into it by indifferent subjects. I did not answer your short note in Town, for I was rather angry : you did not do right. Rose, to deceive me, tho' only in a trifle. However, the question Avas so ungal- lant, and the answer so petty in its equivocation, that I shall content myself with scolding you for so unreasonable a diffidence in your own attractions. I stopped at Bosket on my way, and saw Lady Caroline for a few minutes; I mention this because she asked me if I had seen you, and I said I had met you at Miss Spcnce's. I arrived here at last, and waited with an impatience you will readily con- ceive for the post that was to bring me an answer from my mother, — I cannot go on, I must take some more laudanum 90 Lord Lyttons Letters. and go into the air first. — T received that answer at last. Oh Eose, such a letter ! Yon were right, and I was mis- taken when I imagined that my mother felt for nie any affection unconnected with vanity, or that she cared a single straw for my happiness, so long as it did not reflect lustre and credit upon herself. There is not in this letter one kind expression to redeem its want of almost human consideration for my feelings ; and it ends with saying that if I marry I should have, not her consent, but her curse. I must stop here again for some minutes ! Well, Rose I have nerved myself at last, and will pro- ceed without further interruption. To say that I do not feel pain at my mother's disapprobation, even if it were utterly unconnected with worldly considerations would be absurd ; if I felt less for her, my feelings for you would not be what at this moment they are ; but let us look only to those worldly considerations. If we marry without my mother's consent, my allowance from her will of course cease. We shall have nothing but my father's legacy, utterly insufficient at all times, and the interest of which for some years would be I fear, entirely consumed by the debts I have had the imprudence to incur. This then is out of the question, comparative poverty and obscurity, I might have been selfish enough to ask you to share ; but not absolute want. Wretch as I have been to you, this at least shall not fill the catalogue of my offences. Even were you less dear to me, you should never link yourself only to privation and distress. Now for the alternative of a private marriage. You said right, Rose, when you said that it was only in a moment of madness that you could consent to such a measure, and it would bo certainly only in a moment of the most thoughtless or the most determined selfishness, that I could have urged you to do so. Deceit and doubt and anxiety — the probability of the loss of character, the chance (forgive me for repeating the old story) of my dying Lord Lyttons Letters. 91 with our marriage unacknowledged and yourself unprovided for — all this we miglit both overlook in the blindness or delirium of the moment ; but this in the calmness of reflection I never will prepare for your destiny. What if Ave had children ? Should I be base enough to suffer by concealment the ruin of your reputation ; or should I ensure you, by a disclosure, the penury which wd immediately ensue ? What can we do ? Oh, Rosina ! do not answer this immediately. Do not say that we have only an entire and final separation. Give me one hope, one comfort, how- ever Aveak and doubtful, and you Avill indeed be my redeemer from despair ! But of what nature can it be ? Never without the certainty of marriage ought we to meet alone as we have met ! You have too much of the purity of affection, and I of the madness, the guiltiness of desire ! And if ever I were base enough to cause you a ruin so entire, I am convinced that the instant afterwards I should destroy myself. But pause, I beseech you, before you exclude all hope, as for me I am so bowed to the dust that I cannot dare to look up. I am so wretched that I almost think I have lost the common energies of existence. Can you not rais me once more from that despondency which but three days ago you had brightened into rapture and hope ? But if we are indeed to part, I have not the power to give you up — it is for you to resign me. Do not do so too kindly, or you will break my heart ; but if you are at a loss words, I will supply them. Do not tell me as you did before, that I ought not to reproach myself, and that you have shared my fault ; but tell mo that I sliould never have attempted to gain your affections without tlie cerlainiy of ultimately enjoying them. Tell me tiiat I have endangered your permament happiness in seeking for the selfish rapture of obtaining your love. All this, all your reproaches I should deserve. One only excuse can I offer. 92 Lord Lytto7is Letters. I do most solemnly declare that I always imagined from the first to tlie last, my mother would ultimately consent. I thought she might ask delay and trial and probation, but never till I received this letter did I foresee her unqualified and continued disapprobation. Had I done so. Rose, you should never, never have shed one tear for me. And now I beseech you again and again to pause before you answer me ; give me, I implore you, some solitary hope — never were you so dear to me as you are now, my own Love. Is this the last time I am to call you so ? E. L. BULWER.* XLIII. [A last letter.] Stevenage, Od. Uth, 1826. You say you are ill and yet that I am not to write to you — how can I resist it ? But I write only two sentences, which you will forgive, because the one contains a request and the other some resemblance to a hope. I entreat, I con- jure you, dearest Rosina, by every recollection of the past which still remains to us, and by every hope of the future which we once ventured to form, to take the greatest care of your own health, and to remember that tho' every circum- stance of absence and time your welfare and interest will concentrate everything that is most dear to me. I have only to add this, that if T can earn such a reputation as to repay my obligations to my mother by satisfying her wishes on my account, and such an independence as to realize our ideas of content, then this letter will not be the last I shall write you, nor will it contain the latest prayer and appeal that I shall venture to make to your remembrance of what has been. And now if there be really some Diviner Being * This letter is endorsed by Lady Lytlon, thus: " May 14th, 1836, Oh ! why was I ever cajoled into retracting the separation I insisted upon on receipt of this letter ? I should not be the miserable wictch I am now." Lord Lyttoiis Letters. 93 who contemplates and ordains the individual interests of Earth, may He preserve you from every evil and bestow on you every good ! May you find in the affection of your mother all that you have lost in me, and may some portion of that love and desire for your happiness which /am for- bidden to show you be scattered and diffused among all the ties and connections that surround you. October, 1826. ' E. L. Bulwer.* XLIV. To Miss Wheeler. [Asking her to marry at once.] \ It is impossible to express the state of mind I am in ; but I do not write to speak to you of that. I write only to say this; in spite of everything I am so fully convinced of your faith that I im2Jlore you to MARRY ME AT ONCE. I do not ask this, my own dear love, as a vague unmeaning comp*^ in order to have it rejected ; but I cannot bear the thought of leaving you ill and unhappy here without one who ought to be your real support and friend and soother. Come then to my arms for ever, my own dear, dear angel ; and we will go together to Ireland and mutually effect our triumph. Forgive me, my dearest Rose, for daring to breath a syllable, a breath against you. Be, I implore yon, mine. Let me watch over and not desert you, no not for a day. My own dearest love, I ask you this as a most earnest favor ; name the earliest day, and after that all shall be as you like. I write with a burning hand and heart. I am just going to your cousin's ; how shall I act there ? Let me find one word when I return at half past nine. I leave this myself. E. L. B. *Tliis letter is endorsed by Lady Lytton thus : " Oh ! why did not all end then ? My God ! My God 1 there is no escaping one's destiny."— August 16, 1851.— R. B. L. / 94 Lord Lyttons Letters. I have read over what I have written — it seems cold, weak, anything but what I would have it. I implore you to let your own heart fill u}) Mhat mine has left unsaid. I am so ill, so wretched, so half delirious, that I cannot express a single thought. XLV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Anxiety for her health.] I only send my servant to know how you are. I beg and implore you not to write ; but send me verbally your answer. Pray heaven you are belter ! I scarcely know what I wrote to you by your servant, nor what I write now, for I am half beside myself. Pray, pray, pray take all possible care of yourself, and do for mercy's sake say you are better. ^ E. L. B. XL VI. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square. [His frantic state of mind.] Oh God ! my dear, dear girl, my Eosc, my Angel, my life ! Are you so ill ? For God Almighty's sake, for my sake, for the sake of my present, my future, my eternal happiness, get well, and I will do everything, anything you wish. I am too wretched, too mad to write plainly, or I would. Sleep for heaven's sake, and then write to me and say you are better, say 1 hat I can see you to-morrow, say that you forgive me, that I am not a monster, that you do not hate me. Oh, if you are really seriously ill, I shall never cease to be miserable. I am torn by a thousand tor- tures, half distracted, all that you can conceive of wretch- edness. I would come but dare not. I should not see you, and I w^ not and 0*^ not now. To-morrow you will be Lord Lyttons Letters. 95 better, much better will you not, my own, own Rose ? For mercy's sake get well, or I shall go mad. E. B. Oh if you loved me as once, this letter Avill restore you in some measure, for it will assure you of my deep, unwearied, untouched love, passion, adoration, and my growing remorse at ever having slandered it or you. One word before night, Rose — one word — '' Will it not be better ?" But sleep now, my own love, for God's sake sleep ! XLVII. To Miss Wheeler. [His relief that she is better.] My own dear, dear, kind angel, God bless you for your letter, and which has restored me as far as I can be while you are still ill, so ill. For beaven's sake who have you ? I was so terrified and uubappy about you, tbat I drove down and saw that good old German, who told me 00 had Pope, and then I went to him ; but he was out and I waited, but be did not come, and now I have just returned home, and found 00 letter. Oh ! zoo dear, dear, dear angel for writing to me so kindly. Oh that you c<^ know what a load it has taken off my heart ! and yet how very miserable I am still, when I think of you, and see how painfully you must have written to me. Oh ! what a wretch I was to occasion you such — such — ; but I will not renew tliat subject, tho' I will not forget it. Oh Rose ! my own and only Love, you who alone constitute anything in my heart and feelings which is soft and dear, will you not be my ©wn, All, all my own, and let me strive to repay you for everything you have fjuffored ? Yet but get well, I implore you ; get well and let rao see you. Your uncle has written to me enclosing a letter from your mother ; 96 Lord Lyttoiis Letters. his note is cold, perhaps affronting, but I forgive it. I for- give all but myself ; yoa may henceforth be really liappy, and may I make — so far as I can — some part of that happiness. Ble?s you from my very soul for writiug to me ; it was very kind in you — very. I will send at night to know how you are. Will you not leave word that you are better ? Do — but pray, pray don^t fatigue yourself by •writing or any other exertion. Think only of my inex- haustible love for you and upon all that it may yet effect for you and myself. Heaven bless and reward you, my kind, dear Eose, and if it does not mean eternally to curse me, make you quite, quite well. Puppy. Pray keep quiet and calm ; and will you not try and be hai)j)y now, my own love ? Tell me. Rose ! XLVIII. To Mrss Wheeler, Somerset Street. [Happier since he saw Pope.] My Dearest, Darlingest Rose, — I am so much happier since I saw Pope, who assures me you are not seriously ill ; pray, pray do not fret nor agitate yourself ; and when you are quite well, we will have a full explanation of the past. Suffer me to hope, my dearest love, that this explanation may be productive of our future happiness. It is right that it should take place ; it is fair to hope we may prolit by it. I shall send my servant with this. He will merely enquire how you are. How I long to call myself, yet after your uncle's letter you sec nothing but extreme motives, such as the agony of fear for you I felt yesterday, could take me to your house. How grateful I am that agony has past away in some measure ; and yet still I am on a perpetual rack of fear for you. Pray, pray, pray take all possible care of Lord Lyttons Letters. 97 yourself for the sake of ono whose life is wrapt up in every shadow that affects your own. E. L. B. XLIX. To Miss Wheeler. [Meet to-morrow.] My adored Poodle, — many, many thanks for 00 darling letter. Mo is so happy, me is wagging my tail and putting my ears down, me is to meet 00 to-morrow. Oh day of days ! I cannot tell you how very, very, very happy you have made me ! No, my own love, don't come before twelve ; but really I shall meet you ! Oh, darling of darl- ings ! I cannot write to you to-night, nor at any length now. The best plan about the carriage will be for you to get in it first, and it can then pick me up in another street, so that you will enter it alone. When you arc once in, put down y® blinds. Oh zoo love of loves, me is ready to leap out of my skin for joy ! Adieu. Twenty million kisses. I shall be in y^ street at 12. E. L. B. L. To Miss Wheeler. [Shewing bis deep trust and unshaken confidence in her.] My own Darling, Darling, Darling Love, — Your letter has made me quite wretched. If it be any comfort to you to know that I, also, have been thinking over our conversation, and have come to a different result, I assure you, my own dear, dearest Poodle, that I feel per- haps glad of the circumstance, since it gives me the oppor- tunity, perhaps the only one I shall ever have, of shewing the deep trust and unshaken confidence I have in you. Believe me, my darling Rose, I have not a single shadow of uneasiness or doubt left upon my mind. I have looked 98 Lord Lyttons Letters. there coolly and inquiringly, and can find nothing but the most unalterable love, and venerating esteem ; and now, my own poodle, my sole hope and happiness in life, let us never renew this subject again. As for me, I have already ban- ished it from my thought. God bless you, my angel love, and make you as happy as you can make me by becom- ing so. I write this in great haste, as I ehall write again in the evening. I have just the wornout feeling you describe, as I was up all night ; but I shall feel quite recovered by one word from you to-night, telling me you are not unhappy, and that you understand, and believe, and trust, your own adoring, doating. Puppy. LI. To Miss AYheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square. [Portugal.] No letter from you, my dearest Eose ! Well, I am better than you in that respect. What do you think of O'Xeill's statement ? I think it quite satisfactory. I owe this to you with a certain reluctance, buth on his account and Mr. Aldjo's, for the latter was really so made to be pigeoned, such a complete Monsieur Jourdain, that it is a thousand pities he escaped. I have been enquiring about the chances of my departure for Portugal, and find they amount to the number at Turnpike last night, i. e., 0, what a pity that I sliould be deprived of such an oppor- tunity of showing my military ardour ! The dog's eye is much better, and Mr. Youatt, of the Veterinary College, Nassau Street, not far from Berners Street, near the ]Midd^ Hospital, says he will not lose it. 'J'he Crooks have intimated an intention of leaving their abode, because, I suppose, we did not bite as well as the do2. Lord Ly it oils Letters. 99 Well, Mrs. Poodle, linw do you do, and v^hat have you. done ? Let me know all about you, for I am sure many changes must have happened since the ages we parted ! As for myself, I have detected 8 grey hairs and 3 new wrinkles. I saw Cockburn to-day. Tie in love indeed ! I see that we have monopolized all the love in the world. We are misers, and treasure up every atom of the real money, so every one else is forced to turn coiner, I am not well to-day, and you must forgive me for not writing more. Do not my dear girl, attribute my shortness to coldness or anything else that you, or I, would in general be apt to imagine ; but believe me daily and hourly increasing in love and admira- tion for my own dear, dear Rose. I enclose your key. God bless you ! Adieu. LII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Better to wail than marry now. — Saw Broflie about pain in heart. — "Don Juan." — Plato. — Miss Landon's Book. — Diminution of her fame.] My Darling Girl, — I have only just received your letter. I am so vexed that I did not have it before, owing to my having been with my eldest brother, who is just come to Town. Are you really ill ? I am so unhappy about you ! Don't above all things sit up late. Keep your chest Avarm, and, in sho.t, for my sake, for your own, and from the hope of tiic many years we are to pass together, do take as much care of yourself as possible. Pray mind this as the greatest favor you can grant mo. And did my dearest liose think that I should not meet her to-morrow, that she thinks it necessary to remind me that I am engaged to do so ? I shall be in the street at one jjrecisely. And now my angel, don't suffer youself to be dejected, or encourage anything that may injure your health — rather tiian that. lOD Lord Lyttons Letters. I will marry you directly. Nothing (believe me for I say it from my very soul) could recompense me for your iinhappiness or ill-health. It would better to wait some months and be well off, than marry now and be paupers, but it would be "tnucli better to marry now tliau to injure all those hopes of happhiess which can alone support us thro' so long a privation; and would not those hopes, dearest, be injured by anything that you suffer to prey upon you ? Keep then, my own Rose, as blooming as you ought to be, or zoo will, like Miss Louisa, drive me into marring oo. The pain in my heart is much better. Of late it has attacked me more frequently than ever. I did see Brodie about it the other day (Saturday, aye, yesterday), but he does not know how to treat it. You shall charm it away, dearest, you are mistaken, I did enclose the key, it must have fallen out without your notice when you opened the letter. Your las de sole are restored not so much the worse for their lavation as I had expected. Puppy was particular in describing the abode of Mr. Youatt, Nassau Street, not far from Berners Street, and near the Middx Hospital, because Puppy thinks that all dogs, i. e. nW ffreat dogs, should be careful in their geographical statements. Perhaps as belonging to the canine species he was mindful too of the words of Dogberry : " Let your learning be seen Avhen there is no need of such vanity." What a Capital Dogherry, by-the-bye, Liston would make ! Well, Eose, I liave been, as I promised, writing like a Dragon. My novel is in three books. I have written out legibly two, and as whatever may be my literary defects I write tolerably quick, I hope to get the third finished in about 4 days. I shall then submit it (is not that y^ orthodox phrase ?) to your candid, honest, and impartial (hem !) opinion. I am in a terrible fright lest the greyhound should be lost ; Lord Lyttofis Letters. loi particulars when we meet. Were you in bed too when I knocked last night ? Oh, Rose,, my own angel, it is when you are ill and unhappy, that I most long for you — tliat is not a sign of the selfish love of which you have accused me. Oh, no ! I feel that I can have no happiness like consti- tuting yours. I am as you said truly enough, so formed by nature and disposition to be wretched, that I should be fo perhaps even with you, but never when you feel nothing but the bright side of existence. I write this from Thom- son's Hotel. I am going home afterwards — to that home, dearest, which is still consecrated by your breath. Do jou remember those two beautiful lines of Lamartine, which, on another occasion you quoted to me : '* Commo on respire," etc. ? Let me apply them to that feeling of ven- eration and happiness I experience in being in any temple, however humble, which you, my Goddess, have once made sacred. I have bought a copy of " Don Juan." The first time we have any opportunity, we will read it together. I have also ordered a " Plato." lb is some years since I • read that most beautiful of all visionaries. I am anxious to read it again, now that I have found the most beautiful of all visions. I dine with my mother to-morrow, and come what may, I shall be in Somerset Street to-morrow. Meanwhile, my own, own Love, let nothing molest or hurt you ; and if there be anything which can quiet or render you happy that you wish me to do, have no scruple or false delicacy, but say it at once. I repeat a thousand, thousand times that no blessing the world can afford is like that of possess- ing your love. I have read Miss Landon's book thro'. Your story and that of Erinna arc certainly the best ; but I can foresee a very great diminution of her fame from this work. She should not write tales at all — small poems, songs, ballads, lyrics, stanzas would suit her best. There I02 Lord Lyttons Letters. is a tolerable satire just published, called " The Greek Bubble." AVilllam calls on the G — s to-morrow. Adieu, my adored and dai*ling girl. May you be unchangeable in all things but your name and fate. Adieu ! I send you all the kisses you have left me \iinark8 of Jcisses.'[ Liir. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Napoleon. — Elizabeth. — Lady Caroline. — Pen-aud-ink miniature. — " Thou didst annihilate the earth to me."] What, Rose, my Angel ! Don't you call my packet of yesterday **a long letter," that you talk of my making you amends for yesterday ? Unconscionable girl ! I have a great mind not to Avrite above one sheet to-day in order to show you what short letters «re; indeed I would if I did not think you might retaliate. At all events I shall reply rather by i)arentheses than periods, and so begin my darling, take 90 million million million [kisses] ; and so zoo thinks to convict me of equivocation by saying me continues to dream, tho' not sleep ! To be sure ! oo does not call dreaming sleep. I call it the most restless, active, fatiguing and yet delicious part of existence, instead of that pause and cessation of life which philosophers and physiologists will tell you is sleep. Sleep forgets. Dreams are all remembrance. Sleep feels not, hears not, sees not. Dreams have all the senses in a double acumen. In a word, in sleep there is no Poodle, and dreams are all Poodle — Poodle — Poodle. Eh hieyi ! have I convinced you ? I am going to have the '* Golden Viv,lct," this evening ; then I can talk tooo about it, and reply to your inpertinent aspersions upon the Poetical Character. Your comparison of the Perfumery and Con- Lord Lyttons Letters. 103 fectionary is admirable, if true, which from Miss Laudon's former vohimes I can readily conceive. And so my poor Hose was ill yesterday ? I am so sorry — and yet 00 wrote to me ! My own darling, how I thank yon now and how I will kiss 00 lor it to-morrow ! Your frank did not go free, at which I am very glad, as it served you riglit for not writing a double letter ! I have parted with the old woman and the large cat, otherwise I would most certainly have performed your commands respecting them, but I have another old woman and hope to-morrow to have one of my dogs, so that the love ment for one may be bestowed on another — at present it reverts to and rests with me as Lord of the Manor. — Napoleon has gone to Hart- ford. I am going to talk to you about him among other things. As for E's letter about E . E. masculine thinks E. feminine must have learnt mathematics, when it is said 2 things which equal a third equal one another. Now perhaps E. feminine thinks her love to Eose equals E. masculine's love to Rose — in that case since E. fcm's love for Rose equals E. masculine's love for the same, E. fern's love must equal E. masculine's ; but E. masculine loves E. feminine because Rose does (for Rose and E. masculine are one): therefore E. feminine must love E. masculine because, as we before proved, her love must equal his. Q. E. D. we see by this problem that E. was justified in call- ing me " dear," and I am too well pleased with the epithet to cavil. I will not show how the proposition is false, because the hypothesis on which it rests is so ; viz., E. fcmininc's supposition that her love for Rose equals mine — a most absurd and irrational conclusion, as Euclid and probably Mr. Thomson would say. I agree with you about Cockburn's lines, I made the same remark about '* the fair and gay Eden." It really is quite disgraceful to Lady Caroline to write such d — d 104 Lord Lyttotis Letters. nonsense, — not, by the way, that witli that pretty little miniature in the corner,* it is right for me to talk nonsense. However, as you have often wished to have my jiictnre, I could not resist sending it yon, only do take care of it now you have it, as it is disagreeable to have the bore of sitting twice. I think it a tolerable likeness, don't you ? I am going to talk to you gravely and soberly to-morrow ; I cannot say it is the best news in the world, but then it is not the worst. And for us Avho are always in extremes, mediocrity even in luck is refreshing. . . . Why did I stop after that last sentence ? Guess, guess, darling. No you can't ? Well then ! to kiss a certain ring on my hand, darling, and to sigh and to think of Poodle ! Well, I came to town to do a great deal of business, and lo, none is done ! and past 4, too ! However you must a long letter I shall fill up this sheet. Well, this is a strange thing, this love ! It is really very mysterious that two people who never knew much of one another, should meet, kiss and — and — feel that all the world was nothing in comparison to each ! There is a line in the " Lament of Tasso " that will just express my idea — and my love : — " Thou didst annihilate the Earth io me. I have just discovered, one line in Elizabeth's note which alarms me, says she ''don't sit up all night, etc." Now, Rose, hear me ! I will write to you daily just the same, but if you sit up late to write to me, I won't hear from you at all. Write to me when your uncle's only engaged, and you can without depriving him or yourself of any kind of pleas- ure ; but never write to me later than 12 at night. Mind, I insist upon this. And now, my love, I must wish you * A rough drawing of " Puppy doing his triclis " is here inserted in the letter. Lord Lyttons Letters. 105 good-bye till to-morrow. " Eemember twelve." God bless you, my darling. Ever most wholly and affec'. yours. E. L. B. There is something else in Elizabeth's note which I must talk to you seriously about. Adieu, Rose, my own, own beautiful and adored Rose I Adieu ! LIV. To Miss Wheelek, 40, Somerset Street. [Verses on Miss Wheeler's sister Henrietta. — Just finished novel. — Going to send it to Colburu. — Hypochondria.] My Darling Poodle, — I have complied with your wishes and enclose the accomjjanying verses which I wrote last night. Not knowing your sister I could not say more of her, and I am too displeased with your mother to pay her those compliments you suggested ; I think, however, I have said all that I well could, for either, and I have found from feelings of my own sufficient subject of reflection on that event which every individual in discribing finds familiar to his own remembrance and congenial to his peculiar rights. If there is anytliing you wish altered or added, you will have no scruple in saying so ; and if you think the whole attempt not successful, I shall have too much pleasure in writing anything to gratify you not to hope that yon will commission me to endeavour again more effectually to do so. What a bitter day ! I take this to Town myself. I am go- ing to walk to the city for money, and to do various other occupations which will detain me till a late hour. I ho])e, however, to hear from you early in the day, and iu that trust shall call at Thomson's. Pray could you procure for me for a day or two (your uncle probably takes it in) the Annual Register for 1823, io6 Lord Lyttons Letter s» or could you look over any review about that time which gives an account of the last part of the Spanish Revolution — the invasion of the French, the Condemnation of Riego, etc.? Anything on that subject would oblige me much. I only want to refer to a single event in order to complete my novel. I shall then, I think, send it to Colburn ; if he won't publish it, Murr.*)y ^;(?r/ia;?.s (and Ebers at all events) will. I shall ask a hundred pounds for it. Poor Lady is very ill ; sympathy, I hope ; for I am a sort of Pandora's box. And oo, my own poor darling, how is oo tootii ? I long to know all about oo, and tlio' every moment of present delay is indeed what the Methodist call " precious time," yet I will not stir out till I have finished this and expressed my most earnest hope of your being better and free fi'om pain. I know not why it is that some are for ever haunted, as it were, with a Demon, mocking all enjoyment, disappoint- ing all hope, turning the blessed sun to shade, and bring- ing before us nothing but one black, black pa!l on which is written " Misery." But I am not going to be lavish of my hypochondria to-day, and so, darling, I will kiss it away ! How very insipid all tics, friendship, affections, seem to ours ! We seem in engrossing love to have robbed even our own dearest relatives and friends of it. Their affection is ice to our capacities of receiving and returning it, and therefore seems only coldness in itself. From our own hearts we turn to those of others — like the eye from aclaude glass to the reality of Nature itself. The nature is as it was before we looked thro' that bright and glo^ving delusion ; but now how altered, how weak, how chill, how desolate it seems ! Adieu, my own Rose, my life of life, very Poodle of very poodles. Adieu ! Tell me when you have seen Lady Caroline, and tell me whether I am to call on Miss Spence in order to be asked. I cannot meet you there. Lord Lyttons Letters. 107 LV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Delighted at her liking the verses. — Never can tell whether what he writes is good or bad till some time after composition.] My Adored Poodle, — How very, very kind and consid- erate 00 has been about the book! Me will make haste to have done with it, certain that as me will send the novel with it, the best method of thanking you will be by a speedy return. No, mj darling ! 00 was not too late, nor would I for anything have lost the pleasure of receiving your assist- ance. I am delighted at your liking the verses. I never can toll, mjself, whether what I write is good or bad till some time after composition, and I was therefore in great doubt as to your ajiprobation of y^ lines. How is 00 tooth ? — 00 docs not mention it, and me consequently hopes it is quite well ; mine is better, much better, ditto ear, ditto all except my throat which is still swelled and very painful. My own love, it was not the disease of the body but the mind which made my letter to you yesterday appear melancholy and triste, I am indeed unhappy at our separation — could you doubt it that you ask me your question ? 1 do not think that your inferences are right : you say that I have had other attachments, and you argue by that, that my affection for you must be less. No my dearest girl, it required experience in others to teach me the treasure I have found in you. Plad I never loved before, I might have supposed that all were like you, it requires much knowledge of general to ai)preciate indi- vidual character. Had I not been acquainted with many, I could not have discovered the entire value of the one. All my other attachments seem to me like streams, which meet with some barrier or interruption, and so rush the io8 Lord Lyttons Letters. more vehemently to mingle and absorb directly an opening lias been made into one new and universal chaimcl. But enough of this. You know, my own Poodle, how I love you ; and why should I add more on so inexhaustible a subject? My mind is ill at rest; lam longing for some- thing which constitutes and comprises all enjoyment — "The soul and sunliglit of life's chilling air ;" and I can find it not. My heart is like my arms when I stretch them at night and grasp only the air. Well, darling, I shall see you on Wednesday ; till then I am indeed alone ; till then my happiness is at a "period," my very existence at a "semi-colon," and my very soul in a "parenthesis." Does 00 think of oo own Puppy half as much as he docs of oo ? Villers has come to town : he has been vegetating at Salis- bury and walking into a great pond on the common, from which latter predicament he was extricated by two women, wliom he ungratefully designated by the appellation of "laughing Hyenas." I will look over Elizabeth's letter and send you the address to-morrow. And now, my own darling, God bless you and farewell ! In joy or sorrow, alone or in the world, anywhere, everywhere, and forever, oo own, own Puppy. LVI. To Miss Wheeler. [Taken suddenly ill. — Villers. — Her pamphlet.] My Adored And Darling Poodle, — I was so more than grieved to write oo so short and mysterious a note last night : the fact was that the night of Miss Spenco's party I was taken suddenly ill and during tJie Avholc of that night and yesterday suftcrcd a great deal. At tlie moment I wrote to oo, I was much worse and thought it better to send for our Apothecary. I took that Lord LyttofUs Letters. log opportuuity of writing to oo, and not liking to alarm oo unnecessarily, said nothing about my illness. I am a veiy great deal better to-day ; but as I a little feverish they will not let me go out. I must, therefore, my own Angel, forego the happiness I had so ardently hoped for till Moh- day. It is no use telling oo how wretched I am at the delay — 00 can I am sure very well believe it. My note the day before yesterday, my darling of darlings, inust indeed have seemed cold after oo delightful and dear letter, which I had not then received — to say the truth it was my health which made me think it doubtful if I could come to oo. Pray, my most dear girl, don't be the least uneasy about me. TJipon my honour there is no cause ; and I have every sort of nursing here. I am sure I shall be perfectly recovered to-morrow, and will write oo again this evening. Villers has been here and exceedingly kind to me. He is coming here again, and I mention this, my very love of very loves, least Poodle should be silly enough to feel inclined to trot here. Talking of Villers, by-the-bye, he told me that he never saw anything half so bootful as oo ; and this is the truer, because he did not know how inter- ested I Avas in oo. Leave me out a line and when my servant brings you my evening bulletin he can bring it back. I have looked at your pamphlet, dearest, and will again. Zoo may be sure, my adored girl for whom I can think of no epithet adequate to express one of my feelings, that zoo cannot wish more to be with Puppy for ever than he does, and even this day of privation has the comfort of being one day nearer to that final union. God bless oo, my own own, own darling : my love for you is like mirrors reflected in one another to an infinite series there is a mille colounes smile for oo my love. Adieu, oo own Idolatrous Puppy. no Lord Lyttons Letters. LVII. To Miss "Wheeler. [Prays thai his rude temper and morbidity of mind be allayed. — Never to give her a moment of unhappiness.] Oh ! my own Rose, what, what can words or even thoughts express or conceive equal to you or to my love for you ? If you were now here, which would predominate, my fondness or my adoration? Should I kneel to you or should I cover you with kisses ? My darling, my angel, I toill prny at last and not for you but for myself. I will pray that I may become worthy, really worthy of your love, and that I may live long to repay you. I will pray that this rude temper may be softened and this morbidity of mind be alhiyed. Never, never, may I give you thro' my own fault a single moment of unhappiness ! My own love, if you could see my heart now, you would never doiibt it for the future. No, darling, zoo must not come here. If I were the least worse, if I were even wliat might fairly be called ill, I would not deny myself such happiness, but I am getting better every hour, and do not think myself sufBciently indisposed even to ask my mother to come here. Besides, darling, you would be sure to be discoTered. William may be here. My brothers may come. Even my mother — a thousand things in short might and luould occur which make it necessary, my own darling, for both our sakcs, for mine as well as yours (since oo knows oo is to be Mrs. Montague) that oo should stay in oo kennel like a good Poodle. But me 2^roniises oo one thing that directly me is worse mo will let oo know, and that if me cannot come to 00 in two days, oo sail cotm to me ! There, my own Rosa Mundi, zoo is satisfied. Lord Lyttons Letters. 1 1 1 I was going to say something about Miss Spence, but I really cannot talk of indifferent people — my whole soul is full of 00 ! Me'll finish this to-morrow, when me hopes to tell 00 how much better me is. Well, Angel, me is just awake — me has slept like a dormouse and is very considerably better this morning. Me woke exclaiming ''dear, dear Eose !" and Lady forthwith leapt on my bed, where she is at present thrusting her cold nose into the interior recesses. A note from my mother : She is coming here this morning. Oh my dearest, dearest girl, how I do thank you for your kindness, and how I do regret that I must deprive myself of the raptnre — for even a moment with with you is rapture — of seeing you ; but you must be aware your own self of the necessity of it. My own, own love, believe me that I am not ungrateful — the smallest token of your affection does not escape me. Judge, then if I am insensible of this. Good-bye, my dearest Poodle, for the present ; me will write again in the evening and till that long moment me must wait for oo answer. Can anything convey to Poodle my love ? if so, let her believe that Puppy has said it, and what is more, thought it to his very heart of hearts. God bless oo and grant I may be tliis means of doing it. Ever your own faithful Puppy who cares for nothing but his Darling Poodle. LVIII. [Better in health.] My Dearest Love, — How more than kind in oo to write me such a charming long letter ! I would not believe at first that it was all from oo, I turned it over and over imagining I should discover one of those epistolary cheats, which you sometimes palm upon me by making a i:»acket of other people's letters. But when I loa^ certain it was all your own beautiful handwriting, 1 kissed it 1000 times 112 Lord LyttofiLS Letters. before I ventured to begin so delightful a treat. And then how Puppy laughed at Poodle's admirably witty descrip- tions ! Never, darling, was there anything half so just, so bright, so alive as oo wit ! Me was quite enchanted. Me has deferred writing till me was up, in order to write when mc tuas up, that oo might see how well me is. Me was up all t!.e greater part of yesterday and for some hours the day before. It must indeed be more than a serious illness — it must be absolute inability to rise which could keep me in bed all day. Oo sees, therefore, darling, that all oo wise admonitions are useless. In tiie meanwhile I am doing marvelously well ; indeed my constitution is so elastic, that it springs up after any attack in one tentli part of the time any one else's would. It is something like the English Church in Waller's repartee to James 2°<^ who asked him why he adhered to a falling Church. " Because, please your iMajest}^, that same falling Church has got such a happy knack of getting up again." Me will Tdc quite well to-morrow and me will — [The conclusion wanting.] LIX. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Has been very unwell — but now fully recovered.] Look, my beauty, What you have reduced me to in writing-paper ! Did you ever see a more author-like sheet? I am only returned from a long ride, have only just read your letter, and have 7iot yet warmed my hands, which is so numbed I can scarcely form a letter. Well, " never mind " the heart will dictate at least, so th.it the words at least will not be cold. I was very unwell yesterday with my ol I complaint, and finding myself no better this morning took a long early ride after Mr, Warburton's business. Upon my road home, I met your Uncle's carriage. He was with some lady not you, and all other ladies are the same as one Lord Lyttons Letters. 113 another in my eyes. And now love, for a very severe bite for your most unwarrantable flattery ! It is quite shame- ful in you to put all those ridiculous observations in the mouth of so sensible a woman as your friend Mrs. Roberts. All, my at — once — Adulator and Idol, when will you do me the justice to think that I know my self ? But perhaps you are going to realize Mrs. Roberts' anathema of keeping comj)any with fools and puppies nil your life, and as you have already made me the one, so you are now preparing to make me the other ! Very well, dearest ; do with me what you please, so lung as you condemn yourself to the afore- taid penalty of living with mo afterwards. Pardon, my own love, my dereliction of duty in Avearing the chain. I ought to have remembered that all my trinkets are vowed to you and thiit as we have already learnt from (or rather luithoui) Moore to make "rings and seals,'*' so a certain pair of botisted and beautiful arms constitute the only chain I am at liberty to wear. Yes, Rose, you did indeed look and "behave beautifully." As for me, I very seldom dare look at you, for fear of being betrayed into some unseemly sally which might have been visited with the most condign Vengeance of the Presiding Virgin. I already fancied myself given over to the secular paw of that terrible cat ; and so I looked at Miss Spence's golden locks "and soothed the inward tempest into peace." No, my dear love, I did not hurt my side by running. And for even so small a gem out of our mines of wealth as a look from you, or a touch of that dear hand, I would endure anything th.it might be felt only when you were away from me. I wonder if you can read this ? I am so very cold 1 I Avish you were able to feci how my hetirt beats. And so we shall meet to-morrow if the day is fine. It shallha fine. Rose, for I \\\\\ borrow one of your bright smiles to make it so. You know, my celestial bluer, that the magicians of old charmed the elements by stealing the frown or the 1 14 Lord Lyttons Letters. glance, etc., etc., of the most bGauliful woman in the world. I cannot close this letter without telling you that I am quite recovered ; and that the only way, since my disorder is in ye heart, to jjrevent a relapse, will be to sec you, my not Rose, but Hearts, ease, to-morrow at twelve o'clock. Adieu, entirely and ever yours, L. B. LX. To Miss Wheeler, Sir John Doyle's, Bart, Somerset Street, Portman Square. [Meeting.] 12 ' Noon ' 12 14, No. *1826* What says my dear Muse to Wednesday ? If you call on me at four, it will be dusk by the time we reach Conduit Street. If we posponed it to a later hour, I fear we shall miss the ostensible personage (bethink yourself whether Campbell could be of use in bespeaking the ear of Saunders). I will send to-morrow (Wednesday) morning at nine o'clock for your answer — have the kindness to order it to be delivered to my messenger. Adieu, adieu ; ever yours, E. B. I liave discovered your almost exact resemblance, in the figure of a Roman Contadina, just published in Watts' "Souvenir." It is delightful, you yourself would faliia love with it. 66, Warren Street, Monday Night. [Disguised in Mise Lafidon's crammed handwriting.] Lord Lyttojis Letters. 115 LXI. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. ["Falkland" not Puppy. — Disappointed with it. — "The Sandwich Islands." — " Memoirs of a Gentleman."] My Adored And Darling Poodle, — Many— no not thanks, but kisses for 00 beautiful letter. '* Falkland " has notliing to do with Puppy. He is quite a different character and ment as such. I have not drawn a person even whom I should be flattered to resemble. My object in writing and publishing a book of that description, was to open some field for the introduction of Poetry. Now if I had merely written an ordinary novel, however good in its kind, there would have been nothing at all in its nature analogous to poetry, and nothing therefore presenting a good opening for its display. This is the same fault I find with "Sandwich Islands,'' which moreover, written as well as the thing possibly could be, could never arise into a high style of composition, and never therefore recompense me for the inordinate bore of writing. Now if " Falkland " succeeds at all, it will do so sufficiently to obtain a reading for '* Poems ;" and perhaps it may from its singula r it ji gain that readmg for itself which its stupidity might other- wise deprive it of. With regard to the want of incident ; I atru disposed upon a recollection of popular books to imagine that the most popular are those which abound rather in thoughts than events, and for this reason — thoughts come home to all people, events to very few : Every one has tlioiight, hardly any acted. However, I own that I am not the least sanguine in ''Falkland." I own more. I am exceedingly disappointed, now that I liavc finished it, with my attempt. Literally and seriously, it falls very, very far short of the plan I had intended to 1 1 6 Lord Lyttotis Letters. execute. But to finish this subject, the book after all is only a trial. It has cost me little trouble and yet much more than any other book of the sort ever would again. As f(jr the " Sandwich Islands'' or the '' Memoirs of a Gentleman," I would finish either in a fortnight, and intend getting on with each and sending the beginnings to you, that you may decide wliich shall be concluded first. If "Falkland" succeeds I shall never publish the " Sand- wich Islands," I shall have got heyond it ; it would be like going back from College to School ; but I should the '' ^lemoirs of a Gentleman," tho' not, I think, till towards the end of the season. My own darling zoo is is quite wrong in taking up the idea that Puppy has made Falk- land his speaking trumpet, and therefore I shall not answer 00 pretty and witty observations on oo assumption of that error. Henry has serious thoughts of going to Columbia. Poor fellow ! I begin to love him now I think it possible I may lose him. I have done much to dissuade him from it. Oh Rose, my own, own Rose, could you but know how my heart longs for you, how from every occupation and thought it turns to you, how all joy or at least that which is termed so, is cold and insipid because you are not here, how I feel that if I only saw you I should bo contented, that I would not even ask to speak to, or even touch you — then, my adored Rose, oo would at last know that I do love you not as others love, but with an affection which beggars all words to convey even the faintest idea of its nature and extent. Do you know. Angel, that Ihe only thing which consoles me for not being with oo when oo is low spirited ( r ill, is the reflection that oo is not with me when I am ? And jour Chest, your arm, darling, how are they ? was it not imprudent to go out to-day so much ? Remember that you have promised to take care of ooself — the greatest care. Mind 00 keep that promise, or I will write to oo only three Lord Lyttons Letters. 117 lines a day ! Will that be a punishment. Poodle ? Ah ! I hear 00 say, " Vain Puppy !" I enclose you a letter from the Baron de Rutzen about y« Carlsbad waters ; you had better have advice which waters you are to take. Pray can you find any notes from E. Gas- coignc ? Do send them if you can ! I was sorry, darling, that I said anything against your mother's feelings the other day, since then I bad your letter, mentioning her i)resents ; I think that shewed heart — a capability of receiving impressions. I am rather inclined to suppose she could feel warmly to you, if you would seem to do so to her — not by great actions, but by little appearances. Us petits soms, endearing expressions, etc. IIo'.v far you think that worth while, rests with your- self ; but if you do care about her affection, it would be advisable to make the effort. Tell me about Lady Caroline. Henery has a note this morning, I have not yet been honored. I shall call nowhere till I go to Town for good. Ellon lias been in London for a few days, but I only heard it, I believe indeed she is still detained. And now, my own Poodle, Puppy must wish 00 good-bye. Think of Puppy ; but tiiat me knows 00 will ! As for me, me is all thought of Poodle. Oh, how me dreamt of 00 last night ! Farewell, God ble:^s 00. E. L. B. I must have ** Fallcland" hach again io-morrow, Pray let me know early how 00 arm and chest are. zoo darl'g. LXIL To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Nil pok'on.— Pain cutting a tooth.— Elizabeth. — Miss Hodgson.] H\ Dear, Dear Rose, — What shall I say to you in answer to your letter ? Think for me of everything which the most passionate attachment and gratitude can suggest, / have literally no Ii8 Lord Lytto7is Letters. words to thank you — none ! You may conceive the transi- tion of feeling which it occasioned, and the pleasure you will find in the happiness you gave me will be my best method of thanking you. I can fully, my own dearest love, enter into your feelings. I did not mention y^ circum- stance with sufficient consideration or foresight, and there- fore deserved what you have now so mure than amply repaid. I never thought before that the Quarrels of Lovers could be such a renewal of Love ! Think you not. Rose, that it was almost dangerous to find so much pleasure in reconciliation — it may be an inducement to quarrel ? And shall I see you on Saturday at twelve ? I am so happy, dearest at the thought, we are a world of kisses behind hand, and we must endeavour to pay off the arrears. William is staying here, but leaves me to-day to dine with the Guscoignes, Napoleon comes here in his place, but leaves me in the morning. I am in great ])ain with the cutting of my last tooth of toisdom. Say something witty on the subject /find it too serious for a joke. Thank you dearest, for Elizabeth's letter. What she is kind enough to say I attribute to its right cause — Viz., to her wish to reconcile you to your choice, If she to whom I have and could say nothing flattering should sjieak well of me, how much more must /, being so flattered, speak well of her ? I am therefore afraid of saying anything, least it should be thought merely the law of retaliation — the "you shall be Ovid and Tibullus I !" But, soberly and gravely, I should be sincerely glad if she may hereafter like me, because I would not have any bar or obstacle to the continuance of a friendship which gives you so much pleasure, and I would not have marriage cliange or diminish a single one of your affections. With ri'gai'd to Miss Hodgson's fear of gaucherie, etc., you know that I observed to you how very good her manners were and how very uncommon in one so young. Of her beauty I Lord Lyttons Letters. 119 have already spoken ; and to conclude this subject, I merely say in answer to her flattery. " They best can give it who deserve it most." Thank you, my dearest Rose, a thousand times for your commission about the waters. I shall see about them instiintly. My dear, dear Rose, may they do that office, v/hich I trust will indeed belong to me — rid you of every pain ! Forgive Puppy if he writes no more now. The great dog his brother is calling on him every moment to come away. He sends his heart to Poodle. Adieu, my dearest love {inarks of kisu&\. If this letter, my darling Poodle, is not everything kind and worthy of your letter, it is because my brother is making such a dreadful noise that I don't know a word I write. LXIII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Portman Square. — Toothache. — "The lost man."] Rose, Rose, My Adored And Darling Rose, — Ten million — not thanks, but parentheses for your letters. I fear, my dearest girl, that my letter yesterday was short, and I know it did not say half enough ; but what letter, what words ever did ? Even our parentlieses leave all but the 100th part of our love inexprest. Your Mother's letter seems kind, and I long very much to see the preface she speaks of. Pray tell me what Miss Spenco says to it ; and could you not contrive to let mo look over some little passage of your writing? I had so promised myself the happiness of seeing you to-day at that temple of Chastity and Chatter, that I scarcely know how to controul my disappointment. The fact is that my infan- tine tooth, which gave me so much pain yesterday, behaved still more ungratefully last night ; and the whole of my mouth and throat are so grievously painful and inflamed. 120 Lord Lyttons Letters, tliat I cannot even speak with any degree of "ease to my- self or of intelligibility to others." I am therefore sitting in penance and flannel, practising patience against the gout, and invoking to my diseased tonsils all the aids of Fortitude and Gargle ; but ever and anon, even as a hand swecpeth a piano comes a sharp hurrying agony across the whole range of my masticating ntent-ils, ])ntting the finish to my mis- fortunes and giving me shrewd suspicions of an universal rjbelliou in that refractory region. I send you, my darling, a book which I have borrowed for a day or two for that express purpose. I seems to me excessively clever, and I think will amuse you. The story of "The lost Man" shows, I think, very great powers for a much higher style of composition. Napoleon was here yesterday and diverted me much. I don't think I shall live with him — at all events I shall take some time to decide. By-the-bye, he saw Lady Caroline the other day. She asked if I had seen much of you and wished much to " pump "him ; Poor man ! he was and is perfectly in the dark as to the whole affair. Ten mil- lion more kisses, my own darling, for your letter which is just arrived. It is read, and nou' before it is answered, take the following \)narlcs of lcis^es\ Pray, darling, shall we not kiss prettily to-morrow. Darling (D)(A)(Pi)(L)- (I)(N)(G) ? Zoo must excuse my most v/retched of i)aper. I have no other in the house, and when one lives in the country, one must put up with the various inconveniences attendant on rustication. Oh ! what a twinge was there ! Fie ! Fie ! Fie ! Now do you really believe, Rose, that I can swallow (particularly with such a dilapidated throat) all the amazing quantity of "fudge '' as Mr. Burchell wd say, with w^- you have filled your letter? Vain as I am, my vanity is not of so capacious a credulity but " no more of this an thou lov'st me." I have just finished Lawrence's "Lectures." How very much disappointed I ain I There Lord Lyttofis Letters. 121 is nothing so interesting as inquiry into the connection between mind and body, and nothing really profound, or evidently ti-ne, has ever been said on the subject. How weary, stale and unprofitable nearly all books upon morals seem to me ! How much that is shallow appears to me in what is usually thought deep ! How much of error in what has hitherto been received as an axiom ! The more v,'e reflect ourselves, the less we arc satisfied with the thouglits of others ; and this is one reason among the many why old men so seldom admire (anything but 00 at least). Remember to-morrow. My grey horse is returned. I am going to sell him forth with. I shall not indulge in a single luxury till I have completed my " litery labours," which for the last 2 or 3 days have been entirely at a stop, and I am in too great pain to-day to be able to take advan- tage of my confinment. The '^ Satire" I sliall not touch till I see how "Falkland " succeeds. I am in some doubt whether I shall write an article Agst the Portuguese Expedition ; perhai)s the reward would not be worth tlie trouble. And now, my own darling, let me turn wholly to you — to you, to whom are given, like the power of St. Peter, the keys and entrance of heaven, my most beatiful bride, my everything that the softest kiss can breathe. I have been suffeiing myself to dream over the future ; I have drawn in my mind's eye all except those odious C n, which I venture to hope for as possible. Thank you. Rose, for believing my love at last. There is nothing on earth but one great thought, and that is 00. Terror'& Lady Terror send their best regards. Her Lady- ship object to the unseemly forwardness of Mrs. Poodle in transmitting such hasiatory messages to Mr. Terror. Lady Terror is not jealous ; but cannot help having a proper regard to her own dignity, and to the respect due 122 Lord Lyttoiis Letters. to the admirable Mr. Puppy, with whom they are at present residing. Adieu, my life, my love, my own, own Poodle. F.. L. B. LXIV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Murmj'. — Lady Caroline's introduction. — Miss Wheeler's Ariel Letters.] My own Beautiful Rose, — How does the rain agree with your bloom ? and pray how comes it that you did not have my letter written at 4 o'clock before you finished yours about 9 or 10 ? Do let me know how your neck is — oh, that beautiful stem to that still more beautiful flower — would I were a bee to hang about it ! My own angel ! no spirit, no, not a daughter of Ariel himself, could write half such light and delicately beautiful letters as you. Your softness is like tlie due on your own emblem, and your wit as airy and as brilliant too, as the prettiest butterfly which ever hovered about it, or, to change the metaphor altogether, and take one from Moore, your mind combines " with i\\, and therefore I will turn away. I called at Ilailey's, my library in Berkeley Square, for Miss Spence's book ; they told me they liad sent for 2 or 3 copies, but that on being informed by Miss Spence that she was the authoress, they had pnt oflf having them. "That Lady," said the young Mr. Ilailey, " is not much esteemed as a Avritcr !" I have, however, ordered him to procure me a copy forthwith. I called on my mother ; she was out, but I saw in the hall a small brown paper parcel on. which was inscribed "To Mr. Bulwer Lytton with Miss Spence's compK" To get rid of this subject of Authorship let me answer your observations upon "Falkland," !«*■ with respect to my answer, I am sorry you did not like it. I quite disagree with you in thinking my using the terms of "hasty inspection and misjudging criticisms" uncalled for, firstly, because that Grattan himself says the former was hasty, and there is thei'cfore no wonder that the latter were mis- judging, secondly, because it is good policy to assume a "high hand" with people of tliat description, as I think the enclosed will shew you ; for the rest, my own angel, it was not upon tl)at answer that I asked your advice, and for this very simple reason that I had decided upon it. Feelings are like Honour — no one can advise you upon their expression : you yourself are the only judge. With rogard to the proposed alteration in " Falkland," in which I did ask your pure and sound judgment, you have entirely put my proposed plan out of the question ; but what shall I iidopt ? I have undertaken to furnish another character and an enlarged plot, and now that " Falkland " is to be published, I wish to make it much better. I want to give Lord Lyttons Letters. 157 it the addition of interest and incident, and I quite agree with you thiit the hero is wholly independent of the story, tho' I disagree with you that the design {not the ph)t, mind) is not unique. The design is to denote the progress of the mind by feelings and .-iffections, and not by tho events which formed them. I know no work ever yet written with this design, and I think therefore you have made some mistake between ''^?o^"and" design/' Do however, think of some connected mystery or story sup- ported from the beginning, and ending with Emily's death. Pray, had I not better noio wait till "Falkland" is pub- lished before I take " Mortimer" to a bookseller; ;f tho former succeeds, I can get more for the latter. I do nor, my own most beautiful Idol, think your extracted picture from ** La Belle AssemUee " pretty ; but then my whole world of female beauty is you, and nothing not you ever seems to me tolerable. With regard to Miss Kcnrick, I am in ecstacy about her taking your picture ; if it be well done, I can love it. Do contrive that I may go with 3'ou the first time, that I may see how she goes about it. I long more and more to have your picture, and now that I am about to leave you, I think it would be such a companion till I see you again. I continue ill and feverish. I shall go to Knebworth as soon as I can. My Mother, I believe, leaves Town to-mor- row. And now, my beautiful and betrothed Angel, my dream when absent, my universe when present, good-bye. I shall leave this. 1 was twice thro' your street to-day, but did not see you. Once more [marks of kisses.] Pray, pray take care of ooself. Puppy. I have a very impertinent letter from Miss Richardson. 158 Lord Lyttons Letters. LXXXV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Refers to the Court Scenes written for Miss Spcnce in "Dame Rebecca Beiry " when Miss AVlieeler was only 20 years old. — His mother quarrels with him. — "Mortimer."] My Dearest, Dearest Love, — How Ter}^ very much I thank and kiss you for writing so early ; — and so oo did not laugh, darling, at my allusion, but oo Avent to the glass ;yid oo saw oo was so bootiful that oo could not help forgiving me ? zoo darling ! how me does long and pine for 00 I There is nothing beautiful which does not recall and nothing odious from which I do not turn to regret oo. Twice have I sent for "Dame Rebecca Berry" within the last hour, and twice have I Jailed of success. I am going to dine with Henry presently, and shall call for it in my way. I long so to see it, and 1 care not a straw if it be good or bad, so long as I come to a phrase, a word, written by you, that I may stop to think over and recall you.- Xever mind the mottoes, darling. They are the least of all in consequence, — they are like our shakes of the paw before Miss Spence in comparison to the naughty kisses that come afterwards. No ! my own Angel, my Mother's quarrels with me have nothing to do with oo, and at this moment we are the best of friends in the world. Ah ! darling, did oo pass a feverish bad night ? Why was it not in my arms ? Could me not have kissed oo well ? Could me not have kissed the pain from your chest, and the fire from your head ? Let me send you 200,000,000 \inarlcs of kisses^ to try. Alas ! these are the prescription without the medicine. " What have I been doing to-day ?" Really I cannot answer — stringing trifles together, and '' making much ado Lord Lyttoris Letters. 159 about nothing." First of all, Henry breakfasted with us ; secondly, I tried a new horse ; thirdly, I Avent to 8 horse dealers to part with those I have ; fourthly, I came in very cold, and wrote 30 pages {my pages, remember) of " Mortimer " amidst all the Babel of three visitors to m^ brother; and now, fifthly, I sit down to write to 00. Then, then, darling, Puppy is going to dress and dinc", spend the evening in the Freemasons' Tavern, and the night in finishing "Mortimer." To-morrow evening you will have it. I cannot find Miss Richardson's note, or I would send it you — it toas impertinent. I am noio going to answer it. So me does not let 00 sleep at night, eh Poodle ? It Avould be too bad if 00 did — there must be retribution even in love. Sleep to-night, darling, and me will, and then we shall dream together and meet. Good-bye, my angel, my darling, my beauty, my own own love, my Poodle. Good- bye, once more. Nine million kisses. Farewell. E. L. B. Puppy De Poodle. LXXXVI. To Miss Wheeler, Somerset Street. [Colburn.— "Mortimer."— Quarrel and reconciliation with his mother.] My Love And Darling Poodle, — Your dear letter was brought to me about 2 hours since. I have much pleas- ure in congratulating you on the recovery of Moustache. Happy dog to be with you — would that I were in his place. Should I not nestle to 00 ? Should I not lick 00 hand ? And should I not jump upon 00 knee? AIi, dearest — laughs Poodle — and so me sends 00 200U kisses for it, for me denies that " Beauty's tears are lovelier than her smiles. Zoo smiles are emanations from 00, and 00 laugh, darling, is the only one which was ever music. " JS^ever," said a i6o Lord Lyttofis Letters. Mr. Heathcote, who dined with ns just now, "never marry a clever woman." Shall I take his advice, darling ? How clever, by the way, your Juvenile friend's letter is it combines amusement with edification, and I cannot but admire the keen satire with which she implied that the dog yon gave Mary Anne wanted washing the very day it was received. So like Poodle. Why I can fancy you saying Hem, my Angel. Remember the pocket-handkerchief at Miss Spence's — *' Ah, thought for ever sad for ever dear !" So zoo is not to be hummed by my letter asking oo advice ; no, because 00 i.s not a hird but a Poodle, the most sagacious of all dogs ; but me assures oo that me never, never said one word of 00 me did not think, and me think oo has the best and acutest judgment in all things except in not seeing the merits of Kee])cr's "Travels" and Mr. Hood's "Last Man." Me quite forgot to send oo Colburn's note, which me has since mislaid. It was exceedingly civil and even obsequious. Of course " the hints were only ment for my better judgment." My observations respecting them were perfectly correct. I should be subjected to no further inspection whatever, and the work should be published in one week after its return. Mr. Colburn concluded by say- ing he should announce the work in his list. So much for that work, which I am too ill to begin till I get to Kneb- worth. As for " Mortimer," oo shall see the first volume before I go. A thousand thanks for oo opinion, which me will endeavour to embody, tho' me thinks me must add something still more romantic. Me is dying to get " Dame Rebecca BeiTy,"but though me has sent 3 tinles me has not yet been able. Perhaps oo can send me what oo has written for an hour or two to-morrow ? At all events, however, me shall have it by the course of to-morrow. I had a very stormy quarrel with my Mother last night, Lord Lyttons Letters. i6i which, liowever, at last ended in a complete reconciliation — ^morc full and perfect than we have had for some months. I go to K on Monday. I am very sanguine of the benifit of the country ; no air agrees with me like Knob- worth. And was oo bluedivilled this morning ? I thought Angels were exempt from tlie pains of the Infernals ! My darling girl, do not vex yourself. I hope to be able to arrange my affairs sooner than we bad anticipated — in the meanwhile keep up your spirits. As for me, I preach without practising, for I am wretched — much more so than you Can imagine. [The remainder of this letter too much torn to be deciphered.] LXXXVII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Removed to St. James's Square.] My Dearest Love And Most Divine Poodle, — I am longing to hear how you are, having been very uneasy about your appearance of languor in the morning. Do tell me all about oosclf ; if anything vexes oo say it at once. Zoo may be sure that oo cannot make me more unhappy than by appearing so yourself. Blustrode itself, my prettiest, is not to be let ; it is some subordinate mansion situated in the Park, and therefore out of the question. Since I saw you I have heard and enquired into another, Armathwayte Hall in Cumberland : I tliink it might be obtained for £100 a year. Suppose we ti-y to hire it for one year only, during w**. time we can live cheap, and at the end of a year we shall know our fortune more accurately ? It is a beautiful country, and situated on a lake ; it would be too far from London to make a residence, but if we could get it for one year we might ; tell mo what oo thinks. I have moved into St. Jaujes's Square. Oh, darling, I was going to say to you to-day, 1 62 Lord Lyttons Letters. but your licad-ache made mc forget it, that since oo docs not sleep well and gets up earlier than oo likes for oo pic- ture — since on does this, oo sail not write to Puppy of a morning any more ; mc will not be so stdfish ; and there- fore me positively forbids it, and in order to make up for it me lays my positive Commands on oo to think OF me twice as much instead. Good-bye, my angel little dog \Jiere is a sketch of a poodle]. Good-bye, and do for Heaven's sake tell me how oo is, and if oo is at all vexed Avith oo own poor Puppy, or any one else. There is a review, favourable tlio' unflattering, of "Dame Rebecca Berry " in the "Monthly Review;" it is a very silly criticism. By-the-bye, Armathwayte Ilall won't do, for it will take one a month merely to go do^vn and see it, and besides it raius so d — bly in those Lake Countries LXXXVIII. To Mrss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Entreating her not to trifle with their happiness, nor to take offence at trifles.] Rose, my own dear love, do not be uneasy about me, — I will stay in Town till you are better. I will not answer your other note intended for me last night now. Foolish, foolish girl that you are, to trifle so with the happiness of both of us ! Never mind, darling, my own darling, any- thing but yourself, Get well — quite wpII — that I may ! — till you are so, I shall not stir. Good-bye for the present, Rose. Oh ! why, why could you take offence at such trifles ? Was it not natural that I should vindicate my mother from epithets so strong, and — as /at least thought — so misplaced ? Rose, my love, my Angel, do beware of your own power Lord Lyttons Letters. 163 of rendering us unhappy ; but I said I will not ansv.-er this now, and will not. I will only, my dearest, dearest girl, thank you for your anxiety. I am much better ; the country air will restore me in a week — it is only that which I languish for. Do get well then, my dearest love, my Poodle, for my sake. Puppy. Have I tlianked you enough ? No, my angel, it is in parentheses that I must both thank and scold you \iinarlcs of kisses]. LXXXIX. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square, London. [Just arrived at Brighton.] (Postmark, Brighton, Feh. Wi, 1837. My Dearest Love, — I am arrived already much better from the journey ; air and exercise will soon entirely restore me. I have only time now. In order to save the post, to write two lines, but I shall write you a very long letter to- morrow, for I have a great deal to say. In the meanwhile I am only sensible to the hope of hearing from you to-mor- row. I hope to God that you are well, or at least greatly recovered. Pray don't expose yi'self at Miss Kenrick's. Being in such haste I can write no more. God bless you, my own dear love and life ! Yours ever and as ever, E. L. B. Direct at the Post OflSce. 164 Lord Lyttons Letters, XC. To Miss R. Wheelee, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square, London. [Lady Caroline to be despised. — Objection to her letters. — Their expression of resentment. — Her pride. — Want of Love.— Fe:ir of an ultimate break.] Brighton, Fel. Uth, 1827. My Dearest Love, My Own Dear Poodle, — I am so delighted that Miss Kenrick has succeeded so well ; I am perfectly impatient to see her performance. Pray, pray let me be able to coax her out ( f the treasure. Zoo knows that 00 sail have anything 00 likes in exchange, for there is nothing I would not give to possess a real like- ness of you. Has she done justice to tliose deep, deep eyes, to that beautiful mouth (my source and well of kisses), to the divine turn of your head, and to that neck and bosom where I could lye forever and forget all things but you ? Tell me, dearest, each particular; tell me where she has failed, and in what she has best succeeded, I am very angry that she has altered the place of the dimple ! Neither God nor Sir G. Kneller could improve you. Poor Miss Richardson ! the day before I left London I had another letter from her. Ts she very, very poor ? — not literally destitute, I hope ; had she not better advertize for a place as companion ? As for Lady Caroline, I think her much more to be despised and blamed ; but it is always the lowest who is thought the most contemptible, whereas poverty itself is an excuse. Fortune is like Fashion ; our opinions always follow her example. I was greatly amused by your account of Miss Spence's party, especially of Mr. Bentham, and I admire my pretty Poodle turning Political Lord Lyttons Letters. 165 Economist and Logistator, I shall keep her much better employed in making collars for Puppy, and shall I kiss hor so mucli that she will forget how to open her moutli for any other purpose. I believe you are to tlmnk my brother William for Mr. Ilnssey's conversion, I agree with you as to its importance as an Individnal, but as one of the great Community it is not without its value. Say what you will, the larger part of the world arc no better than Hussey's ; and yet it is for them tiiat we write books and read them, act well and seem better ; and we are in the right to do so. I am very sorry to hear of Elizabeth's ill-health — pray do not forget my good wishes, etc., etc. AVhen you write to her. As long as she loves you, she possesses every merit and virtue in my eyes. And now, my dearest love, forgive anything that I am about to say which offends you. Dur- ing all the time I have known you, I have but twice had occasion to find fault with you. I believe that on those occasions I expressed myself neither superciliously nor harshly, certainly without any of that attempt at irony and bitterness which has character- ized your replies. Those two occasions you have made crimes on my pare, and resented in such a manner as almost to occasion a final separation between us. Forgive me, I again beseech you, my dearest, dearest love, if I recur to subjects so ungrateful — I only do so with a view to pre- vent their repetition. I will owe to you, Rose, that I was, that I am unreasonable enough still to be exceedingly hurt at the severity of the note you intended to send me in answer to my observations about my Mother — had not a more accident induced you to soften it. I am grieved, d arest, more than I can express, to think I owe the redeeming kindness of a note which accompanied it, to tho mere fictitious and temporary interest of illness. My own dear girl, if I may now tell you what I wish altered in you 1 66 Lord Lyttons Letters. it is your joriWe. I am perfectly convinced that if anything will hereafter interrupt or even destroy the happiness we ought to enjoy, it will arise first or last from that cause, an 1 this is the only consideration which makes me wish any- thing altered in you. I have often tcld you, my own darl- ing, that as long as I could make you happy I should be entirely so myself : When I have said this, I have felt it from my very hearr,. Till very lately I always hoped that I could make you liappy — if now, dearest, I donbt it, it is both from a knowl- edge of my own faults and a discovery, I will not say of a fault in you, but of a proud and resentful principle in your mind, which does in my opinion detract from its perfec- tion. I know that I am fastidious to a great degree with regard to the conduct of those I love — both as regards others and myself ; and I know therefore that if any expression of blame or anger on my pait is to be met by a double expression of resentment on yours, there can be no other result than present dissensions and future alienation. This I feel the more strongly because 1 should not conceive such behaviour on your part a mere ebullition of passion only, but a want of love — a want of that woman's love, which I have always pictured to myself as the most really and deeply felt, which finds no humiliation in yielding and no anger in concession. The latter, for instance, which called forth so bitter a reply either offended you because it shewed that I myself was offended, or because the expres- sions contained in it were cold or harsh, or rude enough to give you cause for being the first to be offended. In the first case, my dearest love, you must be aware that if feel- ings offended (whether Justly or not, matters little) are not to be soothed, but irritated — there can be no cessation to anger once conceived, and a breach that would otherwise have been momentary is easily converted (as our's was nearly) into a permanent rupture. If my own proud Poo- Lord Lyttoits Letters. 167 die had been less proud, she would not have disdained to remember liow a soft answer tnrneth away wrath ; — in the second ca?e, if my letter affronted you solely in itself, there was surely a milder method of expressing it than by a let- ter written from beginning to end with an evident design to wound and irritate. No woman at any period of love ever gained by irony. Had I been offended by you, I should not have sate down immediately to write a letter which could only terminate in an ultimate " hreak " between us. Such small causes do not deserve such terri- ble effects. I could not have punished myself so. -Do not think, my dearest love, that I show only masculine assump- tion of superioi-ity by saying that it would, however, have been far more excusable in me. No attachment can be permanent where the woman does not make greater con- cessions than the man, and does not even feel that those concessions are the most real sources of pride. I shall be very, very sorry if what I have now said makes you angry with me. I shall be still more so, if you do not think there is any truth or justice in the remarks. I do not think it likely I shall ever again before our marriage express any resentment I may myself feel at any uninten- tional affront from you, or blame you on the other hand for any part of your own conduct ; if I have done so now, it is only to prevent any subject of disagreeable discussion, still less of dissension after marriage, and to promote the most fervent and unceasing desire my heart ever conceived to make you hajipy. Canning is supposed to be in some danger. His death would create an amazing change, and open a great oppor- tunity for ambition in the House. Mrs. Hunter is here, without her brother. I shall endeavour to call to-day or to-morrow. Zoo will be sorry to hear Lady is left in London, and that she looked as thin as Puppy when he last saw her. 1 68 Lord Lyt toils Letters. Ah, dearest ! liow restless I am when I am alone, for then I do indeed think of you — would that I could lay my head with the brown cap upon that spot which is moi-e of Heaven than my most boyish fanaticism ever dreamed of that above. I do not think, when we meet agiiin, that I shall ever bear to part witli you ; my lips will grow to you. Every day makes me lung more and more for that which will be to me (will it not, dearest, be to Ijotli of us) an entrance into a now life. I often wish we could condense our existence into one long, long embrace. Ah, dearest, never, never let us lose or fritter away one moment of that happiness which two beings who love like us should com- mand ! Do you know that if I could convert myself for the next week into air\ would ? I would fly to your lips, and there kiss myself into fragrance, and I would almost ask to die (where, darling, 1 have in some measure died before) upon the bosom where T would sigh forth all my soul. Oh, how my head burns, and my heart beats as I write this ! What are you, my angel, that you can inspire such a passion ? Nothing merely earthly could be so loved as you are. Keep yourself well ; do not stay too long at Miss Kenrick's ; nurse your neck ; do not neglect the smallest thing connected with your health ; and remember how utterly and eternally I am yours. P . Will you send me the verses to you under the name of "Ina" which I wrote in your album. Loi'd Lyttons Letters. 169 XCI. To Miss Rosi^ta "Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square, London. [Alterations ia "Falkland." — "Mortimer."] Brighton, Feb. Uth, 1827. Thank you, my dearest love, for your letter ; I wish, darling, I were with you to kiss you for it. I think I would sacrifice a year for each minute to be one quarter of an hour with 00 now. Tell me, my beautiful Rose, any part of 00 face and necl: that mo would not kiss. That love of a dimple that you say I have not done justice to — would I not repay it for my neglect ? zoo darling — is 00 a darling ? [marks of kisses]. How like my own dear and noble Rose to send the money to Miss Richardson which I know so well 00 must have wanted 00 self ! but 00 must not, darling, do that again till 00 has Puppy's money, and then 00 shall spend that as 00 likes ; and so, tlio' I send 00 twenty thousand kisses for it, I think I must also send 00 one bite. Mind, my own darling of darling, that you tell me 2Jci7'ticularli/ in your next how you are, and all things respecting you ; but this I must hear from your own pretty lips when I come to London. I shall leave here on Friday, so that you must not write after to-morrow and I must see you in the beginning of the week. Has our long eternal absence made me less dear, darling ? or will my kisses bo colder ? I fear " Falkland " will not be finished before this day week — I want to throw the greater part into narrative and to alter the catastrophe with regard to Emily very materially. Part of what I have got done I am satisfied with ; but I shall have much to write entirely again. Poor I/O Lord Lyttoiis Letter's. Mr. " Mortimer" has for once found his proper level, and is quietly laid on the shelf. I hiive not seen Mrs, Hunter yet. Perhaps I may to- night, for I am going to a small party ; but I know I shall return to Poodle with a double conviction of her superlative merits and beauties. Seriously tho' when I went out the other evening and saw one called pretty, and talked with another thought clever, I shrank back into the temple I had erected in my own heart with an indescribable and joy- ous impression of the superiority of the one Diety I had enshrined there. I still continue better, but am not exact- ly well yet. I dare say I shall only stay a week in Town on my return, just to see my own darling iind arrange our plans with her. For God's sake, my dear, dear, most dear Kose, keep up your siiirits, and remember how your own angel conduct has endeared you to me; for if ever there was a Spirit of Love upon earth it is you. God bless oo my dearest, dearest love and life. Your own Adorer, P Y. XCII. To Miss Rosina Wheeler, 4 Somerset Street, Portmau Square, London. [Returning.— Delight to meet again. — ]\Iiss Gibbings, Ibe heiress.] Brigliton, Feb. 15th, 1827. Yes, dearest, I will write to you every day during my stay here, but there, like the oracle's, my promts is some- what perfidious ; for to-morrow I shall be on the road, and shall not reach my quarters for the evening till after Post time, so that the letter which makes you the })romis also discharges it. I am so impatient to see you again. Do, darling, let me find a letter at Thomson's to say what day I can have that happiness — Tuesday perhaps at farthest ? What volumes we shall have to say, and yd my own Lord Lyttons Letters, 171 darling, I think we can find better employment for our lips than to say anything ? As for me, I think I shall be too overjoyed to kiss 00 even ; I shall wait my angel, my Poodle, till the first kiss from 00 own self has restored me to life. For the first minute of meeting you will not be life — at least not waking life ; it will be a dream, a trans- l)ort, a chaos of feeling that has nothing to do with ordi- nary objects of existence. Suppose, my most beautiful Eose, that we were now together in the same kennel, in each other's arms — what should I do ? Ah ! I dare not think ! for the thought of you is a fever that burns like liquid fire within me. When, my own Eoso, shall I quench it in your kisses ? My life, my love, my soul, do I doat on you or do I rave when I would tell you what I feel ? Well said Virgil " there is no madness like pas- sion." And so my pretty Poodle, I am to get you a Blenheim spaniel ? Is it to be one of my own Pups ? I fully commiserate with you in your indignant and aggrieved feelings at the profanation of 00 name — / too have had my nerves woe- fully attacked. A certain youth praising a cook that belonged to the Life Guards' mess said, ''And he is so d — d good at a pinch too ; he made us some famous soup once, out of a little parsley and a Pu})py's leg." Fancy Puppy's leg, independent of the white adorables, served up ; but us, you can't fancy it — the thought is too horrid ! I have not seen poor Mrs. Hunter. I hear that the elopement of the Baroness E has made a great sensation against her, for they were perfectly inseparable. I went to "I parties last night ; at one given by Miss Cibbings, the heiress, that young lady delighted us with her knowledge of 6 languages, her skill in drawing, her knowledge of music and her science in chemistry ! I would as soon marry *' The Public Advertiser " as an Exhibitor of that 172 Lord Lyttons Letters. sort in spite of the £80,000, My health is much, very much improved. Pray, pray, darling, take care of 00 own self, and let mo know exactly how you are, and when we shall meet, and let me have your letter at Thomson's on Saturday — 200,000 \))iarlcs of ldsses\. I only wish, my dearest love, that we could make a thermometer of affection. I wish yon could see the degree of mine, I do so adore you ! XCIII. [His mother 111. — Not asked for money.] "Well, my pretty Poodle, — In the first place, when I came down this morning, 1 found your letter, which I read twice over before I began to gnaw my bone, and then I commenced that darling little book with my second saucer of milk. I was so rejoiced when I came to a line about Poodle, tliat I got np and wagged my tail for twenty-two minutes and one second — the line was : "Bright Coenis whose eyes so refulgently shine." It was very pretty and nice in the poet to call Poodle Coenis or the dog-star ! I have at home in my great kennel at Knebworth a whole collection of those productions of genius, "Mother Hubbard and her dog" — "Butterfly's ball," " Grasshopper's Feast," ct/wi multis aliis ; which I will give you for your own library when you become Mrs. Pupi)y — only you must not dog-ear them, 1 will bring the only thing whose ears are to be dogged. So after I had read this, I followed Bacon's advive (all puppies like Bacon) of thinking after study, and I began a very morbid and melancholy meditation upon your tooth- ache, with various recollections of the the past when I kissed it away, and of the future when I should again have that happiness. This by-the-bye, brought on a train of verj Lord Lyttons Letters. i *]t^ subtle and searching enquiries as to your not being pleased ai a certain amusement which gives Puppy so much pleasure. And then, thinking such reflections were dangerous, I curled up my tail and set off to Dog Kenrick's ; I went in and found Mrs, Atkinson on the staircase, and her picture in the drawing-room. I then talked of })rofiles and poetry to Miss Kenrick, which introduced Miss Landon — Olympia — and your picture. In the first place, that picture is to be mine the roomejit it comes from the Exhibition. I bought it very cheap. Secondly, I think it very beautiful. Third- ly, ] do not, upon my honour, think it lialf so handsome as you ; tlie features are too large, the face too long, the dimple omitted, the expression not near so brilliant nor so spirituelle as yours. 1 do not think it very like, either ; and I must now, my dearest love, beseech you to let me have another small one, and to sit for it immediately. I have told Miss Kenrick that I will purchase it, if she can persuade you to have it drawn ; and so i^ray, my dearest, dearest love, do have it done directly : as a bribe I will send you mine on the very day I receive yours. Let me, my most faultless beauty, consider this as settled. So then. Puppy, after having talked about pictures etc., for some time, trotted home and found two proofs of "Falkland," which he corrected, and then got upon a great big horse, and went to see after his relations of Blen- heim. Not being able to find any to his taste, he was very much disconcerted and slunk home to his mama in Sey- mour street. Her he found aiflicted with rheumatism, and did not therefore think it advisable to apply for the money ; but Poodle shall hear more on tliat subject to-morrow. While he was there, a letter came from Miss Richardson ; me encloses it. She is the plague of my life, quite " my distemper." And now my dearest, I returned, and at this moment am scribbling this to oo. I do not think Mr. Campbell's verses good, and I dislike the last I 74 Lord Lyttons Lcttei's. verse which you like worse than any. Do, dearest, seud me those verses you promised. Write me early to-morrow, my beauty. 20,000 \]ci88es\. I have written about another kennel this very moruing. I am nov/ going out to dine with Villers. Perhaps I may go to Lady London- derry's in the evening ; but it depends upon whether my brother does — if not, I don't think I shall. However, zoo'll hear from me to-morrow, and in the meanwhile oo sail have my heart and my soul, my life, my darling. Zoo OwK Puppy. Not pleased at — . fie, Poodle, fie ! XCIV. To Miss "Wheeler, Somerset Street. [Villiers. — Napoleon.] Thursday, 3 o'clock. Pray forgive me, my darling Eose, for not having writ- ten to you before. I have been changing my abode to Mivart's, Brook St., where you must in future direct to me. Add to this, I have been pressed by three messages from Colburn to return a sheet which I still have still in my possession and cannot for the life of me alter, the' altered it must be. My own poor dear love, I am so very, very sorry for you ; I know it was all my own fault in dragging you out on Tuesday. You shall not come out now till you are quite. Quite well. Pray take the greatest care of yourself and stay in bed. Does 00 think, my own darling, seriously and truly that if 00 did really look less adorable, your own true Puppy could perceive it ? No ! he would only think it a change in 00 beautiful Kaleidoscope of a face, which cannot admit of any variation less than divine. Keep its jjoor dear cheek (oh, how Puppy longs to lick it !) in as equal a temperature Lord Lyttoiis Letters. 175 as possible. Pr;iy got well as soon as possible, in order to liHve your picture taken. I am so impatient to have it. Kemember my promis of exchange. " Vain Puppy !" You must not write if it hurts your arm, that beautiful arm — at least only one line, and that shall be to-night when I shall send you another letter, in order to hear how you are. And so my own Poodle wants to know what Puppy did yesterday ? Why, after he wrote to Poodle he Jumped into a hackney coach with his great big brother and was taken to Lincolu's Inn : there he found Dog Villiers, and soon after Dog Napoleon came — quite a family party. Then several dishes of bones, etc., were set before them, and Puppy munched, but without any appetite, for he thought of the snug scraps he had purloined in company with Poodle, and so he sat and neither barked no devoured a lOth part as much as he is wont to do — only once he growled at his big brother about Politics, Puppy being a very Seditious, discontented dog whenever he is " down at the mouth." Then after their bones all the 4 dogs sat down to whist, and Puppy lost ; upon which he slunk his tail and trotted home, intending to dress for Dog Londonderry's party ; but when he got home, he laid down on the sofa and went to sleep ; and when he woke, he crept to his inner kennel and tossed about and thought of Poodle ; and then he saw "eyes refulgently shining" and rosy lips and a beautiful black curly tail ; and then he took to wondering for the 100th time what Poodle ment when she said she only felt ''odd not pleased," and he said Poodle's a fool ; aiid then ho grew into a great rage and fell asleep out of spite. He woke with a great pain in his head, and then he read Poodle's letter, and was glad he had pain, because it sympathised with her. Do, do my own dear love, be as prudent as you can. I can't bear to think of your being ill, and I not with you. O darling ! I send you a dear little full-length statue of 1 76 Lord Lyttons Lettc7's. Puppy with his curl at his tail, which I stole from dog Villiers yesterday. Unhappily I was caught in the fact and forced, not to restore — for that I would not — but exchange for something else, which I was loath enough to do. How- ever, I was so pleased to get so capital a likeness — curl and all — that I thought I could not pay too dear for it. I send you a letter I received in answer to the application about the kennel T spoke of yesterday. Pretty and i)ithy ; is it not, darling ? £100 a year, unfurnished, besides a thousand pounds. \ycll, Rosey, I must wish you good-hye now, tho' I shall write again in the evening ; but pray my dearest, dearest love, remember that my life, licalth, happiness are Avrapt up in you. I write this at the Athenseum, where I have flown for safty from innumerous duns. I am going now to leave it myself. I send you, my dearest love, a thousand kisses. Return them with all legal interest when we meet. P Y. xcv. To Miss Rose Wheeler. • [R. O. S. E.— Arch quack of tale-writing, Walter Scott.] Mivarfs Hotel, Brooh Street. My Dearest Rose, which name I think (pray forgivfc me) prettier even than " Poodle " — Aye zoo may pout but I really do, Mrs. Pnppy-that-is-to-be ! Rose ! Oh beautiful name ! it breathes on me like spring-flowers, sunshine, fragrance, all embodied in one dear word ! R. for Rapture according to my idea; 0. for "odd," according to yours ; S. for Silly in you to think so ; and E. for Enchanted, which you shall be, by-and-bye, when you are Mrs. Pnp})y. How did darling Poodle like my statue ? Was it not too like me ? Will it not instead of a stupid miniature ? Pray say, ray own darling, how 00 is, but that I know 00 has Lord Lyttons Letters. 177 done in 00 letter which my servant will have in return for this. After Puppy left his last one — by-the-bye when he knocked at 00 kennel he saw a little fat black terrier who growled at him, which frightened poor Puppy very mucli — what did it there ? me is very jealous ! — well, to return ; after Puppy had knocked at 00 door and given his letter to a very pretty little dog (female dog) who opened it, he bolted off to the stables, and then he run with the horses in the Park for some time, and then he went to see his mother dog in Seymour St., and then he growled and barked with her for about an hour, and he got a promis to have a great big sum of money in a day or two, and then he will change Poodle's large penny, and she shall have a new collar. I am very, very anxious to hear from you, my own Eosey ; so pray let the report be favourable, which cannot be unless you take care of yourself ; so pray, my darling, nurse 00 own pretty cheek, that I may kiss it on Saturday. I am going to finish the alterations in "Falkland'^ to-night, and the Preface — I hope will certainly be out by Tuesday or Wednesday. If I have improved it, it is very meretriciously quacked up with a Plot and a Ghost, and a description like that Arch-Quack of tale-writing Walter Scott, to whom I pray night and morning that I may see justice done before I die. By the way, my own beautiful and bright-eyed Poodle must have seen the curious but complimentary notice on ''Dame Rebecca Berry "in the Morninfj Post. So me's in a new kennel which me likes- very much. Peince Puppy. 178 Lord Lyttons Letters. XCVI. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Her Statue. — Went to liis mother.] My Own Darling Poodle, — I beg yon ten million pardons for having kept 00 waiting for my communication last night, and then, my own love, for having made it so concise. I had hoped to have written to you in the evening a long reply to your beautiful letter, but v/e did not sit down to dinner till after 8. I rose this morning very unwell, tho' I can safely assert my freedom from all y ester a' en excesses. I then found 00 pretty note and 00 darling, darling statue. What a love zoo is for sending it ! How very, very often I have kissed it ! Such dear little eyes, tho' not a bit like Poodle's large love-lighted ocean of an eye, and such dear long ears, tho' they are white instead of black ; but then such great club feet ! Oh how unlike Poodle's ! However my prettiest of the pretty, it lias a certain likeness, and me looks at it every hour. I am so delighted with it. Well, love, when I had sufficiently admired it, I dressed myself and went out in a great cabriolet ; then I saw William, and he dines with y^ Dog Gascoignes to-day ; from thence Puppy went to his Mother in Seymour St., when he had a long dis- pute about the Church Missionarv Society, and he is now returned very faint and ill. Do, my own Poodle, write to me a long kind letter, tho' I know my darling love, that I do not deserve it for my short effusions to you, but I really am unwell to-night and sick — sick at heart, even more than elsewhere. How- ever, my prettiest of Poodle's, I will write as long as I am able. As to Walter Scott — but no, dearest 1 wont differ from yon to-night. What 00 says about it is, however, bootifully ■Lord Lyttons Letters. 179 written and worthy of my own adorable love, who is certain- ly the most clever, charming, petty, good, noble Poodle which ever existed. Zoo sail, my dear, dear girl, have a long letter to-morrow : Till then, Zoo own. P Y. XCVII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Wrestling with demons. — Believes himself mad at times. — Fever.] 10 o'clock. No, my dearest love, I should not have told yon to write a kind letter to me ; when indeed, were your letters otherwise? I hardly knew what I wrote, for I was very ill and went to bed immediately afterwards. I have had a wretched night and am now very feverish. I have, how- ever, got up, and have been better since. God bless you, my angel of hope and comfort, for all the happiness your love brings me ! 0, never, never may I be unworthy of such a treasure ! In every moment of wretchedness one of your dear and kind letters is sufficient to restore me. AVould indeed that you were with me. If I could but feel one of your pure, cool kisses upon my forehead, it would cease to burn so. What misfortune would not be charmed away by a single glance from that deep and beautiful eye ! you asked me to tell you what vexed me? Alas ! I might answer you in general " my own nature," for I am so often unhappy from the habit acquired by the past as by any apparent misfortune from the present. Never could you conceive the moments of agony, the wrestling of the Spirit with Demons, that I endure. Never has any human eye beheld me in those moments, never even shall yours. I would not for worlds be seen in that feebleness and prostration of mind. I believe — firmly believe — that at those times I am mad. Nobody could believe all that I then see, hear, feel ; but yesterday, my own love, I was i8o Lord Lyttons Letters. unhappy from a more palpable cause, and which I would rather tell you of when wo meet ; it is nothing, however, of any consequence, or that ouglit to make you uneasy. Yes, love, Y/illiam is happy to be able to see E. G. openly, and not, like us, to meet by stealth and in dark- ness ; and I feel bitterly, my dearest Rose, all that I have and do cost you ; but at least we love each other better than we should otherwise have done. As for me, I cannot express how increased in its degree and elevated in its nature my love has been to you, since I knew those mines in your character, which the superficial routine of ordinary attachment could never have explored. I am to see a Blenheim Spaniel to-day at 12. I went everywhere after one yesterday, as indeed I have every day I have been out. I will also send for the book you wish to see, and let you have it in the evening, when I will write again. (12 o'clock.) The D"" has been here; he says my fever is much better than last night ; but that my pulse is very feeble. Such a night as I have passed might well exhaust me ! Do, my dearest, dearest love, keep yourself well, and let me know how you are. If you wish me to recover soon, it will be by telling me you are well. Your pretty statue is in high beauty, and sends its love to mine. I am wait- ing for my servant to take this to you. Do not say, my Spirit of Love and Light, that your beautiful thoughts bore me ; on the contrary, they are all that brighten the dark- ness of my own. Even in writing to you I have become better ; my head is grown cool, my heart beats less violently ; the Evil Demon within me is at rest. If love has such power over sin and sorrow, can he be less than a God ? Farewell, my star, life has no cloud which you cannot smile away — 2000 \Jcisses\, Your own own Heart's Friend, no less than your Beauty's Idolator — but that phrase is cold, and I mean to Lord Lyttoiis Letters. i8i gay that I adore you as an angel, as much as I doat on you as a woman. Puppy. I will send back to-morrow Lady C 's handkerchief. Do send me the verses you promised me long ago. I shall have the last proof of " Falkland " to-morrow night. XCVIII. To Miss Wheeler, Somerset Street. [Lady C 's Letter. — Sending Miss Wheeler a Blenheim Spaniel.] My Dearest, Dearest Love, — Many thanks for your pretty letter. I am perfectly petrified ; firstly because I put Lady C 's letter in the fire ; secondly, because I have just received a letter from Mr. Oilier, wh I will send you in the evening — in the meantime I leave you in suspense about it, knowing that that state is most agreeable to your mind. "Alps upon Alps, and hills on hills arise." Good-bye for the present, darling. Zoo own own Original P y. P. S. 1 am very much better to-day. The Blenheim is just come. I send it ; say if you like it ; I fear it is not pretty enough. Let me know by one line if you approve of it — if not I hope to get another to-morrow. Its name is '* Dash." 1 82 Lord Ly lions Letters. XCIX. To Miss Wheeler. [" Falkland," proposed for making it longer. — Cut off Lis whiskers.] My Dearest Love. — I am in great tribulation owing to the enclosed letter from Mr. Oilier.* I shall not — for I cannot — comply with the request to make the book longer, — if the protraction must be, it must be in the middle, not the catastrophe. I hope iny own pretty Poodle continues to like Puppy's re})resentative, tho' I do not think it was politic to send it oo, lest 00 should like it better ! or rather because oo will at all events have something else to love, which will sub- tract from the sum due to THE Puppy. I am much better tho' I look so ill. I don't intend oo to see me for the next month Vanity ! I shall hurry down to the Country and hide my diminished head, diminished in all senses, for in a fit of extreme despair, I this morning cut off — my whishers ! You have no idea how hideous 1 am ! * This letter follows hereupon. Mr Ollier's Letter Respecting "Falkland." JSeic BurUiigton St., Tuesday. Sir, — May I be allowed to say a few words to you respecting the Romance of your friend. "Falkland " is now printed, and makes onli/24:'2 pages ! so that the volume will be too thin to be put forth. It has moreover, been very openl}' printed in order to swell it, if pos- sible, into a size which might command attention. If it be published in its present state, the talent and eloquence of the author will hardly have a fair chance, inasmuch as few readers will think the work of suf- ficient importance to be seriously regarded. Do you think the author, under these considerations, would add anything towards the latter part of the composition ? " I have the honour to be Sir, respectfully yours, " Charles Ollier." Lord Lytto7is Letters. 183 No earthly power could persuade me to let any of the Poodle specie see me. I have done nothing but sigh and groan at tlie loss all day. I am so sorry that I burnt Lady C 's letter — the fact is that yours the same day contained something w*^ made conflagration prudent, and in burning the one I burnt the other. On reading Ollier's letter again I think it most likely that " Falkland will not be published at all. I think he means to say that. unless I do lengthen it, he won't have it, and if he expresses that more clearly, or the least unciv- illy, he may be d — a ! Indeed, if I were disposed to lengthen it, I could not by more than 20 pages, and less than 100 would be useless. I shall, however, have, I hope, a fuller explanation of this in the evening, and will let you know to-morrow. By Jupiter Tonans, if that d — d fellow returns my book after having bougiit it, I'll turn author all my life to spite him. Adieu, my darling, who is the only darling who thinks Puj)py's tricks clever, for Puppy seriously begins to think himself \Qvy stupid. Zoo own Idolater, P. Oh ! if you could but see how ugly I look. You would never become Mrs. Puppy. C. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Euquires for houses.— His hope, happiness and glory cenlered in her.— His Mother going to Kuebworth.— Wants to join her to expedite their suit.] OH how beautiful your verses are ; they are like your virtues — make me shed tears while I admire them. My dearest, dearest love, but a little while longer and my whole life shall repay your affection. How eagerly I long for that time ! when you are with me I shall be well. You 184 Lord Lyttons Letters. are my sun, and it is only in you absence that I droop and wither. Ever since I received your note I have been recov- ering. I am now very mucli tetter than I was in the morning, and hope to-morrow to be quite well. Ah, dearest, it is not too great a temptation to offer to come here ? No, my angel, you must nurse your own darling self, and remember how much dearer every moment makes you to me, and what increasing care you ought therefore to pay to my Wealth, Hope, Happiness, Glory — centered and accumulating in you. I am so happy that you like Blenheim ; pray have no scruple in exchanging him if he disimprovcs, tho' that would be too great a punishment for the poor animal. To see you, is to see the Enchanted Island in the Chinese Tales — the rest of life is only one great and corroding longing to see you again. I wish, love, that I could answer your verses as they deserve — the moment I am well enough I will at least pay a tithe of my debt to you in kind. But at this moment I should have no mind, or even thought if you were not for ever present and presiding over both. Zoo must wait for the book till to-morrow, when 1 hope to go for it myself, for I do not much like sending my servant for the work that bears so sacred a title. It is sacrilege in anybody to have aught to do with love except us. My mother has been here, and was very kind ; she goes to Knebworth to-morrow. I shall join her soon, for I want to expedite our suit. I have received answers respecting the houses I enquired after ; none will do, dearest. I think after all we will leave these cold cli- mates for those bright Heavens which shall remind us of love, if ever for a moment we forget it. I do not think, love, that your sighs Avould be less sweet when mingled with the fragrance of Italian skies, or any change of cli- mate could change, unless it ripened, the perfection of our passion. Well, darling, I must now bid you farewell. Do Lord Lyttons Letters. 185 keep yourself as well and as happy as you can until you restore my health and constitute my hap])moss. Tell me when you will be able to sit for your picture : I so long to have it. If all my words, thoughts, feelings, emotions could be purified from every thing that renders them now dark and sinful, there Avould indeed be left an offering, not worthy, but at least suitable, of the Altar on wliich I would consecrate them, for then there would be nothing left but love, — ardent, devoted, unceasing (even for a moment) for you alone, which makes all other women odious, all other feelings insipid. Rose, my life, my love, God bless and reward you. Your own P Y. My servant will enquire for an answer, but sh'i you have written 00 note in the course of the day, zoo need not trouble 00 darling self now. CI. To Miss Wheelek. ["Falkland." — Whole expression of face altered. — Not fit to be seen.] My Dearest Rosey, — Only think of my forgetting the letter from Colburn ! I enclose it now. I have answered it, to say that I can make no definite reply till I have read the whole : This I begged him to send me immediately, and this he has not yet done. I am so very much grieved to hear you are ill. My poor darling ! and to think I made you so by telling you of ''Falkland's" dilemma! lam very sorry. My dear dear life and love, pray forgive 00 own Puppy and get well. I am in perfect paroxysm of rage and despair, that I cannot come to Miss Spence's to-morrow to see 00 ; really I am not jit to be seen — it is the whole expression of face w'' is altered. You would not know me if you saw me ; I really cannot put your love to so severe a Proof. It would 1 86 Lord Lyttons Letters. be infidelity to what I was, to like me as I am : *' "Was there ever such a coquet as Puppy ?'' Well, scold as oo will, me cannot help it. I had such a dream last night : I thought the Mother Dog found Puppy & Poodle in the same kennel, and that there was a great scone, and Puppy said they were privately married, and then the Dog Mother consented, and then they all went to a Breakfast Party, and some great he-dog took Poodle's chair, and Puppy challenged him, and they went out to fight, and Poodle followed a short way, and then turned back with another Puj)py, and the Puppy went and made his will, and then instead of fighting, he woke. I am in ^.desperate passion about '' Falkland," desperate, and cannot write to oo as I wish till it is all settled. Adieu, my darling. Love to Dash. Pray, pray take care of your- self, and do let me hear you are better in y" evening. But above all, my angel, my darling, do, I implore you, keep up your spirits, for they make health. Do also, dearest, let me have your picture as soon as you can ; I shall find it such a companion and comfort. Zoo own P Y. I shall have some money to-morrow, I hope. CII. To Miss AVheeler. [AVanting to see him without his ears. — Henry reading " Falkland."] My own Prettiest of Poodles, — Zoo's a naughty Dog to want to see Puppy without his ears, and he begs as a very. Very great favour that Poodle will let him off, and not ask a request which it will really pain Puppy to obey. How- ever if you will cut off your ears too, if I don't go, I will endeavour to do so ; but I again beseech you not to press it. Lord Lyttons Letters, 187 I have sent for the " Progress of Love," and have jnst got it I will send it to you to-morrow ; it seems very stupid and all Abelard and Heloise. My dear, dear love, how shall I thank you for sending me y® book ! I hope, dearest, when I asked you for it before, that you did not huy it — tliat idea would spoil my pleasure in reading it. I have at last got Ollicr's answer ; he explains away all : *'A suggestion solely for my consideration, prompted by the merit of the book and the wish that it should have a proportionate sale ; of course I will do what I please,^' etc. I shall write lil^e a Dragon to-night, and really will try and lengthen it if jjossible. I am not however, very well, nor shall be till I get out of towu. Henry is at this moment reading " Falkland ; " he says that no woman will get over the 6th letter, and is inclined to add "no more after the 7th." It is indeed woefully stupid, but we shall see — it may or may not take. I do, darling, hope that you con- tinue to like Dash ; but if you do not pray, pray tell me and me'U change him. Puppy is the great Guy of War- wick among Dogs, and can make or unmake favourites. Pray, my dearest love, take care of yourself. I do m, so, SO hope your head is better. Let me hear if Poodle insists upon Puppy's attendance to-morrow. Zoo own Puppy. CIIL To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Still mourning for bis whiskers.] My Dearest Love, — I am too sorry for your head. You must keep it quiet till you can rest it upon me, and then I will kiss it well. '' Did you feel my kiss last night ?" Yes, darling, you did, for I felt yours all the long night and feel theni still at this moment. It is a delicious but a very slight food, is it not, dearest, those memories of a kiss ? 1 88 • Lord Lyttons Letters. Does 00 til ink oo should like to renew them now with me ? Ah ! dearest, how happy we ought, to be that the fountain they spring from is inexhaustible, and that when we have kissed for a thousand days, and a thousand nights too, darling, we shall not be one kiss poorer than we were before. Thank oo for endeavouring to console me for the loss of my oars, but I am still beyond the reach of even your con- solation. Like Ruth, I mourn for my children, and, can- not be comforted, because they are not. ye departed objects of uncasing thought and unremitting attention, of daily consideration and evening revifal, how often have I curled ye into beauty and anointed ye with the oil of glad- ness, even above your fellows, and now, now where are ye ! Glory and Vanity of this world, where is Rome ? where is Babylon ? where are my whiskers ? I cannot pursue the mournful theme any longer ; I am too, too wretched. Ye woods, be my sole dwelling place ; to your deepest recesses 1 fly ; I will hide me from every face, I will vanish from every eye ! Poor Poodle, Avhat will oo do till Pujipy appears again in the haunts of Dogs, regenerate and rewhiskered ? By-the-bye, Puppy has got some money, and he sends Poodle some to buy her a new collar ; to be repaid in kisses the first year of their marriage. Do call on the Gascoignes, and try and " sound.'^ W™ is deeply smitten. I have sent a great part of the addition to " Falkland " to the press to-day. I shall write the remainder with all due expedition, tho' I fear it will not be finished before Monday morning, for every addition I have so much to subtract and to refill, so that to add 30 pages is in reality to write 60. The book, by-the-bye, is very little like what you saw it, yet not a whit more interesting : It is like the silk stockings, constantly mended till they ceased to be silk and become cotton. I am going to have the lawyers with me to-morrow. What a bore ! Yet I wish to see if we can- Lord Lyttoiis Letters. • 189 not add to our income, which would not be a bore. I loug for your letter. I do so earnestly hope it will tell me 00 is better, and that 00 is looking as bootiful as ever. zoo darling, how me longs to kiss 00 ! 00 own earless Puppy. CIV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Refused all things to weep over his whiskers, and lengthen " Falk- land."] My Dearest Love, My Angel, My Life, My Adored And Beautiful liose, — I send you a thousand kisses. My own pretty Poodle, 00 must not kill Puppy with too much kindness, because if 00 kill him, 00 knows very well that GO cannot kiss him, which would be a thousand pities. Me thinks that 00 lips and Puppy's were made for one another ; certainly mine and Poodle's were. How pretty we sail look, darling, growing together, two dogs on one stalk and cementing our union by the li})S ! We will weave such pretty chains of kisses, will we not, dearest ? My own wife, zoo must not refuse 00 pin money — 00 were saying 00 wanted some, and me was so wretched till me got this for 00, and so 00 must not refuse it now. Poodle. Zoo will be sure to require it, and 00 sail pay me when you are Mr^ Puppy. I am so bored about " Falkland ;'* I have got a world to write, and it is so against the grain that I never can do above a })agc at a time. Yet I am dying to leave London, for my health is like a shy horse, running away in these crowded streets, tho' it would be quiet enough in the country. I long to heiir what 00 has done about the Gascoignes, and I shall not be easy, my prettiest of Poodles, till I hear 00 suffered a false alarm from Mrs. Somebody in Portman Sq'*^- Henry and I are holding out here very amiably, and 190 • Lord Lyttons Letters. agreeing much more lovingly than I could have supposed. W" has gone to the Opera with the G.'s and I have refused all things to weep over my whiskers and write *' Falkland," two of the most digniOed tilings I could do, by-the-bye. I am going to finish him to-night I hope. " I must be sure," as Henry very wittily says, " to make him die in a period." Do dearest, get your picture done, I long so to have it. Why docs 00 call me a darling ? Me is not a darling : 00 concentrates all the darlingry in in the world, and has left me none for myself, o zoo M""^- Poodle, M"- Poodle, zoo's a love ! Will 00 dream of me to-night, in order that we may meet as 00 thinks we do ? Good-bye my love, my darling, my beauty of beauties. Ah ! when shall I lay my head on that dear, dear — Ah ! P T. CV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Her disinterestedness in wishing his brother William to marry.] My dearest Poodle, — How shall I thank and kiss you for your darling letter and 00 pretty dream, which 1 am quite at a loss to expound, except in the following way : — The play is lil'e, of course ; my Mother's scolding and consent require no explanation ; the flowers mean the country where we are to live ; and the chair, the sc«fa on which Puppy is to go to sleep after dinner. Does 00 like my explanation, love ? My Brotlier did meet E. G , for it was to Napoleon's box tluit they went. It is very dis- interested in you to wi^li W"^ to marry that girl, for it is the very worst thing in the world that can happen to us, the very worst, as far as my motlier's consent and my exi)ectatious are concerned. However, it is no use strug- gling against the stream of fatality, evcntho' one sinks in it. " Falkland " is drawing near to a conclusion. Thank Lord Lyttons Letters. 191 Heaven ! I hope to-night to put the finishing stroke to liim I shall be too happy when he is sufe and dead. Pray my own love, can you not reward me for all this trouble by meeting me on Tuesday ? If sol will stay in town till Wednesday. Pray do, darling, if it will not increase your cold. So Poodle would not take her collar from Pupyy ? Me's so angry with 00 — however, zoo must and shall take one when me has written ye " M of a G ." I have been sitting in all the morning till 4, when I took a tolerable ride, the only exercise I have taken for a long time ; and I am much better, though very tired, to-night. You cannot conceive the horror with which I glance every moment at a small table piled with papers which are all going to be woven and prolonged into the 4th book of Mr. " Falkland " this very evening. It is a great pity such a very wise book should be so dull ! I am very anxious to hear all about Mr. Gifford. Poor Dash, how much he is to be pitied ! '^ Pitied/' 00 say ? Pretty compliment : yes, "pitied"; that he is with 00, and docs not know what a Avorld of happiness he ought to enjoy ! Ah, I, even I, King of the Puppies, would change all my pomp, state, and circumstances, to be only simple Mr. Dash for a quarter of an hour, and be fully sensible of my bliss in being with 00. Pray is 00 looking pretty now ? Me's looking so hideous poor wliiskerless me I Me runs to look in the glass every moment to see if they are growing. Will 00 see me on Tuesday ? Me will be almost as well contented if 00 don't. Farewell, my fountain of inexhaustible happiness ! Zoo own faithful Puppy de Poodle Von Falkland Mac Mortimer. P. 102 Lord LyttoiUs Letters, CVI. To Miss Wheelek. ["Falkland "-altered.— The "Great Unknown."— Vanity.] Dearly Beloved Poodle, — I purpose dividing the follow- ing discourse into 2 lieuds ; the first I shall denominate the Poodle Head, as containing an answer nnto all things coming from Poodle, and y second I shall entitle Puppy Head as being a narration of all things appertaining unto Puppy. Only think Miss Poodle of your making the same sug- gestion as myself touching the capability of our respective kennels to carry 2 inside ! It really was quite ominous that letters containing such hind proposals should cro&s — the only thing cross there ever will be between us I hoi)e, Angel. The big dog my Brother is not with me, but this day at 2 o'clock came Napoleon, who has lately been quar- tered at the Guards' Barracks. He came most unmartially complaining of the cold, and bearing a formidable baton of paper which soon changed into "A Political Pamphlet on the Catholic question." This I had patiently to listen to for the best part of an hour, which courtesy was requited with a " Well, my dear Edward, as I have many more things to read to you and it's dused cold at tiie Barracks, I think I'll stay here for the next day or two " — accordingly he has besi)ckcn a kennel. So my own beauty must be a Sleeping Beauty all the week, and nurse herself well in order to meet Puppy next week. I am delighted to hear 3^our face has gone down, having been terribly alarmed lest it should have gone off. Pray my own love, do every- thing you can to become quite, quite, quite well. zoo Poohdell \ I have my angel, altered Mr. ''Falkland." Never Lo7'd Lyttons Letters, 193 before did I see so strongly tlie trutli of the old adage : the difficult}^ is in the Proof T Pun — 00 takes me ? Ali, darling, I wish 00 did. According. My })retty qnack defen- der, to 00 system, you must admire " Alaiaclpiness T' Well, but I said my verses were to be in the last page, and they are not there. Hear, then, they come. No ! on second thoughts they shall have a page to themselves. They are to follow, by-the-bye, my description of those women I think the most handsome in what is termed Good {i. e. bad, for it is most shamelessly profligate) Society. Before you read them, marke my words. Murray won't publish the ''Satire" — nobody vv'ill — it will die like Miss Spence's works, and Miss Spence herself, without a single offer ! Lord Lyttoris Letters. 219 But miud this blaze of beauty — none My lov'd, my lost, my heart divide — For \\\y perfection blent in one That spells of all beside, And to mj'' charmed spirit seemed More bright than all my boyhood dreamed. Thou wert to me the latest ray That Daylight o'er a cloud can throw — The beam has passed in gloom away, The cloud is lightness noic ! Be still my heart ! — why fall so fast These tears, the records of the Past ? Enough ! my Soul must learn to bear Its brief but bitter toils alone, And woo whatever steps may wear The green moss from the stone. For all that round my heart might be Not wholly, Lord, I owed to Thee I How they whose joy had shunned the throng Will trample o'er it in despair ! But who that loves me can I wrong When thou wilt not be there ? Alas ! what Memory can recall Of the, is worth the love of all I Thou tell'st me in the paths of strife Forgetfulness of thee to claim. But they who've lost the charm of life Can find it not in Fame. A thousand objects lure the mind — The heart is but to one confin'd. Yet in my grief, since thou didst form Thy nest on such a leafless tree. It soothes me henceforth that the storm Can only fall on me. For there the boughs and bloom are past, And well the stem can bear the blast. 220 Lord Lyttons Letters. I know this is no filting strain For love its latest vows to speak ; But we may never meet again, For hearts, like ties, will break ; And I would lain tbat thou shouldst see That mine, till broken, is with thee 1" Oh, Eosc ! since wc have met again, let us separate no more ! Why, if you did indeed love me as I endeavour at moments to persuade myself, why should thei-e yet be such a space between us ? Why sliould the most tender of human ties be wanting to hearts which are already so closely united ? Ah, my beloved, is there nothing within you to plead my cause more eloquently than words — nothing ? {^Termination of this letter missing.] CXXII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Her low spirits.] [Commencement of the letter missing.] Not so desponding, and wretched, at the idea of marrying me ; the BGCond is, that if you value my peace of mind in the small- est degree, you will not talk to me of death. If you were to die, I should never know another moment free from the most utter despair ; if I did not kill myself, I should go mad. I should think I liad murdered you. I assure you that there is not one word you say or write, alluding to such an event, that does not go instantly to my heart and gnaw and rankle there all day. Will not my own Eose, then forbear to think or talk of that subject, and will she not take care of herself, for the sake of him who assures her solemnly from his soul, that he has not a thought of future ha])piness v^hich is not wrapt up and centered in her? And now, my Kose, farewell ! Believe me every- thing which, in spite of a thousand faults, the one virtue Lord Lyttons Letters. 221 of the sinceresfc and most passionate affections can make mc. E. L. B. I shall leave Thompson's to return here before 5. Write when it suits your convenience, not before. Do, for God's sake and mine, take y^^ greatest care of yourself. P. S. — If I seemed unwilling to go to your friend, or seemed to make a favour of such a trifle, it was only because I knew that the very idea of being lionized would make me stupid and shy, and it was to your friend that I was to seem so ! CXXIIL To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [His Mother less averse than before.] My Dearest, Darling Love, My Sweetest, Gentlest, Kindest Poodle, — I hope for my sake that 00 keeps up 00 darling spirits, and makes ooself as happy as 00 can ; as for me, me intends to think of nothing but 00 and happi- ness, and rapture and Tring Park. Me saw my Mother, and she was as usual very kind, but, as I foreboded, noth- ing decisive passed, tho' she is certainly much less averse to the thing than she was, and I do most earnestly hope that I shall ultimately reconcile her to it. Tell me, dear- est, if 00 Uncle has spoken to 00 and been kind to 00. Me does so hope that he has, and that 00 does not vex 00 pretty self. Me is going down to the Freemasons' Tavern to-night, but me hopes me sail soon be back, in order to receive 00 darling letter. Good night, my ownest and dearest angel, my sweet, darling Poodle. God bless 00, and farewell ! Oh, by the way, bless 00 good fortune. A man has been dining with us who said last night to a Avoman, " Look, that is the author of " Falkland," " mean- ing Puppy. ''Where" said the woman. *' I should so 2 22 Lord Lyttons Letters. like to see him, for he must make such a genuine old-fash- ioned, empassioned Lover." There, darling, see what oo good luck is ! Zoo own Falkland Puppy. CXXIV. [With publishers.] My Dear Eose, — I should have answered your letter before, but went out very early after your dog, nor did I come in till late. I saw several Bleniicims very, very much like him, and am by no means disposed to rely upon ulti- mate discovery. On my way home I called upon Henry and Colburn ; at the former's I met my Mother, who, I am surprised to find, thinks very highly of " Falkland." She M'as very kind. I went then to liurlington St., and had a long conversation with Oilier, and afterwards with Col- burn. I believe I have sold both the "Rebel" and the "Memoirs of a Gentlemen "; but that is to be decided on Monday. There is a review on " Falkland " in the " Lit. ChronicW" (not " Gazette"); I will send it to you to-mor- row. There is to be some in the jiapers in the course of next week. So much for myself, and now to your letter. I am most truly sorry to hear of your pain in the arm. I earncfctly hope it is better, but cannot ask you to let me know by anything but a verbal mess;ige. Pray don't tumble yourself to write to Miss Land on — there is plenty of time. I have received a most impertinent letter from Miss Richardson, which I would send you if it were an atom less insolent. Good-bye, dearest Rose, Ever your Puppy. Lord Lyttons Letters. 22. CXXV. To Miss AVheeler. [Reviews on " Falkland."] My Dear, Dear Love and Darling, — 2,000,000 \}cUscs\ for your letter — it lias most inexpressibly relieved me, and yet I am restless and unhappy about you. I so fear you give way to low spirits and take no care of yourself. Zoo has nothing to reproach ooself with. I was and always am to blame, and I do to you what I have never done to any one else. I own it. Do, my life, my love, my Poodle, do take care of ooself and get quite, quite well. I shall never cease to reproach myself till 00 is so. Don't trouble your- self and hurt your dear arm by writing more than a word in answer to this to say ^'letter." I send you the " Litery- Chron.'': it is very injudic- iously as well as very vilely written ; for instance, it says in " Falkland " " there is no aiming at effect.*' To coun- terbalance the huge panegyric it contains, a very severe and tolerably humorous, tho' very ignorant, article has appeared in the " Altas " against it. I was very much amused to see that each of the papers picks out the same scene for an opposit purpose, viz ; the sea scene. The article is severe, because it says "Falkland" is a work of great mediocrity, of great folly, of great dullness and great pretension ; it is humorous because it says, funnily enough, *' It is to be sure a very wrong thing to seduce the wives of members of Parliament while their husbands are about their business in the ILmsc of Conimons, but such things may be done without solem music, dead marches, etc., etc." It is very ignorant, because it talks sad nonsense about the words in the Preface, '' fixed principle." 224 Lord Lyttons Letters. I am to see Colburn to-morrow at one, and will then tell you all (hat has been settled. I saw E. G. last night at the Opera. She is pretty, very ladylike, very much in my style, has not got a good chin nor forehead nor mouth — :ill of w^i you said she had ! the first (the chin), above all, is faulty — no sculpture ; but on the whole she is much better than I expected. But how could oo ever, ever compare her to 00, as if she was cne hundredth part so beautiful ! Your very worst of features are more perfect than her very best. I have, been talking to my Mother, with whom I dined and from whom I have just come, about oo. I am more and more convinced of gaining her ultimate consent. She wants so much to see some of oo letters. Alas ! they would doo 00 sucli credit and yet it is quite impossible to shew them. Has oo got any " poetry books " to lend me ? I want to read some. I must get the '' Rebel " done before a certain day, and want something to excite me. Poetry — when good — always does. You have not any of Shelley's ? And now, my dearest, dearest love, once more forgive me, and prove you do by taking care of yourself. Never let us recollect this coldness, but as something to shun for- ever hereafter. Adieu ! God bless you ! Sleep sound and well. Your own, own, own Puppy. CXXVI. To Miss Wheeler, Somerset Street. [Terms for "Mortimer " and the " Rebel."] My Dearest Life and Love, — I am longing to hear how you are, and I have been so uneasy about your health, that it would really be ^ great relief to my mind if you would see somebody. After I had read your letter, I walked down to my club, looked over the papers, saw the contradiction of the authorship of '' Falkland," went to Colburn's and Lord Lyttons Letters. 225 had a long conversation with him, w'' ended in the follow- ing bargain ! On the 14fli of this month ijc is to liave the '' Iiebel "; on the 1st of JNfay he is to h.ve " Mr. Mortimer," for tlie which he is to pay me the sum of £500 in the first instance, £100 more if the " Rebel " goes into a second edition, and £150 more if "Mortimer" does— in all £750. I tiiink that pretty well altogether. I then called on Henry and fonnd there 2 or 3 young-men-about Town ; they talked about "Falkland''; one said it was "very poetical," another "very arrogant," and a third quoted tho " Altas." Not being greatly delighted with these criticisms, I marched olf to my stables, and monntcd my horse. I rode into the Paik, and soon found myself "girt with many a gentle knight," who sickened me to death in five minutes (it is quite astonishing how people bore me !) and then I went along the streets by myself, with an aching, morose, discontented heart. I stopped at Henry's and dined there. We flattered each other up into good spirits, and laughed over a most ridiculous article in the. New Monthly" about Lord Byron, and from thence I returned liere. A prettyish Blenheim spaniel awaited my arrival, but it was not Dash, and so I sent it back ; and now I am alone, in very bad spirits, and with pen, ink and paper, about to execute the unfortunate " Eebel," Viz., if I have nerve and strength enough to do it. In the meanwhile I must wish 00, my dearest love and Poodle, farewell Puppy. 226 Lord Lyttons Letters, CXXVII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Broken hearts.] Good God, Rose, how utterly miserable your letter haa made me ! what do you, can you mean ? Pray, pray — I implore — I beseech you — write me one line — only one line — to say you have deceived yourself, and I will worship you forever. Oh, what a wretch I was to offend you, and yet it was exactly from the same cause you speak of, viz. that I loved you so much, that one unkind word hurt me more than all possible injury from others could have done. My dearest, dearest love, for God's sake do not wring my heart by such dreadful despondency. If you were to die, I wd kill myself instantly. I always resolved to do so directly life had lost all charm. What charm could it possess when you were gone ? If ever I was dear to yon, if ever you have forgiven one of my innumerable faults towards you, if ever you wished for — not my happiness — but my freedom from the most utter wretchedness and despair, you will overlook and forget my offense against you — you will write me one word that you will nurse yourself well — that you will live, as you have so often promised, to be mine — and that you do not feel sincerely those cruel, cruel words " that if you were united to me and convinced that I loved you, it would be too late." Oh ! Eose, how could you punish me so bit- terly ? If you knew how wretched you had made me, your heart would smite 3'ou, I am sure, for what you have said. Look back at my offence ! Consider ! Before that I had never received an unkind word from you, and you will believe that one so morbid as me could easily be hurt at receiving one for a cause he imagined so light. This may Lord Lytto7is Letters. 227 ]ierliaps excuse in some degree my *' taunts/' as you called them, and if afterwards I was still cold and abstracted it was because I remembered how bitter your answer [was] when I endeavoured to appease you ! "■ You have broken my heart enough already !" I know that I deserved that reproach, and felt it the more deeply from that reason. There was not, all the time I was with you, a single moment when those words ceased to haunt and torture me. This perhaps does not extenuate my faults, but at least it accounts for them. And when I came home yesterday, after having employed the day in endeavouring to please you by recovering poor Dash, and overjoyed in spite of my failure in that respect, at the brightening prospect of inde- pendence which you Avere to share and bless, I own I was disai)pointed and chilled by your note, and wrote from the irritation and impulse of the moment. But this is all vain ; if I have hurt you and rendered you unhappy, I have no excuse. I wish for none. Your letter has broken my heart, as well as my pride. I only feel that I am wretched, and that in costing you a moment's pain, I deserve to be 60. Will you not write and forgive and console your own, own Puppy ? CXXVIII. To Miss Wheeler. ["Rude and sullen nature." — Forgiveness.] It is no time. Rose, to consider which of us was the most wrong — you are ill and unhappy and I have no resentment left ; one word of grief or complaint from you, could at any time pierce me to the heart, at any time Mould me to your wishes. I now lind that power as irresisti- ble as ever ; forgive me I beseech you for what I have done ; perliaps I expected too much and yielded too little 2 28 Lord Lyttoiis Letters. perhaps I expected to alter your nature to suit mine, when it would have been easier and better to have adapted my own to yours. Forgive me this once, answer me by one kind word, put away the past, let us endeavour to forget it, and I will strive to make a new foundation for the future. I am like you very ill and very wretched, and perhaps I do not plead my cause so very well as I could wish, but you can understand me, and if you will forgive, I will forget what is past — at least, only remember it with new views and wishes. You were partly right in saying I loved you too much as a Bashaw, it was my nature, and my reason, which taught me to expect that love from you, which it was idle to expect from any one not trained to make, and find pride, thought even worship— only in the thing loved : Suffer me to renounce this vain and childish hope, and I will be grate- ful for whatever you grant me, at least, however, I could have made this return, which Turks do not : I could have loved such a Being with a love similar to Hers, with the same devoted and iqnvai'd love, which is granted to a supe- rior creature. I could have looked to her as my soother, comfort, hope, dream, star. All that religionist find in faith, of consolation in grief, and purity in sin, and over- flowing in Joy, I could have found in her ; for the very con- descension, and forbearing, to the infirmities of my own rude and sullen nature, which seemed to you and perhaps wm Shakespeare drew Found food for thought and images for man In the green forest — well the wizard knew The least leaf hath a lesson — and the plan That yields as wisdom in the City's crowd Will lead us ofttimes to the Ibenly hill. Noise makes not knowledge ! and the clamour loud At naught avails not those who love to think Like one lone hour when in themselves they shrink To commune with their own hearts — and be still. This is a holy precept — yet not so Thought the sententious sophist who hath writ "The friend of solitude is virtue's foe" — For lie was of the Frenchman's school wh joint Some morals with false maxims, which dismiss Truth by a sentence — reason by a point, And solve a problem by Antithesis Worsliipping Wisdom in whate'er is wit 250 Lord Lyttons Letters. Which dream deep knowledge of the heart is fraught " In that uunieaning thing the}' call a thought." 'Twould be, in such a calm retreat, Too heav'nl}- blest, for aj'e to stray ; 'Twould be too sweet, too heav'nly sweet. To linger thus Life's morn away 1 Fancy with her magic pow'r May garnish many a coming hour, And point to many a time like this, Of future and unequalled bliss ! But Mera'ry loves to haunt the scene, Wiiere former happiness has been ; And oft "mid Life's entangled maze Will turn to seek those halcyon days. When careless youth with joy coidd view Each festive sport (for cacli was new) ; When care was but a transient guest. And every moment's sole employ. To wake the ever feeling breast, To taste some unexperienced joy I And art thou gone, thy lustre dead, Are all thy fairy pleasures o'er ! Oh childhood, are thy fancies fled ! And wilt thou charm indeed no more I Yes ; thou and all thy dreams are gone, Life's sunshine, Innocency's dawn ! And all that now remains of thee, Oh, age of Sweet Simplicity, Is but, (how lov'd its treasur'd tone I) The echo of the bliss that's flown ! Nor may I more with yon gay crew. The helm to buoyant pleasure give ; And mischief's wanton way pursue, As frolic's gales inviting drive ; No more may stay where light-brained sport, And buxom health each evening meet ; While youth, in ilebe's noisy court, With graceful bound, and tripping feet, Is often by the twilight seen To lead young laughter o'er the green. Lord Lyttons Letters. 251 Oh dearest scenes ! (yet dear in vain — Where musing science loves to dwell ; And ye, her ever festive train, Receive this lingering, last farewell I And oh ! may Fortune's fav'ring power On you each vvish'd for blessing shed ; And wealth, and fame, and honors show'r, O'er each much loved Companion's head. And ye, who warm this soul divine. With virtues flame, at Learning's shrine, Farewell ! and, oh, when far away, I stray o'er Camus' sedgy shore : 'Twill soothe my sail, the while I stray, To think ye've strayed there oft before. My muse's pension task is done, — Farewell ! and give a sigh for one. Who, whatsoe'er his faults, will yet Your worth and kindness ne'er forget ; And Fancy to his soul will bear That sigh, and memory fix it there ! CXLIV. To Miss Wheelek, 40, Somerset Street. [Blue Devils.] My Beautiful Rose, — why did yoti write so shortly to-day ? Fie ! 00 deserve to be well bitten ! Did you take your criterion from the length of my letters ? If so, you erred greatly, because you did not take into considera- tion all that blessed heap of jioetry, which ought to have been repaid 20 lines for one, which, love, you will allow is about tiie difference of time required between the two. You are right, the last poem is much the best : the first is mere verbiage ; the second has thoughts which might be polished into something greatly better ; the third is inspired by 00. Don't you admire, Rose, my manoeuvre in giving that termination of your name, which I never apply to you, to your poetical cognomen ? Don't ask 252 Lord Lyttons Letters, fiboiit the lionse — a new difficulty just in the moment of completion lias started. I am determined of one thing : " aut viam inteniam mit faciam," as I once before said. I am unwell to-night (not very, tho', love), and terribly blue- devilled, and you must forgive my leaving off ; and yet I cannot do so till I have expressed my most earnest hope and wish that your cold is better. Do let me know about* you. I wish you would not get colds and be unwell, for it makes me very, very uneasy. Were you at Howell and James's to-day, and Avliat time ? God bless you, my dear, dear love ! Ten thousand thousand [kisses]. Adieu ! E. L. B. CXLV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Colburn. — " Falkland."] No, My own darling, I am not angry with 00 ; and go's a nice Poodle for writing to me so pretty a letter. Any time to-morrow — one o'clock in Portman Square, or any other place you like to fix will do. Let me know. I will write you a longer letter in the evening. At present I am just going to Colburn's, being in an inexpressible fury about a notice of ''Falkland " in the Morning Chonicle. Would to God there was no necessity for the degradations of this publishing! I am so sick and disgusted, I can scarcely command one spark of my temper. Woe to Mr. Colburn if I do get in a rage ! As it is, he shall never, never publish for me again : there's a threat for 00 ! "Falk- laiul," by the way, is but ricketty offspring — I see it does not succeed and nobody likes it. That I don't care about ; but the puff in the Chronicle is too galling. I will write you more in the evening ; at present I am out of humour and going out of doors. Zoo OWN Publishing Puppy. Lord Ly lion's Letters. 253 CXLVl. [Disgrace to have been Lord Byroa's friend. — Critique on " Falli- land " in the Chronicle.] My Dearest Darling Love And Poodle, — I wrote you this morning iu haste and ill temper, and therefore zoo must excuse "all faults in composition." Since then I have seen and spoke to Oilier, whom I very much dislike. He says " Falkland" sells very well, and has promised me to contradict the report in the Chronicle, which was the following — " Falkland," a tale founded on a recent &c., is, we understand, written by a friend of L^ Byron's who dis- tinguished himself last j^ear by an interesting work relating to Greece." I am exccssibly indignant at this ; firstly, because it w<^ in my opinion have been a great disgrace to have been L^* B.'s friend ; secondly, because the notice implies L<1 Byron was y® hero, which \^^ have been too Caroline-Lambish a great deal ; thirdl}^ I am offended at the idea of ever having written on Greece, a subject so canted upon and degraded ; fourthly, I am outrageous at the whole nature of the puff itself, w^ rests the success of the work not on its merit, but on circumstances so per- fectly meretricious. Pray my own darling Poodle, what time shall we meet to-morrow ? I don't like to tell 00, my own pretty and kind love, but I am very ill, and am ordered to leave Town immediately and undergo strict regimen — exercise and medicine. My heart wears me to death — nevertheless, I intend to follow my own plan, and am certain of soon recovering. Zoo's an angel, and a love, and a Poodle, to write to me so kindly, and I feel it sensibly, for I fear I was a traitor to my own heart, and did not deliver its messages faithfully in my last letters. G.ood-bye, my angel, darling, love, my 254 Lord Lyttons Letters. adored Rose, my beautiful Poodle, and may God unite us soon, Mivart's. Zoo OWN Puppy. I open my letter to tell oo again that co is a darling, that 1 do doat on oo, and pray God to bless oo, whatever becomes of me. OXLVIL To Miss Wheeleb. [The Baronetcy.] My Dearest Darling Little Dog, — At last I do send oo books, and with many thanks for the loan. I intended to have met oo at Miss Hayter's to-day ; but woke very ill and continued so till 3 or 4 o'clock, being exceedingly faint and in great pain from my heart. A ride into the country made me considerably better, and I am now quite well. 1'hank 00 my prettiest Poodle for telling me what Miss Fawcett said of 00. Me owns me is proud of oo, and me is very glad to hear of oo being admired, for which oo may sneer at he-dogs and their attachment, if oo please ; but it is a proof of Puppy's adoration of oo. The country look booti- ful — so green and summer-like. Ah, Poodle ! me cannot write to oo any more, as me has so much to do. Perhaps me sail see oo at Miss Hayter's to-morrow. Adieu, my dearest and most bootif ul Poodle. Me has lent oo Uncle's Life to my Mother. Me'll tell oo all about the Baronetcy to-morrow. Zoo owis" owi^" owH Heakt's Puppy. Lord Lyttons Letters. 255 'CXLVIII. 'To Miss Wheeler. [Miss Hayter.] My Dearest And Most Darling Rose, — I do assure 00 that I was not angry with 00 ; but I was rather unwell, and this morning my heart pains me a little. But never mind, my dear love and Poodle, do not make ooself unhappy. As to my love for 00, I should indeed be a wretch if I did not adore 00, which God knows I do to excess. I will come to Miss Hayter's a little before one, in order to walk home with 00. My own darling, one word from 00 lips w"^ con- vince me of anything. Zoo own own Adoring Puppy. CXLIX. To Miss Wheeler. [The present age duped by Canning.— Letters from Mrs. Wheeler and Sir P. Doyle.] My Darling Love, — My prettiest and most sagacious and most sensible Poodle that ever stood on two legs and begged for a bone ! My darling, my life, my booty, how does 00 do ? Me has just dined and is just going to ride ; but my servant will leave this, and should he not be able to wait for an answer, 00 can send it whenever 00 likes it. Write to- night and send it to-morrow, for 00 must not and sail not write of a morning, till 00 is quite quite well. Me sends 00 a letter from Mr. Oilier. Is it not too absurd — tlie criticism, I mean ? As for the parts ho pro- fesses to think fine, they arc in that horrid modern llash shewy style, which stamps his taste at once. He would 256 Lord Lyttons Letters. have shewn real criticism, had he praised one or two more quiet passages, but as Keppel justly observed " One's pet passages nobody remarks" — I suppose in accordance with the proverb *' A favourite has no friends." My most bootiful love, how me does love and doat on 00 ! Ah ! well, well, well ! Patientia fit levius quicquid corrigum est nefas. All the people about me are talking of Mr. Canning. What an ?(wtalked-of being he will be 50 years hence ! but he is wise to dupe the present age, rather than the future. It is the only Debtor wiiich pays, and if one pleases it, one gets unlimited credit. Moreover, to use four lines of my friend the "Rebel"— " lu the game of Earth Who wins takes all, fame, honour, wisdom, worth, And from the wings of time, our fortune shakes Whate'er wd vary from the name she makes." Well, darling, good-bye ! Sleep well, and — yes, 00 may to-night — dream of 00 own Puppy who loves 00 as much as it is possible for human beings to love women in the present state they hold in Society. Zoo Own Puppy. Thank you ten million, million times for your letter. I will not vex myself about you, nor anything else. But since I am, and was, dear to you, take all possible care of yourself. Heaven bless and reward you ! E. L.B. I enclose your mother's £ind Sir F. Doyle's letters to me. I had written the enclosed when your kind dear note came. Lord Lyttons Letters, 257 CL. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Houses.] My Own Darling Angel Poodle, — Me is going out to dine in the City and shall not be home till very late, so mc cannot write to 00 to-night ; but pray, if 00 Uncle be out wiien me calls about 3 o'clock or }4 past 3, cannot me see 00 ? Mcthinks me can ask for 00 without any impro- priety. Let me know, pretty Poodle. Me has been seeing about our kennels all the morning, which me will tell 00 about when me calls, i. c. if me sees 00 ; and if mc does not see 00, me'll try and write a line or two before me goes to dinner. Me's going to see Miss Hayter, and to make several visits in the course of the day. Me did not go to the Opera last night, for me would wait till me had 00 letter, and then it was too late. GiA^e me one line, my angel doggy, to say if me can ask for 00 ; and farewell ! Zoo Own Puppy. CLI. To Miss R. Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [" The Rebel." — " Pclham." — Change of name. — Interest to procure the baronetcy.] My Own Darling Poodle, My Beautiful Little Dog, — How does 00 do ? Ah ! me wishes 00 was here, that mo might kics 00, zoo prettiest of jorctty loves ! Me has been writing the greater part of the day, and me has just come in from dinner in order to send this to 00 and then to write again. 258 Lord Lyttons Letters. Me shan't alter the " Rebel/' darling — at least not in story; but it takes mo much more time and wearies me mucli more to alter a line here and there than to write the whole passage over again. Me can't get on wiih "Mr. Pelham " at all to my liking ; however, thank Heaven ! he can make his own way without much assistance l\\m\ any one else. Me cannot tell 00, darling, how me doats on 00 more and more every day and hour ! Me called on me Mother to-day ; but she was not in the very best of humours, and so me came away without talking a great deal to her on certain subjects. Sir Geoi'ge Naglerhas sent me a paper to sign relative to the change of name. Before me does it, me wants 00 to conquer 00 dislike to Baronets, for me thinks it vv'ould be much better to become one than to change one's name, and me wants to know if 00 thinks 00 Uncle would join his interest to ours in trying to get it. Do let me know ; me's sure oo'll conquer 00 own dislike to the thing, darling, when me tells 00 that me hag thought over it very seriously and for a long time, and me thinks it exceedingly advisable, if indeed it be possible to obtain it. Oh Zoo beautiful love, has 00 been to Miss Hayter to- day ? Let me know ; me's burning so to hear what 00 has to tell me. Me does hope — but me won't say anything till me hears from 00 own lips all about it. Me sends my own Poodle the books she wished to have back, and me begs her to sleep well. Puppy. Lord Lyttons Letters, 259 CLII. To Miss Wheelek, 40, Somerset Street. [Miss Hayter's portrait.] Poodle's Supper. My Darling Angel, My Bootiful Poodle, — Me's so very, very, very, very, very liappy, for me has got 00 picture, and it's so much more like 00 than it was ; and mc's going to take it to bed and kiss it all night. Oh ! me's so happy, and the expression's so feeling and so true, and eyes look so kind, and there's such a bootiful smile on the lips, and ti.ere's such a nice modest look about it which puts me in mind of some " odd " question or other of mine. Oh, zoo booty ! Me's going out of Town on Saturday to look at Chalfont Park, w** me thinks me shall certainly take for a year — i. e., if it is at all a nice place. Me called on W™ for an hour or two, and met my Mother there, who, not being very warm or cordial, I did not say much to. Me's so hungry for a letter from 00 ; me hopes so that it will be a nice long one ; me does love 00 so — so — SO. Ah ! zoo Booty ! zoo per- fectest darlingest Poodle ! Miss Hayter has got 00 mouth now exactly ; the more me looks at it the more me kisses it. How me will make 00 kiss it, 00 darling self, some time or other. Yes, my prettiest, I hope in a month we shall be in the same kennel. There Miss Poodle, jump out of 00 skin for joy. Sleep well, and dream of 00 own adoring fond doating idolater. Puppy. Must conclude with assuring you that me does unceas- ingly adore King — Puppy, 00 own own Puppy. 26o Lord Lyttons Letters, CLIII. To Miss Wheeler. [Bitterness of Spirit.—" The Rebel."] My Darling, Darling Love, — My heart has been smit- ing me ever since I saw you, for Iiaving suffered the vexa- tion and bitterness of spirit I felt to appear ; for me knows GO thought me cold, wht n me was only sad. Ah, Rose ! will always have thorns till mo has oo. I write in a liurry, for it has struck nine, and I liave all this horrid " Rebel " to look over and send to Oilier. I have also an impertinent letter from my critic, wanting to prove to me Yivci voce that my poem is good for nothing. Do my own darling, give me one word to say how oo is ; it Avill be like a west wind to this feverish and withered state of feeling I am in. Me has given up the intention of going out of Town ; so make ooself easy. And now, my own angel Poodle, I must say farewell, and may God bless ray Angel, watch and visit oo to night. Puppy. CLIV. To Miss Wheeler. [" The Rebel " finished.— With his mother.] My Own Darling Angel Poodle, — How does oo do ? So me caw oo ! A good Angel whispered me to pass by oo street, and there was my own iingel, my own Seraph of the 7th Heaven, my dog star, my booty. Well, me finished the " Rebel "by a lucky hit about 2 past 2, sent it off instantly to Colburn, Mounted my horse and rode into the Park ; from thence me came home, drest for dinner, and went to Lord Lyttons Letters. 261 my Mother. Henry dined tlicre too, but I sent Lim away and had a long conversation with my Mother about 00 ! From thence me went to W^^., and here me is now, in doubt whether or no me shall go to tiie Ojiera. My own pretty darling must go to bed to-night, and sleep well and sound, and dream of Puppy, and not be nauglity as she was last night. Me is going to call on Miss Hayter to-morrow to have a small frame put to 00 darling picture, for it is too large to wear. Me would send it 00 to look at, but cannot trust it. Good-bye, zoo prettiest of pretty loves. Ever zoo own own Owif Puppy. CLV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square. [Duke of Bt. Albans and Mrs. Coutts. — Dines with bis Mother, and then goes to the Play.] ^ly Own Darling Angel Poodle, My Sweetest And Dear- est Love, — Many thanlcs for 00 letter, which found me at dinner. Our friends not having come, I and Henry were enacting the parts of the Coblers Solus. Me has just dined now, and therefore me immediately sits down to indite this precious epistle to 00. After leaving 00, me went to the Regent's Park, and road saunteringly enough along its melancholy rides for about an hour and a half. I met Mrs. Coutts and the Duke of St. A in a large open carriage i'.s big as herself. The poor Duke looked misery itself ; he must however have one consolation in the midst of all his misfortunes, viz., that — Me will come earlier if possible to-morrow, as me dines with my Mother at ^2 P^^st 4 and goes to the Play. Poor little Fanny is staying here, and shall sleep all de niglit in de same room, not kennel, as her brother. My 262 Lord Lyt ton's Letters. I)rettiest little Poodle, 00 did not vex me for more than a minute, and me was only vexed because 00 seemed to think slightly of me, and me likes 00 too well not to wish 00 to esteem me. Me is so glad 00 going to take a drive ; me does hope so it will do 00 good. And now, my own dearest of little dogs, good night ! and God bless 00 and make 00 quite well is the most earnest and heartfelt hope and wish of 00 own devoted Puppy. CLVI. To Miss R. P. Wheelek, 40, Somerset Street. [Vauxball. — Soup and Quails.] My Dearest Rosey Poodle, — My royal paw is better, and me is listening with great attentit)n to " Isabel " which two fiddlers and a bag-pipe are playing under my window. Villiers is reading the Globe. Zoo ought to see me nursing my wounded paw on my lap, and pricking up my ears at the music, like a puppy as me is. ]\Ie fears me sail not go to Yauxhall to-night, for a very good reason, viz., that there will be no Vauxhall to go to, but me shall go somewhere, where there will be no walking and much sitting. How has Prettiest dined ; me has been eating Sonp and Quails, and me is looking so jiretty that me wishes 00 c'^ kiss me. God bless 00 my own own angel, and may 00 sleep well and he well and dream well of 00 own LiTTLEBOY Puppy. CLVII. To Miss Wheelee. [Ear-ache.] My Own Darling Angel. — Zoo is too pretty a Poodle to send me such a nice note ! My paw is now quite well ; but my ear aches so that I have sent for a Dr. Me is going to Lord Lyttons Letters. 263 see my Mother to-day, so me docs not know how far me sail be able to get to 00 before one ; but me will soon as me can. Zoo dear, dear, dear darling ! How very unhappy 00 makes me about 00 side. Do, for Heaven's sake, have some other Dr. I implore 00, my own love, do. Who will 00 have? Let us consult when me comes to 00. Meanwhile me is 00 Own own DoATiNa Puppy. CLVIII. To Miss Wheeler. [" The Rebel."—" Falkland."—" Weeds."] My Dearest And Darlingest Poodle, — I am too sorry I cannot get the " Rebel "; the sheets are not even struck off yet, and I fear not even one Copy could be procured in less than a week. I will, however, take care she has one as soon as possible. In the meanwhile, thinking she may not have a copy of " Falkland " and the "Weeds," etc., I have sent you one of each, which you can send or not as you please. Ever, my own angel. Zoo OWN Puppy. I shall be with you hefore one. Just write a line to 00 Mother, saying anything kind on my part. I am so very, sleepy or would myself. CLIX. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Walter Scott. — Comparison with Byron.] My Beautiful And Dai-ling Angel, — I have written to 00 Uncle to say that I shall dine with him to-morrow. As for me, all this long day I have been riding, driving, and walking, till I am quite tired. Zoo is a naughty Poodle for writing to me in the morning and me is is angry with 00 264 Lord Lyttons Letters. for it, because 00 must have lost 00 sleep in order to do it. And 00 loss is my loss, and mc does not wish it to be my gain. There's a Cowley-like expression for 00 ! No, my sagacious Poodle, no, mo does not wish 00 to be a bit more stupid than 00 is [gallant, quoth Poodle]; but me wants to have only the perfections, not the faults, of cloavcr women. Me wants the Companion, not the Caviller or Contradictor, which me thinks clever women generally become when the Mistress grows into the Wife, and me thinks 00 has a certain independence of character which belies 00 softness of temper and even 00 love for me. But me won't talk of this now, prettiest. I shall see 00 to-morrow — Ah ! those are moments steeped in the Elixir of Life which are past with 00. Oo is like the Venus de Medici ; and charms the very air with 00 booty, intoxicating one's senses with an atmosphere of breathing divinity, which — but me must not go on, least me should get fine and Falklandish. llenry has been reading some of Scott's poeti-y to me. How very magnifi- cent his spirit of the conception is — pity that the body he clothes it in should be of such rude and common clay ! He draws men best in action, Byron in repose. One is the Hercules killing the Hydra, the other the Hercules who has performed all his wonders and rests on his club. Good- bye, zoo prettiest, most darling Poodle. E. B. Puppy. CLX. To Miss "Wheeler. ["Polbam."] My Darling Angel, Beautiful Poodle, — I am so unhappy at the idea that you are so. I came home last night, and my uneasiness about you prevented my sleeping, from the moment I laid down to that in which I got up. Lo7'd Lyttons Letters. 265 My own dearest love, if you don't wish me to be utterly wretched. Keep up 00 spirits and take every possible care of ooself. I do love you to an excess I am ashamed to own even to 00. Do slightest hair of 00 bootiful curls is to me more precious than all others could bestow ; and it grieves me ten thousand times more to cost you a single pang, than to suffer any privation myself, even if it were greater than the world possibly could give. Nothing makes me so happy as to fancy that 00 is ; nothing so wretched as a single complaint or despondent expression from you. My happiness is entirely invested in you, and you increase or diminish it exactly in proportion to the rise or full of 00 own. My prettiest dearest little dog, zoo mistakes my doctrine about sensible he-dogs very much ; but mo will not talk on that subject any more now. Zoo may be as clever as 00 pleases ; if it pleases 00, it will please me. Me is Avrititig to 00 in some hurry, for me wants to write 100 pages to-day ; and if me cannot, me shall not attempt '' Mr. Pelham " till next year. How very, very bootiful 00 is, my Poodle ; and 00 large cars, me is so greatful for them : mo sliall see how 00 looks on Monday, and then me can tell liow far me is to blame, or kiss 00 for cutting them off. Tell me what time Frank dines and what number of the Square he lives in. Pray ray own darling, shall me send 00 the proof of the *' Rebel," or would 00 like to wait till it is properly and prettily printed ? My own most darling, kind, beautiful, sensible, divine, angel — Poodle, good-bye till the evening ! Puppy. Pray, pray take care of ooself, till me can take care of 00. 266 Lord LytMs Letters. CLXI. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, [Unalloyed grief at ber growing indifference. — The infirmities of bis temper.] My Dearest Rose, — I am willing to malie all allowances for you, and it is therefore Avith grief — very great and unalloyed grief — and not anger that I reflect upon your manner to me to-day. In spite of what you say, I do hope that loere aware how much it differed from your usual behaviour to me, for I would much rather suppose it ]n-o- ceeded from a momentary anger than from a growing indifference. If it came from the latter, it is useless to say a single word — the affections cannot be reasoned with. If the former, do suffer me to implore you to yield to it as little and as seldom as the infirmities of my temjjer will permit. I am extremely sorry that I cannot procure you a horso this evening ; perhaps, howevei- — and Avitli this I console myself — it vf^ it would have been too much for your side. Pray take the greatest care of yourself and lie down as much as possible. Do not think I am piqued or unkind when I tell you I am going as far as Watford this evening (since I cannot ride with you) in order to pay a little bill I owe there. I shall return to-morrow before 3, when I will cull upon you. Believe me, my dearest liose, ever 7nod anxious to promote your happiness, and only grieved when I fail. I am quite willing to believe that your numner to-day proceeded prin- cipally from some fault of mine, which I beg you to forgive, and to believe me. Your own Puppy. P. S. — It is _;«s^ possible I may go on from Watford to Tring. If so, I will write to you to-morrow. Lord Lyttons Letters. 267 CLXIL To Miss Poodleling. [Tring.] My Dearest And Darlingest Poodle, — I had written the enclosed and returned home when your letter arrived. I found a message had been left here, saying that the owner of Tring w'* see me to-morrow at 3 ; so that I cannot see 00 before 4, or at least till I have dismissed him. I will then take my chance of calling. I enclose a note for 00 Mother ; me has not sealed it, which 00 must therefore do if 00 likes it, or send it to me in the morning, and me will. Me must now wish 00 good-bye and nights. God bless 00, my own own darling Oo poodle-loving Puppy. Me will not answer 00 pretty nonsense about loving me better. Mo knows all that 00 is afraid to know. Poodle, my booty, 00 does not love me near so loell as 00 did Alas ! On second thoughts me won't send 00 Mother's note now — not till to-morrow. CLXIII. To Miss Wheeler. [His love causing her unhappiness.] My Dearest Dearest Love And Angel, My Own Most Adored Poodle, — You shall not sec me look unhappy again. I will talk to 00 about those unfortunate looks to-day when I call at one, and then me will dismiss them forever; me is too wretched at their grieving Poodle so. Do not imagine, my sweetest darling, that they arise from any cause 00 can relieve ; if they did me would have told 00 long since. My dearest, dearest Rose, 1 wish to God that my love for 00 was 268 ■ Lord Lyttons Letters. uot to occasion you this unliappiness, but me will repair it yet. Good-bye, God bless oo. Zoo own devoted and doat- ing Puppy. Me did not see Sylvia lust night ; and how, my i)rettiest, should Puppy have know her ? We can take a walk to-day, if 00 likes, Poodle me's so sorry oo cannot ride, but oo shall to-morrow. Puppy. CLXIV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Going to the Duke of St. Albans'.] My Darling Angel-Poodle, — I write oo one line, as oo wished. Me is longing to know how oo is, and me is very sorry to tell oo, me cannot ride with oo to-morrow, as me cannot have my horse w*^ is lame, and me cannot hire the one me had hoped ; but me will, me hopes, have one by the day after to-morrow. Meanwhile me will call in the morning at one as usual. Me is going to dress, to go to the Duke of St. Albans', where me has been long engaged ; but me sail not go till me has oo letter. Zoo pretty darling, how beautiful oo looked to-day, and how beautiful oo really is, so superhumanly lovely ! Well, good-bye, my darling ; God bless oo. Oo own Puppy. CLXV. To Miss Wheeler. [Cambrian Bull. — And to a Hell.] My Own Kindest and Darlingest Love, — Me is so very sorry that oo Uncle scolded oo. But me will call on oo in course of the morning in order to kiss oo well. But, my Lord Lyttons Letters, 269 own booty, there can't be an end of 00 riding, because 00 can ride with 00 cousin Hastings. Just as it is beginning to do 00 good, 00 must not think of leaving it off ; but we will talk of that when me calls, whicli will be after mc have been three visits — to Lady Caroline, to Cockburn, and to Miss Landon ; and me thinks it will be 3 before me can, but it may be much earlier. Me did go to the Cambrian Ball, of which 00 had a good deliv'rance. Me then went to a Hell, and mc has only been in bed an hour or two. Well, my own darlingest, God bless 00 and good-bye for the present. Oo OWN Idolizing Puppy. CLXVI. To Miss Wheeler. tComplains of signs of waning love. — Broken with bim three times, — Asks for return of letters.] My Own Darling Angel And Poodle, — Your letter has hurt me very much. But perhaps the greatest proof of a real love is too imagine myself unworthy, and therefore not secure of the affection of the one loved. Zoo must know consequently, that if I am not always thinking of 00, there must be times when I doubt my so very great and undeserved a blessing as 00 Love. Now me will tell 00 what me has been thinking of. In the first place, me thought if 00 had loved me as me wants 00 to love me, 00 Avould not have left off wearing my tokens, when 00 had once begun to Avear them, and 00 has left all of them off ; secondly, 00 would not yawn when me speaks to 00, thirdly, 00 would not be so contented to leave me; fourthly, 00 would see things more in the same light I do ; fifthly, 00 would not have broken with me three times on the most trivial occasions (even tho' I understand and appreciate 00 inward feeling on the subject, which is very 270 Lord Lyttons Letters. noble but not very tender) ; and sixtlily, 00 would not have so great a command over 00 spirits when mc was away. Then me recollects and broods over very little, little things that 00 does not dream of, such as 00 telling mc when me was going to kiss 00, not to put 00 hair out of order, with all the host of fears and doubts which the self- torture of Love always invents. But as to ever thinking 00 less divine, that me never does. It is only because me's unworthy of 00, and not because oo's unworthy of me, that me ever questions 00 love. I believe 00 imagines 00 loves me and that all the extra circumstances that oppose your affection at present rais it to a temporary importance which will subside with the cause, then me thinks 00 too clever to love long — clever women never do; and then besides me looks over for the 1,000,000th time 00 letters and cavils at a word. Me found in a letter 00 sent me to Knebworth (when we parted, and thought for ever) that 00 had looked over it again and corrected two errors, one in a date, another in a grammatical inaccuracy, both of which showed a calm deliberation and self-jiossession at the time which me never felt or could feel in such circumstances How then could 00, if 00 had loved me as much as I do 00 ? But me is not so silly as to suppose 00 does not think 00 loves me — me supposes 00 deceives ooself, not me. Me thinks if me was to die, or if 00 was to send me away, 00 ooself would be quite astonished to find how little (in com- parison to what 00 imagined) it would affect 00. And then, too, me always feels and knows how utterly unde- serving me is of 00, and, and, and — in short — me torments myself — perhaps without any reason ; but still if I was quite confident and assured, my love w^ be much less. And now, my own darling, that me has told all my internal distresses, me must h^g 00 to expunge them by one nice kiss at the top of 00 next letter. And if 00 thinks me a naughty Puppy, me assures 00 that me has Lord Lyttons Letters. 271 already been severely punished by tlie idea that me has vexed 00 — nothing ever gives me such pain. Do then, darling Poodle, let Puppy have his naughty letter back again ; or else destroy it. And so I shall meet 00 to-night ? What happiness ! zoo darling, me shall be sure to be there by 10 o'clock. Me does not think my Mother is going with me; but she certainly will go. Me is very low spirited too, and me could not sleep last night, well, well ! now, love, darling, angel. Poodle — for God's sake do not blame 00 own Puppy, whose fault is his love ; but give him one of 00 o^vn sweet kisses — even in a letter. Me'll leave this myself. Zoo OWN Puppy CLXVII. To Miss Wheeler. [Villiers in ecstacies about her beauty. — Her silver sweet voice.] My Dearest And Darlingest Love, My Angel, My Rose, My Poodle, — How could 00 think me was, or could be, angry with 00 last night ? Oo sang like a darling, and mc only disliked 00 to sing "Capti Bell," because me dislikes parodies of all descriptions. Oo was so- bootiful ; never did me see such a Beautified Poodle as zoo darling of darlings. Mrs. Trotter was a fool ; it was 00 she was talking off. Villiers was in ecstacics all the way home about 00 booty. And what a silver sweet voice 00 has, my own love 1 Me slept very ill, and am not well dis morning ; but what is that when 00 are ill ? Ah, 00 poor chest ! Pray keep yourself warm and take something like linseed tea, mucilaginous and healing. Pray, pray do, and don't exert yourself, and don't go out this cold day. If I can call, I will ; but I fear it is almost impossible, for me must (besides my business) write that for Ainsworth. Ah, my <^wn darling, pray for Heaven's sake take care of yourself, 272 Lord Lyttons Letters. and play with 00 Basins and Ta/s* all de day. God bless 00, my Poodle ! Good-bye I Pups Rex. CLXVIII. To Miss Wheeler. [To the Club and Almack's.] My Dearest And Kindest And Most Bootiful Poodle, — Me went down to the House of Lords last night after writing 00 a note, and had the good fortune to find it shut ; me then went to my Club till % past ten, when me came in to write to 00 again and found my servant out (he had mis- taken my orders and thought he was to come this morning instead), so that me had no one to send to 00, which vexed me terribly. However, I thought 00 w^ not be disappointed as 00 had seen me. Me went to Almack's about 12, and danced with 00 cousin " Di," who was looking very pretty. Me did not stay more than % of an hour, for me was at home and in bed by one. Me writes this from my kennel ; but I will write to 00 in the morning a more fitting answer to 00 darling letter ; for it contained much which me cannot answer now, and much which I never can answer. Good-bye my darling, my angel, my life, my Poodle. Oo OWN Puppy. CLXIX. To Miss Wheeler. [House of Lords.] My Angel Poodle, — How are you this morning ? I am going to the H. of L. about our petition at '% past 2, but hope for the happiness of seeing you at 12, when I, will call. Ever Zoo o\^n Puppy. • Tay, Irish for Tea. Lord Lyttons Letters. 273 CLXX. To Miss Wheeler. ["The Reigning Vice." — Mr. Chauncey Hare Townsend, cleverish ignorant person.] AtliencBum. My own — Angel Poodle,— After I left 00, I went home — found my brother and my first cousin (who, they say, is like me) writing. We entered a great coach and drove down to the H. of Lords. There we waited about 2 hours before we were admited to an Audience, and, as it is, we shall have a considerable delay in the decision of the Petition, owing to the illness of my uncle, a principal witness. From H. of Lords we Avent to two or three different places, among others to Mortlock's where I looked after some china and glass. I shall see after a carriage when we have a definite answer about the house. Finding Henry was going to a large party, and feeling very disinclined to meet them, I came here to dine and took up a new Satire — called " The Reigning Vice," which you may have seen advertized. The Author wishes to prove selfishness the reigning Vice, and gets hold of some very silly now-fangled ideas ; but tho' the philosophy is shallow, the poetry is good, the versification easy and polished, and the whole thing amusing enough. I was surprised to find I recognized the Author in some lines read to me ten years ago. The writer is a Mr. Chauncey Hare Townsend, a cleverish ignorant person. I am scribbling this to 00, my prettiest little dog, while they are procuring me a coach. I must write to Mrs. Cunningham to-morrow, and inform her about you. Mr. Eichardson, my brother's steward, also calls on me at 12 to-morrow, and I shall find wa/s and means thro' him of 2 74 Lord Lyttons Letters. raising money. In the meantime, my precious love, me is unalterably oo own. Puppy. CLXXL To Miss Wheelek, 40, Somerset Street. [Mr. King, mentioned in " Pel ham." — Peel.] My Own Angel, My Sweetest And Darlingest Doll, — After me left oo, me and Sister Fan went down to my mother's wlio was not at home ; accordingly we proceeded to the Stables, 'where I mounted my royal charger, leaving Fan in the care of my servant ; then me went into the Ecgent's park, where me met Mr. Peel, who was laughing so loud, that Lady barked at him — I hate people who are merry; accordingly I left the Park and road out into the country, and thought about de present administration — thinking what a much wiser one might have been made under canine auspices. After that, me came home and found a Mr. King here, whom I have made honourable mention of in '^ Mr. Pelham"; he is a great friend of Lamb's — Lamb by the way is going on Saturday next to Ireland. This Mr, King is now with us, telling us anecdotes and classical quotations. Henry is looking at his feet and preparing for the Opera, and me is going to write the greater part of the night at one of my clubs. Me is now, my own dearest darling love — me is now going to wish oo good night. May God bless and presrve oo, and may you soon be in Puppy's paws. Oo own. DOLLBEAKER AND PaCKHORSE. Lord Lyt ton's Letters. 275 CLXXII. To Miss Wheeler. [Jealousy. — Lord Castlereagh.] My Dear Rose, — A moment's reflection might convince you that you have misunderstood my letter. I neither wanted nor cared one straw about the explanation you have condescended to give ; to me L'^ Castlereagh is the same as any one else — all I wish to convey to you is, that one mny be perfectly innocent, and yet, by a disregard of appearances, endure the same scandal as if one was guilty. That you were not acting at all different from what a girl of your age should have done with Lord Castlereagh or any one else, is of course quite clear to me — that you appeared to do so, is as evident. It is against this appearance only, I repeat again and again, that I wish to guard you. I think that what you added towards the end of your letter, cither in a moment of pique or wounded feeling, you have by this time discovered was uncalled for. You need not of course be assured that I feel for you the most undiminished esteem and admirutioj), and that, as far as Jam concerned, venture to hope for a more happy Union at last than it pleases you, very flatteringly, to predict, when you are in the prophesying mood. I am very much hurried and must for the present stop. Yours as ever, E. B. 276 Lord Lytto7is Letters, OLXXIII. To Miss Wheelee. [Asking pardon for having offended.] My Dearest Love, — I have been engaged all the morn- ing in money matters for Henry — of the most vital impor- tance to him ; and I am grieved to say I have not succeeded ; otherwise I should have written to you before. Your servant, besides, did not wait for an answer ; and I have no one else to send this morning. My own dear love, you were very wrong in thinking anything else but your illness yesterday made me so despondent. Is not that enough, especially when I am absent from you and fancy a thousand horrors worse than the worst reality ? but you are better to-day, and I am happier and easier about you. I see that I have had my usual ill-fortune to offend you in speaking of " explana- tion": perhaps it was a wrong word. I mean however, to write you a longer letter than I can do now, fully explana- tory of my meaning. Meanwhile I can assure you that I ment no explanation or excuse /rom you as to anything that is past. My letter will only allude to such things and occurrences in reference to the future. "With regard to your Uncle's letter, there can be no doubt as to its rude- ness ; but I can readily enter into, and even approve and like his feelings, if he thought me the cause of your illness — that little subject of complaint will thereforo, I hope, easily be rectified. I enclose you a note to Miss Landon ; also a letter to your mother. As you have the review of the " Rebel " that appeared in London ?we/l-/^, perhaps you will send it, if you think it advisable — it docs not say a great deal ; but what it does say is flattering. And now, my own dear, dear Bose, Lord Lyttoiis Letters. 277 pray pardon me for every and each thing in which I have offended you. Do believe that, as far as I can^ my most ernest and heartfelt wish is to render yoa happy, and nothing makes me so miserable as the conviction that I cannot. I will write again at night. I find I h:ive not time (as I wish to leave this as soon as possible) to write to your Mother now ; but will poon as I come in. Pray I implore and beseech yon, look to the bright side of things, and with regard to me only state candidly your wishes and they shall be obeyed. E. L. B. I beg 00 pardon, my own love, for not answering 00 enquiries about my car ! the fact is, that it was in such very great pain, that I thought it useless to vex 00 about it. However when I called yesterday on Pope, I asked him, rather as an excuse than anything else, too look at it, wh he did. He syringed it and gave me some stuff, but it is very little better. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Quarrels.] My Dearest Poodle, — Don't be such a silly little dog — kiss and make friends, will 00 ? If 00 will, don't write me those naughty letters about 00 health, w^ always go to my heart ; but tell me 00 is better and happy, and that 00 has forgotten, as well as forgiven, all Puppy's impertinencies. Seriously, my dearest Rose, don't let us mar our happi- ness by quarelling with each other ! let us quarrel with all the Avorld else, if we must quarrel ; but there should never be any coldness between Puppy and Poodle. Do nurse yourself and get well, for the sake of one who never changes to 00. P. 278 Lord Lyttons Letters, To Miss Wheeler. [Westcorabe Park.] My Dearest Love and Darlingcsfc Poodle, — Me writes to 00 one line to tell 00 bow mncli me loves and adores 00. After me left 00, me went to WestcombePark. It realy is one of tbe most beautiful things I ever saw — such a charming park and gardens ; but lo ! upon looking over the rooms, I dis- covered the dry rot, not a thing I believe very fatal to a house. However, I shall have a surveyor to look over it, and then we can see. On my return, I found a very kind note from 00 Uncle, quite explaining away the (no doubt) unintentional iota of complaint I had against him. Me is very deaf and very low-spirited, and me is going for a few minutes to de Opera, to drive dull care away. God bless 00, my own dear kind darling love, and believe me your most true, most affectionate, most doating. Puppy. Pray, pray, pray sleep well to-night. CLXXIV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Miss Wheeler had an offer.] My Own Darling Angel, — And so me could only see 00 for a single moment ! I passed again, but you were not there, and people -were opposite, so I durst not pass again. And 00 has had an offer ? Ah, my own darling, why have I not £2,000 a year to settle on 00 ! Yes my beauty, my Poodle, my dear dear love, I have a great deal to say to 00. The letter is not from my Mother I am in the greatest hurry. Henry, W™ and two lawyers are here. God bless 00, my own angel ! When, when, when, when, when will 12 o'clock to-morrow come ? Oo OWN Puppy. Lord Lyttons Letters. 279 CLXXV. To Miss TVheelee, 40, Somerset Street. [Tricg. — His Mother talking to Henrj'^ about the match.] Well, my own darling and angel, my sweetest Poodle and prettiest Doll, me sends 00 \]cisses\ before me goes out for the evening — where me mil go, and scarcely know yet ; but Henry dines out and me is not in the humour to go with W^i to Lady Warburton's, so me sail saunter, down to Vil- lier's and terminate the evening as God pleases, being per- fectly assured that me shall return here about 12 and dream of Poodle and sigh and toss about all night. Me has a note which seems to indecate that me may get Tring Park, but that is yet to be seen, depending on various and vast circumstances w'^ mo need not now enumerate to 00. (Pretty handwriting this, is it not, darling ? My Mother has been talking to Hy about our match and with a greater grace, etc., than I could anticipate. Ah, ray own Poodle, if ever we can we'll make it up to her ! How very, Tcry, very happy an overjoyed me sh"^ be at the idea of lay- ing my head on 00 bosom for the rest of my life, if my con- science did not smite me with regard to my Mother. How- ever, me does so hope that we sail all be reconciled yet. Me has finished all about de House of Lords, and so me sail come to 00 to-morrow and stay as long as 00 likes. Good-bye. God bless 00, my own, own Poodle. 28o Lord Lyttons Letters* CLXXVI. To Miss "Wheeler, 40 Somerset Street. [Oilier. — Houses. — His depression.] My Darling Angel And Bootiful Poodle, — How does 00 do ? Has 00 recovered oo beautiful looks again ? Is oo face well ? Is oo head well ? Do tell me all about oo ! 200,000 [Z;/.'?sc,s]. By-the-bye, how like oo is zoo, zoo booti- ful Poodle ! I have been engnged all the morning with Oilier and a Lawyer — nice little avocations. Afterwards I drove and road out for 2 hours, and then went to dine with my Mother. I have Just come from there. In my drive, 1 went to the house-ngents about a place ; there is a very nice one in Montgomeryshire, but exposed to the great objection of distance. At last I have advertised, and the advertisement will appear to-morrow or next day in the Courier and Times. My own dear, dear angel, are you tired of me, that you write to me so dcspondingly ? If you knew all I have to vex and harass me, and could at all see the gloom and depression always upon my heart, you, at least, would spare me the additonal misery your seeming unkindness occasions me. However, I ought to have self-reproach and remorse with respect to you, and therefore have no right to com- plain. I write to you, my dearest and most charming Poodle, in great haste, for it is very late and I am fearful you may be uneasy. I do not, my prettiest darling, tell oo my number, because oo sail not write to me of a morning till 00 is quite well. Me has been selfish long enough, and will learn to amend, God bless oo, my angel, my booty, and make Puppy deserving of oo ! Lord Lytto7is Letters, 281 CLXXVII. To Miss Wheeler. [Bex at the Play. — Lady C looking thin ] My Dearest And Prettiest Love, — I have got the box ; you may therefore send to-night to Lady Doyle's to say that 3 tickets or as many more as you like) shall be sent to-mor- row. The fact is that Henry only reserves one ticket for himself ; the rest have been sold some time since, so we buy what we want ; and you must therefore let me know early in the morning, how many 00 would like. Me saw Lady C this morning ; she is certainly looking thin, but me'U tell 00 all about that to-morrow. AVell, my own dear, dear love, my own prettiest and kindest darling me does bless 00 so for being such an angel of a poodle as 00 has been all day. Zoo was so good ! Me only writes this to please 00, short as it is. God bless 00. Puppy. CLXXVIII. To Miss Wheeles. [A fine ring.] My Dearest, Darlingcst Poodle, — Me was in as much surprise as 00 about de note, but after a great deal of inter- rogatory, ascertained that my servant left that, instead of mine, which I now enclose, and which was written by Vil- liers 3 days ago. I am up and about writing to my mother, not having answered her letter yet. Fie, Poodle, for buying Puppy a fine ring ! Fie, zoo darling (and yet zoo is such a dear, dear, dear love, that me cannot scold 00 282 Lord Lyttons Letters. as me to do, and so me sail kiss 00 instead. Me fears very much tliat me cannot be with 00 to-day much before 2. However, me will if me can ; but me has prom- ised to call on Mrs. II"" at one to-day — the only hour I could see her. Thank 00 ten thousand times for continuing "Puck"; I am so much obliged to 00 for it. Me will bring the tickets when mo comes. God bless 00, my own- est, ownest, kindest darling Oo owN^ Puppy. CLXXIX. To Miss Wheelee. [Sending to Ireland.] My Dearest And Darlingest Eosey, — Me likes 00 pretty way asking Compts. by paying dem. "Was it not 00 who looked pretty, and did me not long so to kiss 00, and was not 00 a darling ? zoo bootiful, bootiful Poodle ! ]\Ie will be with 00 as soon as possible ; but me is going to send a man to Ireland to-day, and in order to do so, must go down beyond Lincoln*s Inn ; however, me trusts me sail return by one o'clock or before. Me feels much better this morning than me has felt for a long time, and should be so happy if me could hope that 00 did too. Zoo is a dear kind darling noble girl for what 00 says about being a good Poodle ; and me does also promise 00 that me will endeavour as far as possible to repay 00. Ah ! if 00 knew how me does love and worship 00, when 00 is kind and me can associate with 00 nothing but fond and consoling feelings, zoo would not repent of 00 forbearance, my own angel. God ever bless 00 and pre- serve 00 ! Oo own, own, own, owner than ever Puppy. Lord Lyt toils Letters. 283 CLXXX. P^nquiries about the Wheeler property.] My Dearest Poodle, — Send me word by bearer the name of your father's phice Avhich he sold, and that which you now possess — oecondly, your 3fother's name — Thirdly, the names of your brothers and sisters — fourthly, the addresses of Mr. Parkinson and Mr. Arthur. Me is in a great hurry, as me is engaged with a lawyer (whom me sail send out of Town today) at 12. Me hopes, however, to be with 00 very little after one. Pray send word how my own darling is. Pups. CLXXXL To Miss Wheeler. [Letters for his mother to see.] My own Darling, Darling Poodle, — How does 00 do and 00 darling head ? Ah, Ah ! After I parted from 00, I went to my mother, where I found W"' who dined with ns. She was in a very good humour. After dinner W"^ went away, and I had a long conversation about 00. She was exceedingly kind, and I want 00 to write me 3 or 4 letters about 1 page each, proper and puppy-less, saying all 00 feels, but not in the same language ; Zoo must avoid 00 present simplicity and also all appearance of cleverness or biilliancy. Only write affectionately and properly, and bring in a phrase or two about my mother, etc. She wants to see some of 00 letters, and me has none to show her. When I got home, I found Sir Bentinck Doyle had called. I will try and call on him to-morrow before I 284 Lord Lyttons Letters. leave Town ; if not, I shall write to excuse myself. I had hoped, according to Colburn's promise, to find a copy of the "Rebel" but am disappointed. zoo darling love ! Me must now finish as it is so late ; but mind 00 sleeps well to-night, and does not even dream of 00 own, own, own Puppy. CLXXXII. [Tooth better.] My own Darling Poodle, — Zoo nice, dear, kind, good girl, me is so much obliged to 00 for sending after me. Me Avas out when 00 note came. Me has only just returned. My tooth is much better. Zoo nice camphor quite cured it ; but zoo, my poor darling, me is so unhappy about 00 ! Ah ! if 00 w^ but be somebody ! However, 00 will so soon be Puppy's, and then air and exercise, and care and kisses and Puppy, will soon quite restore 00 — won't they, my good Poodle ? Me will try and call on 00 earlier to-morrow — perhaps a M before one, as me may leave 00 sooner. Me has given up my journey to the country to-morrow, in order to be with 00. zoo dear, dear love ! God bless 00, and make 00 well and happy, prays 00 own more than ever adoring and fond Puppy, Lord Lyttons Letters. 285 , CLXXXIII. To Miss Wheeler. [Proof of "Rebel." — Carriage.] My Darliug, Darling Darling Poodle^ — Pray forgive 00 own Puppy for not writing before. Me has been out all day looking after a lodging by Twickenham and Richmond, because 00 does not wish him to be at a distance from 00 ; but alas ! he cannot find one, and he very much fears that Southend is the nearest situation. My own angel, 00 must at all events sleep well to-night, since 00 own Puppy is so near 00. Mr. Colburn h;is sent me a proof of the '' Rebel. ^' Zoo has no idea how bad all the first canto (which 00 saw) is in print. Me is going to alter it, if possible. Ah ! here is a letter from 00 ! My dearest darling Poodle, 00 is too good to write me such a dear letter, Avhen me has not written to 00 yet. zoo darling darling, zoo does not know how me loves 00 ! I am so so fond of 00, and long so for 00 ! Yes ! me does ! and me will write 00 more than once a week — yes, me will, darling ! Me sends 00 another pic- ture of a carriage ; wh 00 must return. They are my crests upon it ; me does not like the red hammercloth, w*^ me thinks should be the same colour as the carriage, and me has the harness for the carriage, and the mould- ings sh'^ be plated, not brass. Me also thinks the body of the carriage sh'^ be hung still lower and somewhat broader. Let me know. Me sends 00 some Poems my big brother has lately printed ; the copy belongs to Henry. Mo thinks them very witty and classical. you dear dear Poodle, zoo could never think how 00 is adored by 00 own Puppy. I called on Bentinck to-day. 286 Lord Lyttons Letters. CLXXXIV. To Miss Wheeler, Somerset Street. [Anxiety for her health.] My Dearest Durling Love, — I have been out all the morning from a very early hour, and only just received your letter. My darling Angel, how miserable you make me. For God's sake give me one line to say if you are better. Why, why should Fate separate us ? Yes, dar- ling, I will call to-morrow 10 minutes before one, tho' Colburn was coming. I can write no more now ! but do, my own dear dear Poodle, just give me one word : ''worse" or better." Zoo own own PUPPS. CLXXXV. To Miss Wheeler. [Met Miss Landon at his Mother's.] My Dearest And Darlingest Poodle,— 20,000 [^v'sses] for writing to mo this morning, tho' oo ought to have gone to 00 kennel like a good Poodle immediately oo got home. Me was detained very late at my mother's where rac met Miss Landon, but me did go iis far as Charing Cross, in the wish to see oo at oo party, but the watchman cried M past 1, and me thouglit oo'd be gone, so me turned b::ck and slunk home. Me is very much grieved at the idea of 00 being so unwell with oo exertion, but me does venture, my own darling, to hope lluitoo will have a good niglils night and be recruited. Me will call on oo at 2, before me goes to Sir F. Doyle ; me w* come earlier, but me Lord Lytto7is Letters. 287 thinks 00 aught to sleep till one. How could naughty Poodle talk of boring me ? Am I not hor own Puppy. CLXXXVI. To Miss Rose Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portraan Square, London. [Cobham Inn — celebrated for young married people.] Cobham, 25th . My Own Dear Darling Poodle, — After me left 00 with many self reproaches, me returned towards St. James' Sq'''^, first stopping to buy tlie London Review, in which there is a tolerably long and very favorable criticism of " Mr. O'Neill." Me found Villiers anxiously awaiting my arrival. We seated ourselves in silence, and went on for several minutes without a word. At last he spoke, and I said, in answer, " Yes, 00 is a very nice little dog." We reached Godalming, which is very pretty town, in safety ; but Wcstbrooke Park is out of the question ; it might do well enough for people of 2 or 3 thousand a year, but not for persons of our "Quality." Tiiis morning we set out for M , wl]ich belongs to Ada"' Bladen Capell. This, which, from the exceeding badness and even peril of the roads, is almost inaccessible, is a very wild beautiful place indeed, and I think we may offer money for it. The house is very old, but very small. The scenery round is rich beyond expression, and there is a nice large piece of water for us to swim about in ; there is no neighbourhood and no society, which is certainly also a very great recom- mendation. Me endeavoured very earnestly to get to London to-night but our horse, after various stumbles and falls, was so knocked up that we were forced to stop here within 20 288 Lord Lyttons Letters. miles of Town. The Inn (Cobham) is a celebrated place among young married people, and has a beautifal garden full of roses (of which me sends oo a leaf), besides tolerably- nice bed-rooms, with very hard huckaback towels. Me hopes to be in Town to-morrow by 3 or 4 o'clock, but me will call on oo whatever time it may be, even in the evening. Zoo booty, zoo darling, zoo angel, zoo dear gii'l and nice dog ! Me sends oo 2,000,000 \hisse8\, and wishes oo soft dreams and sweet sleej:). Puppy. Is 00 not a darling, my own gentle Poodle ? Is oo not a kind love ? Ah ! me does, does, does love oo so, so. So, So ! Prettiest and dearest. Pupps ! CLXXXVII. To Miss Rose Wheeler, Somerset Street [Name the very earliest day.] My Dearest, Dearest Love, — After me left oo, me went to Seymour St., and stayed with my Mother till half-past five. After that, me went home, with my ears down and my tail slouching on the ground, very wet and miserable. So me thougiit, as me trotted along, that sister Lady, and sister Terror b\\^ have a holyday ; accordingly me called at de stables and carried dem away. Me fonnd Henry on the soplia. A friend of Henry's dined with us — a Mi-. Houlditch Hungerford, a young man with a magnificent house in the country, which me immediately asked him to let me. After dinner — fish, cutlets, pigeons, all horrid — mo came here, and am now scribbling to oo, that being the purpose for which me did come. zoo booty, zoo darling, zoo angel ! never did oo look so bootiful, so divine, as oo did to-day ! Oh liow me ought to have kissed oo I Me would have given worlds to have kissed oo from head to foot, oo Lord Lyttons Letters. 289 was such an unspeakable paragon of booty. And what is 00 doing, saying, thinking, wishing now, zoo prettiest little dog ? Ah ! how me should like to with 00, and den me would lecture 00, between kissing, on something 00 did, or did not do to-day ; but me is sure that if me tries to make 00 hapi^y, oo'll wish that m^e slid be so too, and will not bo above studying that which will make me so. Will 00, my own dear kind affectionate girl ? No, me is sure 00 w*^ not ! Ah, my dearest Rose, how soon, how very, very soon, me docs hope, 00 will be mine ! We must have this horrid letter to morrow, and then 00 will name de very earliest possible day, will 00 not, my Poodle ? Oh ! if happiness can appear in the features, and if 00 can judge of the appearance, 00 will not, my Poodle, be dissatisfied with my looks on tlic day. Me is going to fulfil an engagement with the owner of Westcombe Park to-morrow, but me hopes to get away by 1 as usual, tho' my own Rose, me must consider a little before I can promise to come to 00. It w^ be so much the worse plan not. However my heart and wishes are the worst seducers, and me fears me shall not be able to resist them. Farewell, my own darling darling Poodle ; ten million kisses from 00 doating Puppy. CLXXXVIII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square. [Temple of Fairies.] My Dearest And Darlingest And Angelest Poodle, — Me is very very very sorry no letter — and now they tell me that one could not have had one before to-day. However, me must call to-morrow, whether there is one or not, and 290 Lord Lyttons Letters. then me sail see 00. Oh, if 00 knew what an age it seems to me since I did sec 00, 00 w*^ feel happy almost that 1 do not, for then 00 would know how incomparably me does doat on and idolize 00. Thank 00, my prettiest Titania, for 00 Temple of Fai- ries," which me used to love so when me was a pup — me does not, however, see anything to crib. Me sail be back at eight. ' Back,' 00 says, ' where is 00 going ?' Me is going to Greenwich to see a house, and if me can write when me comes in, me will ; only 00 must not depend on me. zoo booty, zoo darling, zoo love, 00 own, own more than ever attached Puppy, CLXXXIX. To Miss Wheelek. [Letter must come to day.] My Own Dear Kind Angel Love,— 200,000,000 [hisses] for 00 darling letter last night and 00 note this mornmg, 00 Servant did not v/ait for an answer, so me sends this by mine. Me went to a place 14 miles from Town yesterday, instead of Greenwich, as being a more likely place to suit — Eastcote House. However, it was a very poor place. Tring has spoilt me, I fear, for any other. As me of course lost my way on the road me did not get to Town again before half past seven, and then me went to dine with Villiers ; from whence me had not returned when 00 note came ; this is the full and true account of the Adven- tures of Puppy de Poodle, esq''*'. Me thinks the letter &\xxe\jmust come to-day ; if so, me will hasten to 00 with it — if not, why, 00 must see, my own dearest love, that me ought to absent myself from 00. However, if me is not with 00 by one, me will write to 00, my darling. Pray, prettiest, go out, if this wretched let- Loi'd Lyttons Letters. 291 ter does not arrive ; go and sec 00 cousins and the G — 's, and keep 00 spirits, and don't stay at home to mope 00 darling self to death. Mind 00 does not, to please 00 own j)oor Puppy, Avho doats on 00 to that degree that this absence seems privation of air, sun, life. Good-bye for the present. God bless 00, my own dear, dear love ! It was one before I came in last nigiit, or I would have written to 00 ; indeed, I w<^ almost have dune that, late as it was, if I c*^ have found any one to send. My ear is much better, thanks to 00 enquii'ies. cxc. To Miss Wheelek. [Going to Greenwich to see a house.] No letter yet ! I am so vexed, I shall leave Town for the day and go to Greenwich, in order to see a place I have heard of cheap. Thank 00, my own darling Poodle, for 00 note. I did go to Almack's, and saw Fanny in high beauty ! It — not slu — was very thin — scarcely a soul there. I did not stay 5 minutes. I am distracted with the ear-ache this morning, and am, besides, so deaf I can scarcely hear a syllable. I enclose your picture ; mind 00 takes care of it, and sends it back in the evening. Ah, my prettiest, how sail me live thro' this long day without seeing 00 ! poor, poor Puppy ! pra}/ pity him, and yet me would not have 00 pity, for me thinks it true that Pity is a relation to Love, and that they have the mutual aversion to each other relations generally have. Me is more low-spirited than 00 can conceive, and therefore me does not so much regret not seeing 00. Love is made for summer skies, not clouds ; ail birds who live in vapour, like the vulture and eagle, are condemiled to be alone. Ah, why, why, why did I ever link any human 292 Lord Lyttons Letters. being to me ? but it is too late now. At least?, my own, only love, do nurse yourself and let me have in your exist- ence a consolation for my own. Puppy. CXCI. To Miss Wheeler. [Her fretting.] My Poor Dear Darling, — Oli ! why has 00 been crying ? Do tell 00 own indolatrous puppy, who loves and adores 00 beyond all comparison. My dear, dear, kind, nice, good, tender love, my beautiful Poodle, me must take 00 soon, and then me will never allow 00 to pine so, for me will kiss and hug 00 till 00 is quite happy, will me not. Poodle ? Me has been to Greenwich and seen such a nice place — me does so hope that me sail be able to get it, but me fears it will be too dear. However, me will tell 00 all that to-mor- row, when me calls, w'^ me will, about one or half-past as usual, tho' me does hope me sail have a letter to-morrow. Me is very tired, and my poor horse is waiting with my servant to take this, so me must conclude. For God'^ sake, my dear, dear, dear, most dear love, take care of ooself. Dream of 00 own, own passionately loving Puppy. Ten million [kisses'] for De Fairy Tales. Pray, pray, pray don't fret ; indeed 00 has no cause, for Puppy will try all his life to pay 00 for what 00 has suffered. Oh ! how me longs to see 00 ! Lord Lyttons Letters. 293 CXOII. To Miss Wheeler [Handkerchief.] My Own Dearest And Kindest Love, — Me write 00 one little word, to say me sail be with 00 by a little after one, as me sail wait a short time in case of any letter. And is 00 in such pain, my own poor Rose ? Zoo has no idea of the wretched sensation me has when 00 complains and me cannot relieve 00 ; but me sail, me sail, see 00 at one, and then me will kiss away de pain, whetlier 00 will or not. God bless and keep and preserve 00, my own own own darling — will 00 not really be my own next week ? Puppy. Oh ! what a bootiful handkerchief 00 has sent me ! Me never saw anything so pretty — ''wear it when nobody sees me ?" Indeed Mrs. Poodle, me sail do no such thing ; me sail make it my state kerchief. OXCIII. To Miss Wheeler. [He is better — only pain in ear.] My Darling Angel Poodle, — Me thanks 00 ten million times for 00 dear pretty note. Me is very well to-day, and has only a slight pain in my ear. Me has altered my mind about going to Colburn's, and will therefore be with 00 as nsnal. Me cannot think what my beautiful Puss has been trying at ; but since it is to please me, me hopes it is a new kiss ; and if 00 could not succeed alone, Ave must practice together till 00 is perfect. How is 00 after 00 ride ? me hopes much better, but me sail know when me calls at one. Meanwhile, dearest and divinest Poodle, I AM THINE OWN HeART'S PuPPY. 294 Lord Lyttofi!s Letters Many thanks, my own sweet kind love, for oo enquiries after Cockbnrn. He has tried the Camphor and opium, but in vain. CXCIV, To Miss Wheeler. [Miss Wheeler ill. — Better when letter arrives.] My Own Dear Kind Good Poodle, — Ten thousand thanks for oo letter, which oo was a true darling to write. When me got home from Brook's last night, me found oo note ; and me was at first a little hurt at oo going to Lady D 's without speaking to mo first, but afterwards me thought 00 would not mope oo darling self there, and so rae was reconciled to oo. Zoo is my own angel Poodle for enquiring so kindly after me ; me feels quite well to-day, better than me has for a long time, but oh ! how me wishes it was still 00 turn to ask after me rather than mine to feel for 00 ! My own dearest dear love, I am so really unhappy at your being ill. I loill call on oo to-day for a short time, but I fear not before 2, as me has promised to go out with W™ to choose a gun at 1. Do, my own beautiful love, go to Sir F. Doyle's again and dine there. I shall be so happy and well if you will keep up your spirits and health, and you ought to be so well before oo goes into do country. Me is sure, my dar- lingest, ownest, fondest Poodle, that oo will be better when 00 has had dis letter and felt in oo heart of hearts how deeply and truly oo is loved and adored by oo own own Puppy. Zoo darling darling Kosey Poodle ! {llarlcs of Msses.] Lord Lyttons Letters. 295 CXCV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [Richmond with a party.] My Darlingest Poodle, — Me is in ji very great hurry, and just setting off to Richmond with a party — much too late for them — me having only time to say me will write 00 a nice long big-eared puppy of a letter to-night, and that me adores, loves and doats on 00. PUPPS. CXCVI. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [The Richmond party.] Ah, Poodle ! pray forgive 00 own truant Puppy for staying away all yesterday. It really was not his fault, for when de other dogs got doTrn to Richmond, dey all would stay there till \i P^st 8 and so it was near 11 by the time wc got to Vauxhall Bridge, and then dey insisted on going to Vauxhall, so poor Puppy was caught. My own darling me was so, so sorry, for me did want to come home and keep my promise to 00 so much, and me thouglit of nothing but 00 the whole time. Me will come and see 00 to-day about three o'clock or perhaps before, as me is going out of Town to-morrow — to Woodcot. But 00 my dearest love, how is 00 ? me does hope so that 00 has slept well. God bless 00, prettiest and kindest and goodest, zoo own doating. Pups. 296 Lord Lyttoits Letters. CXCVII. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [His Mother averse to William's Marriage.] My Darling Love And Poodle, — Me was at dinner when 00 letter came ; I c"^ not therefore answer it then. We have some men here now, so that I can only write a line or two, to thank 00 for 00 pretty dear letter, which me sends GO 20,000 \hi8scs\ for. W™ has just been here; I don't know whether he will be married : My Mother is still very angry with him — Me'll talk to 00 about that by- and-bye. Oh ! darling, me v/anted to ask 00 this morning, but me forgot it, whether a Colonel Somebody did not go with 00 and Mrs. 's to Richmond — tell me all the persons male or female, that made 00 part}^, and tell me how long 00 stayed there. Now don't let my prettiest Poodle rack her brains to know why me asked this ; it is for no very particular reason ; but let me know to-morrow before me calls ; or, if 00 thinks we shall talk together, 00 may tell me then. Me lias been eating 00 orange flowers all day. Zoo booty, zoo darling, zoo love, zoo Poodle, good-bye, good night, sleep well and dream of this day three weeks ! Me's so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so happy that 00 is. Puppy. ' Lord Lyttons Letters. 297 CXCVIII., To Miss Wheeler. [Colonel Somebody.— Mrs. C 's.] My Own Darling Poodle, — Thank 00 for 00 prettiest letter. Me is very tired and indisposed to-day, for me did not sleep all night. With regard to the Richmond expedi- tion, I met a Colonel Somebody at Cheltenham, whose name I never knew, but I think it begins with G ; however, I am quite uncertain touching that important point ; this Col. I again met the other day, and after we had talked about Cheltenham some minutes, it came into my head to ask him if he had ever met 00 tliere. He said no, but he thought he had seen you at Richmond with a friend of his, and as he talked much about his friend, I wished to ascer- tain wliether the friend was Mrs. C 's or any one else. Zoo darling, zoo booty ! 00 remember that before me ever told 00 me loved 00, me spoke to 00 as slightingly as I could of Mrs. C 's, whom I knew to be a very improper com- panion for 00. A friend of Henry's and mine, a Frenchman, knew her much too well at Paris, and that must be Henry's excuse for addressing her. That is all me wished to ask 00, prettiest, and 00 need not have troubled 00 poodle-self to give so long an explanation. Me's too glad that thoy are going to wash 00. Oo own tried but true and indolent and idolizing Puppy. 2^8 Lord Lyttons Letters. CXCIX. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portmaii Square. [A quarrel. — Shall not send back presents yet. — Had seen Woodcot. — Bought a tea and dessert set of Dresden China.] My Own Dearest, Kindest, Most Beautiful, Most Darl- ing Poodle, My Angel Of Life, — Let me know and worship 00. Let me humble myself before oo in the fullness of an adoration more intense and overflowing than Numac*^ have ever felt for his Egosia, or Endymion for his Diana. !My tenderest, dearest love, you have taken me out of a doubt and suspense more pitiable than you can conceive. Never will I forget this condescension in you, never ! And now, dearest Rose listen to me ! I owe you a return, and one which I have meditated ever since I thought of writing to you what I have done. It is this. It is /, not you, who shall alter ! I will for thfi future endeavour as much as possible to correct my temper ; perhaps I may not succeed at first, but oo will bear with me for a little while, and it shall be less than you suppose. If I once make a resolve, I can sooner than most people carry it thro'. My own, my dearest, my tenderest love, forgive, I implore oo, oo own Puppy for all he has made oo suffer. Now, dearest, shall come oo triumph, — it isoo only that shall tame and subjugate oo own Wolf, Puppy, till he can lay his head on that beautiful, beautiful bosom and forget even to growl. Oh, Rose ! how I do bless oo for oo letter. It has seemed to me of late that you wish rather to break off. I have been piqued and hurt at the readiness with w^ you parted from me. I have thought I owed our reconciliation rather to your kindness and compassion to mc, than to your own feelings. I have thought, in short that you ware wearied with me and my morosity, and contemplated with Lord Lyitons Letters. 299 dread our future union — this, perhaps, made me write to 00 differently than me otherwise should. Forgive me, my own darling, darling love — will 00 not, booty ? 20,000,000 Ah ! that me could kiss 00 ! that me could breath out my homage, my worship, to 00, in one, one long burning eternal kiss ! Shall we not be both the better, and the wiser, and the happier for this, my Poodle, hereafter ? me is sure we sh-ill. And is 00 still ill, my ownest ? But this will make 00 well, will it not ? Ah, dearest, dearest Rose ; 2000 \kisses\. Do not be hurt, love, me is going out of Town to-morrow for two days. ]\Ie is very unwell feverish, and nothing but the country can do me any good, so that me will gow down to-morrow and look at Woodcot Hall, which me hopes so will suit us. Me has bought such a pretty tea set for 00, and a dessart set, of Dresden. Me will not send back 00 presents yet, but me hopes 00 will see them at Woodcot very, very soon. Oh, how me does, does long for that day. If 00 knew how happy me was, me is now, 00 would be happy too — would 00 not darlingest ? Write to me to-morrow early, and on Thursday let me see 00 : Mo will not before, for me should go and take a house directly ; and besides, we do not deserve the happiness of a meeting since we have both been naughty enough to quarrel. And now, darling, good-bye and God bless 00, and may 00 forgive Puppy as utterly and sincerely as 00 possibly can. Mesrs Kisses & Co. — Pay to Poodle : — 2,000,000 [kissesi'] to her eyes, 4,760,540,087 to her lips, 9,000,070,005 to her cheeks. (Signed) 1827, London. Puppy. Is me good ? 300 Lord Lyttons Letters. CO. To Miss Wheelee. [Going witli Villiers to Woodcot.] My Own Darling And Kind Love, — I wrote in a great linrry to you this morning. I am now on the point of set- ting off for Woodcot — it appears to be a very long journey for a gig ; however, I shall get down, I hope, in good time, Villiers goes with me very good-naturally. Me was not naughty, Mrs. Poodle, about the Dresden, because it was very cheap and very homely. Me only gave for the dessert and tea set £15, and me's going to buy of de same man, who is a broker, all de things me shall want for our kennel. Me sends oo back all oo playthings. God bless oo my own dear restored angel ! Henceforth we will be to each other what two human beings never were before. God bless oo ! Take care of ooself. Me is sure oo will not fret ooself now, but 00 must take air and exercise — mind oo does, and not think of anything but oo own, own, own, own, own fond, true, devoted, doating Puppy. Me bas had no letter from Ireland. COL To Miss "Wheeler. [Suspense only a day or two.] My Own Darling Love, — For Heaven's sake keep up oo spirits and comfort ooself as much as oo can. Our suspenses can only last a day or two. And then oo will and must be mine ; and me will repay oo and oo dear good Uncle for all and everything. Lord Lyttons Letters. 301 My owu dearest angel, me is now going to be fed ; afterwards me is going out and then to Almack's, perhaps. Good-bye, my own, dear, dear, girl, 00 loving King Puppy. COIL To Miss AVheeler. [Archbishop of York to marry them — no necessity to give him any tiling.] My Dearest Rosey, — Do go to Brighton ; it will do you a great deul of good. I will run down myself, if you do, I should particularly wish you to go, for your health's sake as well as every other consideration. Do, my own darling ! I mearly write to beg you to do so, and to request you to look after my ring dropped in the parlour. I will write to you again in the course of the day. Ever most doatingly yours, E. L. B. Pupps. Me is in a great hurry. On consulting, about it, I find the Archb? of York would be infiuitely more desirable than any one else — and no necessity to give him anything ! com. To Miss Wheeler. [Not liking her to go with the D 's.] My Dearest Kosey, — I write 00 one line to say 00 is a darling. Me will tell 00 to-morrow why me did not like 00 to go with the D s. Me has got 00 letter. God bless GO darling. Zoo OWN Pupps. 502 Lord Lyttons Letters. CCIV. To Miss Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street, Portman Square. [Preparations.] M}' Own Darling Rosey, — Me has been running over do Town all day — 1st, mc has seen about a gun ; 2ndly, me me has seen W'" ; 3rdly, mc has been to my lawyer's ; 4thly, me has been to my hatter ; 5thly, me has been to 4 shops about the plate we want ; Gthly, mo has written four notes to servants ; Tthly, me has looked over all my things with my last servant ; Sthly, me has seen after a pony gig ; 9thly, me has seen about our carriage ; lOthly, mc has seen after de bedstead ; and now me is Avaiting for Henry to come and dine at Brooks's from whence mo sends this epistle. Me has been very unwell all day, but oo has heard my complaints so often that oo has grown tolerably indifferent to them, but never mind. Will oo let mc know who Sir J.'s lawyer is, that mine may see him ? Has oo found my ring ? De reason me did not like oo to go with Lady Doyle was this : me thought she asked oo because she wanted de horses, and me was too indignant at the idea of 00 going anywhere, where oo presence was not the sole inducement for asking. If oo walks to de next door to see anybody but Puppy, all de whole street should go on their knees to thank oo. Past 8, and Henry not come ! Well, off goes this, and de man sail ask for an answer. Mind oo says how oo is, and mind oo tells me if oo is not going with Mrs. Doyle, which me hopes oo is. God bless oo darling, Oo own Pupps. Lord Lyttoris Letters. 303 CCV. [Offer of Seat in House of Commons for £2,500— Very cheap.] My Dearest Poodle, And Darlingest Kose, — Thank oo for 00 note, which ''gave me great pleasure" as our friend Col. Montagu w^ say. I enclose the letter to your Mother, •which I don't like at all ; it is too stiff, but it really was a difficult enterprise. Send it back if there is anything me can alter for the better. Me does not know about the kennel yet, for the diffi- culty is the terms. Oh, Poodling ! yesterday me had an offer of coming into the House for £2,500 — a very small sum indeed, but me refused it without a sigh. If me does take the house, me shall only wait in Town to get servant, etc., as Elanor plagues me to death. Oo will tJien fix the day 00 likes, and me'll come up the day before. Me will endeavour to come to oo before 4, if possible, i. e., directly Mr. Kay leaves me. Adieu, my dearest girl, Oo owK Puppy. CCVI. To Miss Wheeler. [Presents. — The dignitary. — The license. — The carriage.] My Own Darling Angel,— It was too kind in oo to make me such a bootiful present ; me thinks it one of de very prettiest things me ever saw. Zoo is such a love for it, and yet oo is a very naughty Poodle, for oo knov/s oo cannot afford to buy all dose tilings for Puppy, and it's all very fine in oo, Mrs. Poodle, lecturing Puppy upon his extravagance, when oo is so expensive ooself. Fie, Poodle ! 304 Lord Lyttoiis Letters. fie ! Zoo darling ! 2,000,000 \kisses\. Ah ! my candle ia going out, for me writes dis in de evening, as me starts so early in de morning. Oh ! me almost forgot to say, that me had trotted off to L^ Ranelagh's place ; me got there by dusk, knocked up the servant, and saw the house, which is a very poor thing indeed, so that me feels quite reconciled to Woodcot House, near Nettlebed, Oxfordshire. There, Mrs. Poodle, what docs 00 say to that ? Does 00 understand mind 00 goes to Frank's to-morrow, for which me sends 00 my moonbeam chain as a present, with a strict injunction to catch all de pretty Butterflies 00 can with it ; and mind 00 tells Frank how much 00 has taught me to admire and like him, and how me regrets my unfortunate coldness of manner, and how me hojies he will come often to Oxfordshire to shoot, and how, next year, me will make de fairies stock one wood with jiheasants, and keep it exclusively ^x his use. And mind 00 learns about board wages, and get a Dignitary to marry us, and ask about a license, concerning the rights of which me is quite ignor- ant, with all other matters of equal importance. Mind 00 sleeps well, my prettiest, and mind 00 has now nothing to fret about. Good-bye for the present ; me will finish this to-morrow — me is ill and feels very unwell, but hopes the journey will remove it. The carriage is come. Well, my own darling, me must Avish 00 good-bye ! Let me know in 00 letter who Frank means to ask ; if he can ask a few good people. I shd par- ticularly like it — if not, then, for God's sake, don't let him nsk Second-rate people, unless they are great friends. Find out how long it requires to get a license — and whom one gets it of. God bless and preserve 00, my own darling love. Oo owx, OWN Pups. Who will wash in 00 basin and ewer all his life, zoo prettiest cf Fairies ! * Lord Lyttons Letters. 305 I have told Felton, the coachmuker, to call on you to-day, if we don't send for him (he lives in Long Acre), as I think he is mistaken your orders about the lining. CCVII. To Miss Wheeler. [More purchases. — Campbell.] My Own Naughty Darling, — Zoo should not have bought does things — Wc have candlesticks in de house, and all manner of Toys, and me has ordered a basin and ewer. However, if 00 will spend 00 money foolishly, 00 must. Me has seen 1A.\\ Dreddle's letter, darling, and sent a coiDy of its purport to Mr. Loaden. Zoo has done quite well about de supporters, and zoo is a dear nice good naughty little dog altogether. Me is now going to dress for Mr. Campbell. Oh, Poodle, me will send 00 de linnen to-morrow to look over, at 12. There are some tablecloths second-hand, of foreign damask ; they dont seem to me good, but I am not the best judge. Finding myself very sulky this morning, I curled down ray tail and set out to Mr. Colburn, to vent it on him. Zoo has no idea how me frightened him ! After that, me went to several places, and trotted after my half-pay, but was too late for de magistrates. Me has had a long letter from W™, who has been dowu to Warfield, near Woodcot, but does not like it (Warfield). Zoo servant waits, audit's time me sh*^ go to Mr. Camp- bell's. God bless 00, my doll, my pup, my rose, my jewel, my plate, my wife ! God bless 00 ! Pup Rex. 20 3o6 Lord Lyttons Letters. CCVIII. To Miss Wheeler. [Her weeping and seeing ghosts.] My Own Darling, — Me was not offended with oo, but me was very, yery ill, and perhaps me thought oo cared very little about it. I myself think that Ily had better see Frank, to thank him for what he had done. Oo is a naughty little Poodle for crying and seeing ghosts and otherwise teasing ooself ; and me will, and must, call on 00 in the course of the afternoon — perhaps by 3 or 4 you may have returned from Mrs. Roberts; but mine oo docs not come home one minute sooner than oo otherwise w*^, as me does not deserve to sec oo, if me has been so unhappy as to vex oo. God bless you, my dear darling, kind, generous love ; me looks forward Avith a transport that conquers all uneasi- ness, pain or anxiety on minor points, to the day that will give me such a treasure. 2,000,000 {hisses.'X Pups. Leave word that, if Hagley calls at 2 as he said, ho leaves the plates, and the price on a piece of paper. CCIX. [The Doyle pillar.] My Own Darling And Angel Poodle, My Sweet And Beautiful Love, — I am so glad that you are better. I am so tired and worried and bored, that I should make a very dull corespondent. I am not, therefore, unwilling to avail myself of oo permission not to write at any length. Me shall see oo to-morrow. Ah ! me's so happy ! Me's so very much obliged for the Doyle pillar, which me thinks Lord Lyttons Letters. 307 very pretty. God bless 00, my angel, and keep 00 well and happy. Puppy. ccx. , To Miss Wheeler. \ [The carriage.] Mv Dearest Rose, — you must forgive me if I was pee- vish — I am so very muoii worried. Believe me, my ownest Rosey, that I do not wrong your many and great excellen- cies — I only err when I expect from you things which naturally enough do not even suggest themselves to you. I have been down to FeUon's, and desired him to put no Mantle (as you wished not to have one) to the arms. You will have the carriage in time. I only write this line, to beg you to paidon me. I shall stay at home all the evening and write. Good-bye, my Poodle ; God bless you. Puppy. CCXI. To Miss Wheeler. [Settlements out of the question.] I am truly grieved at your uncle's want of confidence. He must place it in me, or I know not what can be done. Even your own fortune, such as it is, it W'l be so much for our Mutual advantage to mortgage, or sell, that I think is scarcely advisable to make it a settlement, your Uncle must see that where the wife brings nothing, settlements are out of the question ; in tlie present case they are per- fectly impossible. If I could ruin myself any further I would with pleasure, but I literally cannot. Surely you, or your uncle might trust me ! In the meanwhile, keep up your spirits, and believe that I will do everything in my 3o8 Lord Lyttoiis Letters. power to make you liappy. Many thanks, my dearest Eose, for y'' trouble about the books. Ever y"^ own, own Puppy. I will let you know in the morning if I can meet you, which will depend on my cough, which I think is rather better. Pray take all possible care of y' self. CCXII. [Confidence in his provision for the present and future] My Dearest Love And Poodle, — I fear I may have been unjust to you in the hurried note I sent you — the truth is I was both hurt and angry at what after all was very excusable in your uncle ; and my reason for vexiition is chiefly because I do not well see how to meet his wishes, or how to obviate the very unexjiected obstacle that has started up. I am sure, my own Poodle, that you will have suffic- ient confidence in me to know that I will not leave you destitute, and that whatever is in my power, either here or hereafter, shall be affected, in order to satisfy my sense of my own un worthiness of you and of your merit. If I am at all better, I will meet you to-morrow, and you must forgive me if the vexation and disappointments of the moment made me petulant and unjust. I could not rest till I had written this line to you. Pray take care of yourself ; keep up your spirits ; give me one line to say how you are, and believe me, Y"" most affectionate doating and devoted Puppy. Lord Lytlons Letters. 309 CCXIII. [Her letter satisfactory. — Send it to bis Mother.] My Dearest Eose,— Notliing can be more satisfactory tlum your letter, and Mr. Loaden's, which I have just roc'i, and \i^ I will shew you when I call. I shall send them both to my Mother to-day. I called yesterday on Mr. Lewis ; he was not at home. I left a note saying w should be glad of his evidence. Good-bye ! God bless you ! The lawyers are with me. Edward. COXIV. To Miss Rose Wheeler, 40, Somerset Street. [More purchases. — A cook. — Letter to his Mother.] My Dearest, Darlingest, Bootifulest, Cleverest Eose, — Me never saw such darling things as 00 has bought, nor such cheap ones. My own dear love, 00 is too great a jew-el, and as hard to have anything to do with as a dia- mond. Dcy are so very, very, very bootiful, that they are quite lit to come as a present from 00. Me will call on 00 to-day, after me has finished " Puck," seen after a cook, called on W"^, and written an answer to a long letter from my mother. Me does not know what time it will be, bnt me will make it as early as possible. Yes, love, do send me a man to pack up de China. Good-bye, my darling [niarlcs of kisses], God bkss 00. Pups. 3IO Lord Lyttoiis Letters, ccxv. [Domestic preparations.] Thank oo, my own angel Poodle, for oo darling and kind letter. Me is up and going to prepare for the fatigues of the day. My own dear dear dear dear dear love, zoo is too kind and good to oo own naughty ru])py, who is always vexing and teasing oo. Never mind about the future, darling. At least we can have one year's hap- piness, and, if me can but be lucky in writing, me have every chance of being even affluent. Meanwhile, nothing on earth is comparable to you and your love. God bless 00, my sweet Poodle, for loving me — but indeed oo ought^ for me doats on oo to folly. Me will be sure to have my best frock on to-morrow, and look nice and clean. Oh, Rose ! how very, very unfortunate — you mistook the ques- tion 00 were to ask the postman ; you were to have asked if there was a mail to Limerick through Bristol, not if there was one to Bristol, and now I find my letter will stay there till Wednesday next, till the steam vessel goes. I am so vexed, ;ind tiiere is not time now to write another letter. Me will send oo de linen to-day or to-morrow morning. Zoo must see about de tea, only lib of each, and lib of coffee, wb must be put in a tin. Ah, Rose, my own dear love, me must now enter into an existence quite different from that me has, with oo. Good-bye, my love, zoo own fond faithful doating devoted adoring PcrPY. Lord Lyttons Letters, 311 CCXVI. To Miss Wheeler. [Last before marriage.] You are an angel, my Rose ! but I will cull upon you at one, and tell you what you arc. I feel your consideration as it deserves ; there can bo but one answer to it — and that you must let me whisper to you on the 29''^.* No, Rose, darling, there is no necessity for a delay. God bless you, my good and kind and generous love. Your own ownest Pups. * Endorsed by Lady Lytton :— " On that fatal Thursday, 29th of August, 1837, I was married to this man at St. James's Church, Pic- cadilly, Loudon, by the Honb'e and Revnd William Bentinck and inarrtd, as the Irish pronounce it, for the rest of my life. " August 20th, 1851. R. B. Lytton." Letter of Sir Francis Doyle to Miss Wheeler. [Mr. F. H. Doyle's letter about time of wedding.] " 10, Montague Squre, Monday, 26tii August, 1827. " My Dear Rosina, — I saw Mr. Bentinck this morning. He will be ready at }.^ past 11 o'clock at St. James' on Wednesday next. An ordinary license is sufficient, without publication of banns, where one of the parties to be married has resided within the Parish for a month. If you preferred 9 o'clock, he would equally be at yr ser- vice at that hour. " I remain ever very alfectly ys, " F. H. Doyle." MARRIAGE. On Thursday, the 29th August, at St. James' Church, Piccadilly, Edward George Eurle Lytton Bulwer, Esq., was married to Rosina Anne Doyle Wheeler, by the Hon. and Rev. William Bentinck. After the breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Bulwer sot off for Woodcot, near Nettlebed, Oxfordshire. Bosina Anne Doyle Wheeler was the only surviving child of the 312 Lord Lyttons Letters. CCXVII. To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Woodcot House, Nettlebed, Oxon, [Domestic subjects.] October 2Uh, 1827. My Dearest Poodle, — I have just rec*^ your letter. In the first place, you may imagine my vexation at finding that my mother was at Worthing, and will remain there for some time ; the chief object of my journey here being thus frustrated, I shall lose no time in returning, and directly I have settled about my horses you may expect me home. I fear this will not be before Sunday or Monday. In the second place I have seen the cook. I asked her what she ought to have in the house way ; she said 3 pints of milk a day, half a pound of butter a week for each ser- vant, and each servant to have a loaf a week. I insisted very much on economy, w^ slie agreed to con amore. She is evidently an old-fashioned second-rate cook, but she agrees to take lessons. Now then, your opinion ! If Mrs. Dorden will bo nearly as saving as this, let us keep her ; if not, suppose you read her this estimate — ask her if she can agree to it, but add that tue must \\Q.ve positive and not prow t>\st, 1827. My Dearest Poodle, — On second thoughts, the best plan will be as follows. Send for Evans privately. Tell hitn how deeply mortified I am at the circumstance say that Mr. Villiers is resolved to prosecute the enquiry to the utmost, and that he suspects Mrs. Fowler, that in con- sequence of this it must be as satisfactory to all the servants as to us to have their boxes examined, and that I wish to have this search a general one, because in case Mrs. Fowler is innocent I should not wish to cast reproach only upon her. After this, tell him not to mention the circumstance to Mrs. Fowler, but to go for the constable quietly and secretly — then have in the servants, one by one — mention the affair quietly and see into all their boxes, Mrs. Fowler's of course more espesially and minutely. You will mention that I am so concerned for the honour of the House, that lam determined, in conjunction with Mr. Villiers, to bring the affair to Bow Street. Your darling ever, \ E. L. B. You had better read the greater part of tiie above. Be sure that he does not mention the circumstance to Mrs. 32 2 Lord Lyttons Letters. Fowler, and that the whole affair is done as civilly as pos- sible. I shall certainly arrest Warren if you do find out nothing at home CCXXVI. To Mks. L. Bulwek, Woodcot, near Nettlebed, Oxon. [The same. — Seat in Parliament. — Place in the Palace. — Leigh Hunt's Character of Lord Byron.] Jan. 2nd, 1828. My Dearest And Darlingest And Poorest of Poodle Dogs, — Me is so very very sorry that oo went out after the constable and got wet and has now got a cold. Poor dar- ling darling love ! and to have had so much trouble with those nasty servants. Pray, pray, for oo own PujDpy's sake, take all po-sible care of oosclf, and write to me and tell me exactly how oo is. Tell the servants that I am very sorry at that search, that I do not and did not suspect or at least accuse any of them, but that I thought it due to Mr. Villiers and also satisfactory to their feelings, to have due search made. You will mention this to all the servants and especially to Evans. I will have Villiers' servant examined as well as Warren. What seems most singular — and you may mention this to Evans — is, first, that the portmanteau never left Mr. Villiers for a moment till he arrived in London ; and secondly, that it was then unpacked before two witnesses, which two facts seem to be positive evidence that the loss could not have taken place after his departure. But enough of this now. Let me tell my own dear love of all I have done. Firstly, I have written for the character of a very prejoossesiing gardener. Secondly, I think of engaging a very creditable man who lived with L^ Exeter. Ju reste, I am still without any others — "Tyrannical Lord Lyttons Letters. 323 Masters " as Heathcote no less justly than bitterly called servants. I have been making active and zealous enquiries about a seat in Parliament. Having convinced myself that the thing is hopeless at present, even for any money, I have been this morning in treaty for that place in the Palace. I think it very possible that we may come to terms. I find it is a post of great honour and pretty sure of procuring a title — Hear that Lady Puppy. Leigh Hunt is writing Lord Byron's life. Extracts have appeared already. It is very severe, but very true ; and I take credit for having so com- pletely penetrated the character of your once *' Idol. He is represented as a coxcomb and a bit of a coward, very unamiable, very mean, very tyrannical, and in most mat- tors very ignorant. I have read " Herbert Lacy " by Mr. Lister ; it is what may be termed neat or even elegant mediocrity ; but it is no rival for " Pelham " " Herbert Melton " since published with a second name of ** Almack's Revisited,^' is wretched stuff, written by a man rather clever, but very ignorant, very canting, and very vulgar. I have written to Colburn, who has promised to send me part of my book during my stay in Town. I am very glad to hear 00 likes Miss Landon ! so do I very truly. Thank her a thousand times for her brother's remembrance, which wo must not accept. She must have many people to send game to, and we have none at present. Send me word of Mr. Bolton Massy's direction in your next, I have been scribbling on, upon all matters, in order to entertain 00. My poor dear dear dear love, 00 knows that me means it kindly, for 00 knows how me hates writing. God bless 00, my darling, my good dear dear Rose, 00 own Pups. I have bought the prettiest Dinner Service you ever saw ; Berlin China with our Initials L. B., and got £26 for the Dresden dishes in exchange. 324 Lord Lyttons Letters. CCXXVII. To Mks. L. Bulwer, Woodcot, near Nettlebed, Oxon. [Villiers.] Thomson's, Thursday, Jany. 3^^ 1828. My Dearest And Darlingest Love, — I could not write to 00 the other day, for I have had so much to do, and 00 must not expect that 00 can hear from me every day. In the first place, we have had Villiers' servant's things exam- ined, but in vain, Warren only remains. There is nothing to criminate Grodliffe. Ask Evans the following ques- tions : — Was Warren up the morning of Mr. Vs.' depart- ure ? 2nd, Was the portmanteau left open in the hall in the presence of the postboy so that the postboy could have stolen the shoes ? I wrote to W asking him to go and assist 00. Pray don't vex ooself about things. All is going on famously. I have got a very nice butler who lived with Lord Exeter, also a very good sort of gardener ; but cannot as yet find the others. I have got the two first volumes of *' Pelham," and have very little to correct. Moreover, I am to see about that place on Saturday morning. I cannot say when I shall return, but hope on Saturday. Pray make diligent enquiry about my sword with rcspe3t to the postman, 00 must remember, darling, that when we thought him wrong before, it was not the case ; perhaps some of the servants may have had the letters ; lid. was owing to him when I left. Good-bye, darling and dearest, when me comes back all shall go well, for me v/ill have none but very good dogs in the kennel. Meanwhile don't vex ooself, but let all things Lord Lyttons Letters. 325 go on well or ill, no matter for' a day or two. Best regards to Miss Landon, for whom I sh'^ be very glad if I could execute any commission. You OWN OWN Pups. COXXVIII. To Mrs. L. Bulwer, Woodcot, near Nettlebed, Oxon. [Villiers. — Leigh Hunt and Lord Byron.— Domestic] Jany. 5t^ 1828. My Dearest And Poodliest, — Villiers' things are found. We went to-day with a Bow St. officer to Warren, and looked over his things — nothing appeared. I then ques- tioned Warren as to wliat part of the portmanteau the things missing were put in, and found that they were all placed in a certain part called '^ secret" which Villiers never knew of ; but which Wan-en knew. On this Ave returned to Vs.' and in that '•'secret" which Vs.' servant, like his master, never know of, the things were discovered ! My mother's letter is in answer to my last, and is rather meant to vindicate herself from harshness than anything else. However, she is evidently coming round, and I have w/itten her a very long and kind letter, likely to facilitate our I'econciliation. Nothing further about the Place. I have now chosen a very nice gardener, whose wife is to undertake the poultiy and milking the cow; a good respectable housemaid and a boy, her brother, who is to be groom, and a butler. The cook only remains. I have put another advertisement in the paper. I hope to return Tuesday, not before. The gardener and his wife come on Wednesday. As they are very nice people, whom I should like to attach to us, I have promised to lend them a bed 326 Lord Lyttons Letters. and any other little articles of furniture we can. "Will you see, therefore, that a bed is moved there, and a table and 2 chairs and anything else serviceable vo them. See that they have a fire in their house on Wednesday, and send some supper and beer there. I prefer that to their sup- ping at our house and being contaminated by our servants. See them yourself, darling, and speak kindly to them, would CO like to speak to Ann about leaving — or, as it would bore 00, perhaps wait till me comes — do as 00 please, it docs not matter. Leigh Hunt does not speak uujustly of Byrou nor abuao him, as far as the extracts go. He seems to treat him with t!ie greatest impartiality. Me is so sorry to hoar 00 has sucli a cold. Do take the greatest care of 00 poor darling self and believe in the unceasing love and devotion of 00 own own PurPT. CCXXIX. [Offer for the "Piilace."] Dearest And Darlingest, — Me has nothing to tell 00 and me is much ]iressed for time. However me knows 00 wish to hear from me, and there- fore write. Me fears it will be some days yet before me can come owing to these servants ! Send me as me told 00, Mr. Massy's address. Oo OWN Pups. Warren's trial put off till to-morrow. Me sail hear about the " Palace " to-morrow — me has offered £14,000 ! ! ! Tell Evans that tho' I gave him with my own hand my pomatum and my tooth powder he never put them up. He also forgot my shaving brush. Lord Lyttons Letters. 327 coxxx. To Mrs. L. Bulwer, Wooclcot, near Nettlebed, Oxon. ["Pelham." — Visit to St. Giles' with Villiers and a Bow Street officer.] Jan'y 7^*. 1828. Darlingest And Dearest, — Me is very very sorry to hear 00 is so ill. Me wishes 00 would send for medical advice. Do, my own poor dear poodle ! Me will loso no time in hasting to 00 ; but it would be useless and indeed a cruel kindness to do so till we are settled with these servants. I, too, have been very ill. I though yesterday night I should have died, the pain in my heart was so acute, but I am better now — indeed, quite restored. I have this day taken the first Vol. of ''Pelham " back to Colburn. Saw Forbes — civil and obsequious us usual, but evidently think very little of *' Pelham.'^ Evans did not put up my shaving brush. I shall ride down when I return on my little mare, which will be in Town to-night. I have been seeing after a maid for you and have seen two — very likely — one very respectable indeed, has been 4 or 5 years with a dressmaker, understands dressing hair, washing fine linen, etc., etc., very humble and civil and wilhng, very young and never been in service ; the other older, about 28, been in service, understands dressmaking, etc., but not so well as the other, will oflnciate as house- keeper, and tho' willing to be useful, is rather more fine ladyish and less prepossessing than the other. Let me know which you prefer ; one or the other you must have. I am going to-night to write to Bolton Massy, and am afterwards going among the thieves and magsraen and 328 Lord Lyttons Letters. ''prigs "of St. Giles." They will furnish a scene in my next novel. Villiers is going, as well as a Bow St. ofi&cer ; so we are quite safe. God bless 00, my Poodle. Oo OWN Puppy. I hope you make the little boy keep to the hour I had effected before I left, viz. eleven. Is William about the huuse now ? He ouffht not to be. CCXXXI. To Mks. L. Bulwee, "Woodcot, near Nettlebed, Oxon. [Domestic. — Change of Ministry — the place and chance of Baronetcy gone. — Lady Caroline.] Jany. 10lst, 1828. My Dearest, Dearest, Darling Poodle, — It is very late and I have only time to write a line. Will 00 ask Trow- bridge to give me a medical certificate stating that I am in the enjoyment of good health, in order to send to the war office, and then forward it to me as I know no Dr. in Town? I will write at length to-morrow. In the greatest haste, 00 own Pups. CCLIV. To Mrs. Bulaver, Weymouth, [Interview with Mrs. Wheeler.] Jauv 1st, 1829. My Dearest, Darlingest Poodle, — As usual, I am much pressed for time, and propose, if I can get a place in the mail, going to Reading to-night. In the first place Emily is safely delivered of a boy. They won't let me see it, but W^ says it has a very high nose. After congratulating W™, I went to your uncle, and with him repaired to your mother who had fixed to see me at at 3^ past 2. I think she is looking tolerably well. She was desperately wise and affected, but has asked me to meet a Mr. Skene on Simday Evens ; on that day I am to dine with your Uncle. 1 like her less this time than I did at first. This morning I decided on a cook. I like her much. Siie lived with a 354 Lord Lyttons Letters, family I know — where they give many dinners. I am to write for her character to-night. Oo parcel come safe this morning. Many thanks for it oo darling, and oo pretty candles, and oo perfume. I am glad to hear so good an account of the child, but a little dismayed by the repeated attacks on the house. I \\nght Mrs. Van a plain gold thimble ; me will tell 00 about de £42 when we meet. I fear I cannot go to the Vans, but, will if possible. I am to get frocks before I leave, but could not send them tbe books. Henry set off at 12 last night for three weeks ; before he went he received a most uncivil letter from Ainsworth. Me has bought a great pot of French mustard; and now mind that 00 buys all 00 collars, 00 gloves, and satin shoes, if the latter fit you. It will save' me an immense deal of money, for if I find that 00 does not have them when me sees 00, me gives 00 my honor, me will immediately write to Town for them ! Me is so sorry me forgot to send the shawl with the books, me has had it cleaned, and it would have kept 00 warm ! my own jioor darling, me is so sorry me forgot it, my dearest, dearest love, I cannot tell you how much I reproach myself for letting 00 write me such long letters. I am sure it has hurt 00 eyes ! Me sail be so angry with myself if 00 is not looking well. Be sure you tell Harris to look well over the carriage, and see that the wheeles and springs are safe, and let him have all de trouble of paying for 00, and do, do, do take all imaginable care of 00 darling, darling self till me sees and kisses 00 again ! Pups. Me cannot write to 00 agrin. Oo ought to set off by 8 o'clk. at latest on Tuesday. 200 [^tnarks of kisses]. In the Literary Gazette of to-day they quote me, and say " The admirable author of the ' Disowned." Pray say all that's grateful from me to de Brownes if thev have been kind to 00. 370 Lord Lyttons Letters. COLXVI. To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Woodcot House, Nettlebed, Oxon. [First letter from D'lsraeli.] Febxj. 21s f, 1829. My De.irest And Darlmgest Poodle, — I arrived in Town safe but exceed ingly tired about H past 8 o'clock. I stopped at the Atlionteum, and sent on the porter with my horse to the Craven Hotel, where I procured a bed. At the Athe- naeum I found a parcel, opened it, and discovered a volume of my juvenile poems with a most curious note by D'lsraeli, Author of " Vivian Grey," saying tliat he had picked the book up at a sale of the late Dr. Parr's, and thought I might like to have it. I sent a very civil note in answer, and will keeyt his letter as a curiosity. The next dav I spent in seeing about servants, and have heard of 3 or 4 highly recommended whom I am to see on Wednesday, on my return from Knebworth, where I shall go to-morrow morning. Hastings and Silvia encountered me, they asked after you very kindly. I was then upon my road to William's, who was looking very unwell. He says the whole house have been suffering, and mentioned that Mrs. Sarah was quietly drinking tea the other evening with Mrs. Rickman. Nice gossips they must have had ! ! This morning I went to Storr and praised up his thimble. He had a beautiful second-hand gilt toilet, which I think of buying for £50. This morning came your two darling letters. I am most uneasy at hearing of oo cold, oo poor darling ! pray wrap up and don't go out on any account. I am afraid it is owing to oo running after me in oo carpet shoes. Pray say exactly how oo is in oo next, which oo will direct to the Athenaeum, as I shall certainly be in Town on Tuesday evening. Be sure and take all care of •Lord Lyttons Letters. 371 ooself. I fear it will be more difl&cult than I thought to get rid of the B^ I saw Word to-day. However I shall do it. I have seen two very nice houses in Albemarle St., one belongs to your friend Mr. Bennet of Wiltshire. Both to be sold or let very cheap. There is a reviev/ of the *' Dis- owned" and " Pelham " in the 8un newspajDer — very panegyrical — and a paragraph in the Literary Gazette, and in that part devoted to French correspondence, says " Mr. Bulwer's new work tlic 'Disowned' i^; announced here. The announcement does not laud it as a novel so highly as "Pelham," but says, ^ 'pour V homme qui cherche des idees profundes et des observations justes ' it would have the deepest interest." Very French ! Good-bye my own, own darling. God ever love, bless, and keep 00. Oo owjsr Pup. I saw Emily this morning ; she is looking very well, and. enquired very tenderly after you. I am to see the child this evening, for I dine there on beefsteaks. CCLXVII. To Mrs. Bulwer, Woodcot House. [His Mother's Kindness.] Fehy. 2Uh, 1829. My Dearest Poodle, My Ownest, And Darlingest Love, — I am this moment returned from Knebworth. My Mother was ezceedinglij kind, much as I ever remember her — was also (which I valued much more) very kind about 00, and what you will value not less perhaps about our child. You have no conception how ducedly cold it is ; I can scarcely hold the pen, my hand is so numbed. Pray my own dearest Love, never mind about the hay, there is plenty of time for that. 2)"] 2 Lord Lyttons Letters. Nothing can be better than the Clan. Pray say how Mrs. Shaw goes on and if you have any- thing to complain of in her. I know of a good Cook. Miss Spence was at a party at my Mother's the other night. Me can write to-morrow, but w'^ write this line to tell oo how me loves oo. Pups. CCLXVIII. To Mks. E. L. Bulwer, Woodcot House, Nettlebed, Oxon. [His visit to Knebworth.] Fehv. 2Uh, 1829. My Dearest Poodle, — After a very severe ride thro' the wet I arrived at Knebwcrth. *'Pet" seemed to know where she was going and carried me with great spirit ! My Mother was looking very well, and received me very cordially; I dined off rabbit and beefsteaks, that having been the dinner she pix'ordered, and spent the evening in conversation with ray Mother. She was extremely kind as I s;iid before, and I really think it will be my own fault if she is not soon qnite reconciled to me. You, my own dearest love, whom to see is to idolize, must do all I have left undone ! Knebworth is really a superb place, I bad no idea it was what it is ! One must see other places to judge. I spent the next day in walking over the old scenes which gave me many pleasant and some melancholy feel- ings. Nor did I forget the farm-yard, where I made enquiries that satisfy me about Mead, and make me more pleased with him than I have been. My Mother has a new maid who was making her a new pelisse of the same colour as oo own, only without the vel- vet. I spent the night looking over old letters and destroy- Lord Lytto}is Letters. 2,1 2> ing a great heap, among others poor Lady C.'s. My Mother went in the carriage witli me, as far as Welwyn, or rather Brocket, and from thence I rode to Town which I reached on purpose for the post, and the' so cold I conld scarcely hold the i)en, I wrote yon a few lines. I found your dear letter, which I had anxiously ex[)ected. A singular letter of Mi-s. McKenzie. I fear I must put it into a Novel, it is so well adapted to it. This moment I saw two men servants, one a Welshman, and the other most highly recommended but so dreadfully grave that he quite looked me into stone. I hope 1 may do better than either if I wait long enough. Storr showed me all the toilet, which is really magnificent — there is a basin and ewer, but of gilt metal, not silver gilt like the rest. The price asked is 70 guineas — viz., when my arms are engraved, etc. It belonged to Captain O'Neil and was celebrated for its splendour ; it cost him £300. I should like very much to have it, but it is too dear; I olfered them £60, which they would not take. I am truly unhappy to hear so bad nn account of your eyes. Pray my own dear, dear Love, don't walk too much ; never mind about the hay, for I can sell it when I leave as well as now, and there is no hurry. My Mother said she would give me some more money in May, and I am quite sure she will help me in furnish- ing a house, tho' now I am in London I feel as if I should like Twickenham better ! "The human mind," etc. I have a favor to ask of you, darling, which is not to speak unkindly of William, for I am too apt to chime in with you at the moment, and i-eproach myself very much for it aitei'wards, and you may be sure my own Queen Bee th.it any slight to you I should be too ready to resent. I know I need not speak more on the subject. And now, God love, keep, and bless oo. Don't write long letters to me — a line at a time will do, 374 Loj^d Lyttons Letters. and it makes me quite miserable wheu I think of your e3^es ! You may be sure that our interests are well cared for at Knebworth, for I have left them in the care of a new treasure my Mother has obtained — viz. an enormous brown Poodle ! Once more, God bless oo, oo own, own Pups. Kiss our child for me. How does the Nurse go on ? — also the Housemaid ? COLXIX. To Mks. Bulwer, Woodcot House, Nettlebed, Oxon. [Sale of Lizzard Cornnell Propert}'.] Feby -mil, 1829. My Own Dearest, Darling Love And Dearest Poodle, — Your two letters were safely received this morning, and comforted me for the miserable state of the weather and my mortification in not yet finding a footman. I have seen about 12 or 14, and none that will do. Some such fine Gen- tlemen — others such disre[)u table roughs, and I am resolved not to decide too hastily. I fear I shall be kept here till Mimday or Tuesday at least. However I need not say I will get away as soon as I can, for I am tired jusque a la mo7'i of this place. I am most happy to hear so good an account of the servants. What a pity that Harris goes ! This morning after my audience of servants was over, I took a coach, and went to Hoare's ; thence I gave orders for repaying W'", thence I proceeded to Page and left a draft for him, thence to Loaden who has promised to do all he can about Lizzard Oonnell. The v/eather then being so dreadfully wet that I could do nothing else, I have come here to dine, and shall spend the evening in setting more tradesmen to work. Did I tell you my Mother has met Sir John Milly Doyle at Lady Dudley's and that slie did not much like him ? I Lord Ly lions Letters. 375 fancy she played at cards with him. Yes ! Miss Spence did go to a party at my Mother's but hud no conversation with her — more on that when we meet — tho' I have no news. You have no conception how griovously I am bored about these servants, but out of so many as daily call, I must And one I like soon or the devil is indeed in it ! I bave sent Colburn nearly all the first volume of the " Disowned " for the Press, but have not written a line in **Dcvereux/' Think of a motto fur mo. My Mother drove Emily out in the carriage one day, and seems to like her pretty well, buL persists in saying she is not handsome ; she thinks their cbild positively ugly. It is not that, but it is very grave and has at least the i)rettiest little hands in the world ! No news here at present. I am much the same as usual. Pray, pray, pray, my own dearest, dearest love, spare your eyes ! I went to-day, after leaving Loaden, to Alexander about them, but he was out. I am to see him I hope to-morrow. But at all events don't write me long letters, for God's sake don't, and pray my own love have "Terror "and "Lady" in the bedroom every night as a guard to you. Would not you like to have a bed made up near you for Mary ? I do long to be back with you, my own darling. Ever oo own, own, own Pups. Kiss the cliild for me and find a name to call her by. CCLXX. To Mrs. Buxvter, Woodcot, Nettlebed, Oxon. [CLild's illness and nursing.] 28th Feby., 1839. My Own Poor Dear Dear Dear Love, — I am so very unhappy to hear so bad an account of you, and so wretched that you should have set up with the poor little child, when 376 Lord Lyttnns Letters. sitting np always fatigues you so. Mine ownest, for Grod's sake let the Dr. sit up, whether it is necessary or not, inas- much IS it will relieve your mind and yourself. I will make all possible haste back to you, and expect it fully on Tuesday, but you will hear from me on that day. I had taken Henry's servant, but I heard to-day that he was always drui.k, and I shall therefore take another, whom I don't fancy much, but who seems respectable. I saw Thornbury to-day, who preached all the time — literally preached in a pulpit voice. My mother has just come to Town, and I shall go to her this evening. For God's sake, my own angel love, take care of yourself, and let nothing vex you, and pray sleep and take plenty of wine, and pray, pray let me see you quite, quite well when I come. I do assure you, my dearest wife, that the greatest pleasure I feel in being reconciled to my Mother is looking forward to the hour when she Avill admiie and love 00, as me does. I hope earnestly tliat our child is much better, and am, tho' very vn'etched and uneasy about 00, more than ever 00 dear. Pups. I saw your Uncle's carriage, and asked Waugh about him, who said he was better. 1 shall call to-morrow. For my sake don't fret, and take care of yourself. 200,000 [mar^5 of kisses^. CCLXXI. To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Woodcot House, Nettlebed, Oxfordshire. [Elis diiugliter's illness. — Miss Landon's poem on Mrs. Norton.] March 2nd, 1829. My Own Dearest And Darlingcst Poodle, — Oo is very naughty to think me was angry with 00, which me assures 00 me was not — nor even dreamt of being Lord Lyttons Letters, 2)11 so, me does also say that, the' me is now and then angry without cause when me is with you, yet me is never angry without cause when me is away. And it is not quite fair or just in oo to think I was angry at your tending your child when it required it. I was only anxious for your sak'(> that you should not make yourself ill. Yesterday I dined with William, pievious to which I clled on your Uncle, who looked very well. lie asked most kindly after you, and promised to come and see us in IMay. I told him I was going to call on your Mother ; but he informed me it was needless, as he had written her the night before, to know if she would see me, and she said she was too unwell at present. However us I met your favourite Mr. Skeen afterwards, and he told me he had been with her all the morning and that she was very well, 00 has notliiug to be uneasy about. My own dear dear dear love, don't think I could object to having your Mother at Woodcot. It was only for your sake and from what Miss Greene said that I objected to it in any way, and I fully ajipreciate your own generous nature in wish- ing her to come. William and Emily are as usual. She said she had heard fiom you. Oo cannot see my toilet, darling, for it will take C v.eeks \o furbish up, etc. This morning I rose early and enquired the character of a servant, which answers very well ; so that, unless the day is very cold or wet, you may expect me to-morrow at 6 o'c. I shall leave my horse half-way, and come on in post-chaise. If I don't come to-morrow, I shall certainly the next day ; but I think to-morrow most likely. At 3 o'clock I went to Alexander, with whom I had a long talk. He says it is certainly an affection of the optic nerve, that you will recover it, but that the only thing to relieve and cure you is leeches, once a week over the eye- brow ; he will answer for its removing all the pain, if it 2,7^ Lord Lyttons Letters. cloos not the blindness. But more of this when we meet. He says you are certnin of recovering sooner or latter. By the way Miss Landon wrote a long poem to Mrs. Norton in the "■ Lity Gazette." And now, God bless and keep you, my own donr love, and do me the jnstiee to believe that I never wrong your fond, noble, affectionate and angel disposition, except when me is in a passion and does not know what me says or does. Oo OWN OWN Pups. Me dines with my Mother, who continues very kind, and was much vexed at the illness of the child and your anxiety. I am so reallij glad the child lias recovered ; kiss her for me. Oo has done wonders with the money. Mr and Mrs. Bulwrr left Woodcot in April, 1829 for Turiibridgc Wells. The first of his letters from London is dated 14th May, and they continue to the 30th of that month, when Mrs. Bulwei- returned to Woodcot, and sub- sequently removed to London. A son (Edward Robeit) was born on the 8th of November, 1831. They left England in the autumn of 1833, and arrived at Naples on the 17th of Noveml)er that same year. The Diary fixes 14th January, 1834, " dinner at Lord Hertford's, taken by Lady Cullum," which r.grees with dates given in the Deposition of Rosetta Benson, lady's maid to Lady Lyt- ton — to be hereafter noticed. They returned to England early in the year 1S34. CCLXXIL To Mrs. Bulwer, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. [Literaiy Fund dinner.] 14^7i May, 1829. My Dearest And Darlingest Poodle, — I was sorry to write yon so liurried a letter yesterday. I was so terribly occupied the whole day that I was unable to Lord Lyttofis Letters. 379 prevent it. I gave you, liowevcr, a notable description of the party a<: Jordan's, and I do not kno\v that there is any- thing else for mo to add. How uncomfortable ! I liear 00 say. So yesterday I went to the Lit. Fund. I had a place of honour near the Duke of Somerset. Jerdan introduced me to him. A Mr. Spottiswoode sat on one side of me, and a Mr. Edward Carrington, a good sort of a fellow, on the other. Dinner extremely bad — wines worse. But on the whole it was not disagreeable. Xo healths but public ones. I stayed till it Avas time to go to Lady Salisbury's, where I met the Gascoigues, Chester L^ G-. Percy and Silvia Doyl, with others too long to be enumerated : it was very stupid, and I did not stay above 10 minutes. And now I must tell 00 about a house ! I saw Sir W. Waller accidentally, and I think we shall have it : it contains 3 drawing-rooms, a li- brary, not large but convenient, a good dinning-room hand- some hall and staircase, baths, good offices and tolera'de bed-rooms, coach-house and six stall stables ; lease 28 years —they ask £3,000. I shall offer £2,000. It is very elegant gentlemanlike quiet house, not imposing nor poor, but about equal to the one in St. James's Place, and, if I can get it cheap, will be a treasure — not otherwise. And now, God bless, luve, and keep 00, my ownest and prettiest. Oo OWN Pups. You had better take a house only by the week, after our jiresent one is out. You will find plenty to do that, if you say it is likely you will continue, for even if I get this house, I do not vote being in Town this year. You see [ caa say nothing about coming to you, because I cannot before the day after to-morrow have the answer about the house, but Saturday or Sunday I shall certainly come. Will you tell the Nurse that a letter came to her directed to me at the Athenaeum : it was sent away. Of course you had better tell her this, as she may be looking out for the 380 Lord Lyttons Letters, letter, and tell her not to have letters directed the Athc- nasum, as they won't take my Servants' Letters in. Love to the child. God love and bless 00 ! Oo Pups again Pups. OCLXXIIL To Mrs. Bulwer, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. [Houses. — " Devereux."] May 15th, 1829. My Dearest, And Darlingest Poodle, — Me has got 00 letter ; you are right — the great objection to Sir W. Waller's bouse is being the corner of Little Stan- hope St.; it consists on the ground floor of a long hall, something like the one at Culverts, a stone staircase, a library about the size of Villiers' room at Woodcot, open- ing with folding-doors into a long dining-room; upstairs there are three drawing-rooms en suite, not very large, and requiring folding-doors and one or two slight alterations which Balls says will cost al)out £140. It is certainly a very gentlemanlike elegant house, but not large nor impos- ing. The difference between it and Nashe's is th:it the lat- ter is striking, the former unexceptionable. I have just heard of another house nearly as cheap, and I hear much finer — Lord Aboyne's in Charles St., Berkeley Square, viz. £200 a year and £3000 ; inagnihcently furnished. Now as Sir Waller's will cost in fnrniture nearly £2000, besides the i)rice I give, it comes, you see, to nearly the same sum. I saw Colburn to-day ; "Devereux" is to be out the first week in June. Lady is in disgrace, having broken some w indows. You had better not take any house but by the week. Glad you like " Camilla "; /thought it charm- ing. Page I saw also to-day ; he hopes to let Woodcot, and is going to advertize it. How I abhor that place! So I do this ! It is misery to live in Town, misery I What Lord Lyttons Letters, 381 are we to do ? ''Faith," as Count Devereux would say " it is hard to find any place to live in !" God bless 00, darling. Ever 00 own, own Pups. Me is much out of spirits. CCLXXIV. I To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. [Miss Greene a " dangorous and malignant enemy." — His religious views. — Her " blackest treachery."] May 16fh, 1829. My Dearest And Darlingest Poodle, — I still linger in Town, l)ut I think I shall join you to-morrow. I shall dine on the road and be with you about 7. I may not perhaps come, but think it most likely. I will talk to you about the house in Hertford St. There are 2 letters for you, one from Miss Browne, one from Miss Greene ; the latter you may answer as you please, but I shall always consiJer her from this time out a most malig- nant and dangerous enemy of niiiie. I enclose her letter. You will see that I allude to the part about my religion. Tiiere is not a doubt but what she and she alone has spread that report among the cleric;il friends to which she refers. Nobody without knowing my oj)inions could ever see any- thing the leas', irreligious i'l either " Pel ham " or The " Disowned,"' nobody ! She has taken advantage of her living in the same roof with me to blacken my character, and poison, so far as good or evil report can do so, ray peace of mind. Of course you will not see the thing in the same light. It is right that, since you hate my friends, yon should love my enemies. But I do not reproach you with it, my dearest love, for I know that you will only defend her thro' goodness. All that I ask of you is to extend this goodness to those near and dear to me, and not while you can pardon those who most vitally and most treacherously injure me only have detestation for my own 382 Lord Lyttons Letters. brother. Parkinson lias paid £43. God love, bless and keep 00, mine own Poodle, and do not wonder that I should express myself bitterly a'^ainst one to whom, so far as I was able, I have endeavoured when I had the opportunity to show kindness and regard, and who luis iu return raked out of my whole character the only point which the evil temper of the world could interpret to my disadvantsige. You will see why it must be her. Nobody could perceive in '^ Pelham " or "The Disowned" anything against leligion : So much the contrary, that a Bishop (Sumner) said of the latter that it was the most Christian novel he had ever read. But directly an author's principles are known, a new interpretation is given to his work. Miss Greene knew mine. On returning to Ireland she spoke of them jirobably in hint and whisper ; this spreads, no one knows how, and at last produses that clerical abhorrence of which she speaks. She probably never knew those clergy- men ; they might never have seen her ; their information comes third or fourth hand ; but there was no original source to that information but Miss Greene — not another human being in Ireland could have guessed my sentiments. She has acted treacherously, but I am quite sure that she knows not the mischief she has done me, the deep indelible mischief, tlie persecution, the hatred, the ruin to my pro- spects of fortune and advancement which she has entailed upon me. All this she never knew, but she knew enough of the evil to render her guilty of the blackest treachery. CCLXXV. To j\[rs. Bulwer, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. [Sir W. Waller's bouse.] May 2Qth, 1829. My Dearest Love And Darlingest Poodle, — I know it will give 00 pleasure to receive one line from me. Me got Lord Lyttofts Letters. 383 home safe but very tired, went to the sale, bought nothing, have spoken agnin about Sir W. Waller^s house, and tliink me siiall certainly take it. But do you know any one who would speak to Sir Waller about it, for, as it is now no longer his, he would have no objection to speak candidly about it ? If you do, it would be the best place imagin- able. My Mother is in Town — no news. God love, bless and keep 00, my own dear dear o« n Poodle, whom me loves better than ever. Pups. They say they sent me a let.er to TT)nbiidge, which came by the 2-y post to the Athenaeum — enquire for it. — Fenton's. CCLXXVL To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Tonbiidge Wells, Kent. [Houses. — Lord Londonderry's sale.] May 2Ut, 1829. My Darlingest Poodle, — I feel that 00 must be very unpleasantly situated in the uncertainty about a house. I am at this moment waiting the arrival of the 2^ post, and shall not send this till the last instant in the hope of receiving a letter. I have offered £5 a week to take a house for 3 months. I think it would be Yory desirable to be near Town. The house is exceedingly clean and pretty, with a very nice garden. If I do not get it, you had better take the one at Frant or Tonbridge, as you like, but I think the objection 00 miide to the former very strong, but by no means sufficient to prevent 00 taking it. Mean\vhile, ask to continue the present house two days longer than Tuesday, paying so much a day — they will be sure to let you, if you send directly to tell the people at Frant and at the house at Tonbridge Wells that they shall hear on Tues- day morning, by which day you will have my decisive 384 Lord Lyttons Letters. answer about the house ;it East Sheen ; aud you will then have two, or, if you like, three days to pack up. Mr. Colburn in the Court Joitrnal has had an article "written to seem mine. You never saw such a good or rather shameful cojiy ! I am called '' Mivortinos " in it. Lord Londonderry's house is to be sokl very cheap ; I shall attend the sale on Monday ; mennwhile I cannot get an answer about Sir W. "Waller's. I find I cannot get a letter by the 2^ post before 8, they promised me I should hear. Meanwhile, my own dearest love, as I feel how I feel how verv unjjleasant it must be for you to be in this uncertainty, act as 00 please ; but I think the plan I have proposed de best. God ever love and keep 00, mine own dear dear dear love. Pups. Let me know exactly what 00 has done by Monday, and in ease 00 likes to take a house, me won't decide till me hears. CCLXXVIL To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Tonbridge, Kent. [Houses.] Mine Own Own 0;vn Dearest Dearest Poodle, — Me has been greatly relieved by 00 letter, unsatisfactory as it is. It is something to think 00 is better, tho' me would give my coat, and sheepskin into the bargain to know 00 was better. Me sends 00 this in a parcel that 00 may have it to-night and know that since 00 is better, me does not come to Tonbridge ; for in the first place, the treaty about the house is so far gone into, that it would be to the last degree inconvenient to leave Town till it is con- cluded ; but in the second place me has heard of a house near Town likley to suit us, and very cheap ; so that me sail try to see it to-day, for it would be better to leave Ton- bridge altogether. Lord Lyttons Letters. 385 Me saw in the Morning Post to-day that a gentleman's house at Tonbridge Wells w:is to be let for three months on moderate terms ; 3 or 3 cows, pleasure grounds etc. apply to Mr. C. Webb, House Agent, Tonbridge Wells. Suppose you api)ly there, and let me know ? If the worst comes to the worst, we will take the house with the rock- ing horse. For Heaven's sake get as fast as you can out of the horrid place 00 is in. Me won't use 00 note to Sir W. W, now, tho' it would have done very well. Me sends 00 "Eichelieu," which everybody praises. The Author, whom I don't know, sent it to me. Colburn is so busy with the infernal Court Journal that I can't get him to tliink of anything.else. Me sends 00 the one about me ; it is the first article, *'Mivortinos" is evidently me or rather '*Mr. Pelham." If de house is refused me, and the one near Town won't do, me sail come down to-morrow, for me does assure 00 that me is pining for want of seeing 00, and me does assure 00 that me has a perpetual ache at my heart when me thinks of 00, and the only thing that keeps me awav from 00 is circumstance that if me was to leave Town to-day with all the business undone, me should have to come up again and rmew it directly after ; whereas if me waits a d:iy or two, me sail come for good. Me docs hope to come to-morrow — if me does not, it is necessity ; but me thinks 00 had better certainly not expect me before Monday night. God ever love, keep and pless 00, my own dearest dear love, angel, Poodle, and Queen Bee. 200,000 \kisses~\. Pups. 386 Lord Lyttoris Letters. CCLXXVIII. To Mrs. Bulwer, Tonb ridge, Kent. [Town Houses.] My Own Dearest Goodest And Prettiest Of Little Dogs, — I send this in a parcel by the earliest coach that you may receive in time intelligence respecting oo kennel. Take, my own darling, a house at Tonbridge or Fraut, as you like ; me has given up de kennel near East Sheen, and all idea of taking one near Town, since oo likes Tonbridge; therefore, take oo kennel ; do what oo likes about it, and me will come as soon as me possibly can. Oo is right ; me should write oo in the morning but these sales begin at 1, and I am not up till 11, and me has such work with my proofs between tliat time, for me makes all possible haste with them, and yet me gets on but slowly. Me can't get an answer about the Hertford St. Kennel, but me almost hopes me shan't get it, for me thinks it is not fine enough for us great dogs. Me sends 00 one of Colburn's Court Journals, me is going to bid for Londondcery House to-morrow, as me hears it will sell for £5000 ; but me don't believe a word of it. Me crunclicd my bones with my Mother to-day, who was very good to me, and says she will allow me £300 a year, and £150 of which will be paid to-morrow. Good-bye, dearest, God ever love and keep and bless oo. Pups. Oh ! Me has forgot to say that me has every day been busy about oo ducks and flowers, but dere are no peas yet, tho' me is promised some by Tuesday. Lord Lyi ton's Letters. 387 CCLXXIX. To Mrs. Bulwer, Tonbridge, Kent. [House in Hertford Street. — "Devereux."] May 23rd, 1829. Oo has done quite right, mine own darling Poodle, as indeed 00 always does do, about the house, and me is very glad it is settled. Me has just come home from Lord Lon- dondeerj^s Sale ; the house went for £5,200 guineas. The furniture sales last till Thursday, and I won't therefore wait for it. I think I shall be able to run down to 00 on Wednes- day, if it is a fine day, and stay till Sunday, but I hope for much longer. "J'here is, however, a great sale on Monday of ancient furnituie, which I should much like to attend. Let John be at Sevenoaks at 4 O'clk. on Wednesday with the dun marc, and let him stay till 8 O'clk. : If I am not down by that hour, let him go back ; unless this direction is contradicted in my letter to-morrow, let it be conclusive. Tho Inn John is to stay at is the first Inn on entering the town from Tonbridgo to the right hand side of the way. There is no signe up, but it is a large white Inn. Me will send 00 down the Court Journal directly I get it from my Mother. Me has again been disappointed about de peas, but me docs hope 00 will very soon have them. Me does feel that 00 must be very dull, mine own poor darling, and me will give up auctions and everything else rather than 00 should again be left to ooself so long : that indeed is selfish, for me docs feel very uneasy and unhappy without 00 bright brown eyes, tho' they are not so big as mine ! Me is promised positively to hear about the house in Hertford St. to-morrow. Me has been looking well over it, and it will certainly be a great bargain if I get it. I do so loath the idea of going 388 Lord Lyttons Letters. to Woodcot, but I ought to do it, and I liave really no time to lose. I can't get Mr. Colburn to puff me and good Mr. **Devereux." Mc called on Sir John to-day, but ho was out. Me read my Mother some part of " Devereux " last night. She Avas delighted with it. I told her some people said I meat her for Lady F. Polham, and she was rather pleased than not at it. She in her turn told me Mordauut had been taken for good Mr. Pu})ps — bow wow ! Good-bye, mine ownest and fondest ! Me has come in at 4 O'clk. to write to 00, that me may not be hurried, and me thinks this is a very tolerably long letter, tho' me knows 00 will not allow it. Adieu, darling. God bless 00, and believe me, 00 own own Pups. CCLXXX. MeS, E. L. Bulwee, Tonbridge "Wells, Kent. [Offer for house. — Keeping his birthday.] May 2bth 1829. My Own Dearest Dearest Love, — Oo was too kind, too good to keep my birthday, and me does think 00 is much, too great a darling — especially after my jealousy of, and unkindness to, 00 favourite Bell. But 00 sail have as many kisses as 00 likes when v;e meet ; and when Avill that be ? Ah ! my own Poodle, that is more than me can now say, for lust night I saw de House Agent, and he agreed to take £2,200 for the house, if I would pay 400 gs. for the fix- tures. This I refused, and I am to hear this evening if my first offer, £2,200, will be accepted for the whole. I myself think it will come to £2,400 all together, which will certainly be cheap for it. But I think it will be foolish to leave Town till it is settled one way or the other, especially as I wish to stay when I come. Me assures 00, darling. Lord Lyttons Letters. 389 me does most earnestly long to see 00, and as for dese auc- tions, me wishes they had been all burnt : me has not bought anything at them. Will 00 send me the remaining MS. of Vol. III. of " Deverenx" au ijliitot. Book it carefully. Me does feel, darling durling Poodle, that 00 will be so kind as to moan when me does not come to-morrow, and me has been all de morning about de peas, in order to console 00 ; but they only had a few very early this morning, sold to the Duke of Leeds for 4 guineas the quart. Me told de man me did not care what me payed to have them. Will 00 have de ducks without de peas ? This day came a card from Mrs. W. Lewis, asking me to dinner on the 13'^^, I am in doubt whether I shall go ; it depends on the house. I hope, dearest, that 00 agrees with me, that one ought to settle about the kennel one way or the other since the negotiation has begun. Everything at L^ London deery's sale went very high, and yet was so bad. Me has put off going to my Mother in order to write to 00, mine own darling, and me must now go and dress to dine with W", where me is to meet Miss Fane. Me sent Jordan de books. Oo understand, darling, that John is not to go to-morrow, nor till he hears from me. Ever 00 own own own Pups. 2,000,000 \Tf)iarlc8 of Mss6s\ and one to de child. Bow wow ! 5rr-err-err ! CCLXXXL To Mrs. Bulwer, Tonbridge, Wells. [Treaty for the house.] May mth, 1829. My Dearest And Darlingest Poodle, Prettiest of Dogs, — Me hopes me sail very soon get down to 00 now, for Mr. 390 Lord Lytto7is Letters. Robins has offered me the house at £3,400, and, as I have offered £2,300, I suppose me shall split the difference ; but as I think we had better not do a thing of this sort in too great a hurry, I have ordered Balls to take another and most accurate survey, and I have resolved to call on Sir W. Waller, if you will give me a note to him : recall yourself therein to his remembrance ; say that you must throw your- self on his courtesy for an answer to an enquiry which you would not trouble him with if he were not the only person who could answer it. Mr. Bulwer had been offered Sir Watkin's late house in Hertford St. upon advantageous terms, but that I had accidentally heard that there was some great, tho' unseen, objection to it, which had caused Sir Watkin to give it up. Not being able to ascertain from any one else the nature of this objection, and knowing that Sir Watkin had no longer an interest in the house, you were induced at last to entrust yourself to his kindness (or remem- brance, or politeness) and make the enquiry of him ; that I — Mr. Bulwer — was the bearer of this note, and that you should consider yourself greatly obliged to him if he would communicate his answer to me. Some such letter would answer every purpose, and if it is a little intrusive I think the thing gained well worth it. Sir C. Doyle has asked me to dinner to-day ; I shall go out of curiosity. Me is now going to de sale, and sail finish after it. Me has been to the sale and bought 1 fender, one rug, 1 set of irons, 5 chairs, for £3 2s. — that is all. Since then I have seen a man who knows Sir W. W. and who will call with me there to-morrow, but you will write nevertheless as me said before. I have also heard two stories against the house, one of the drains, another that the foundation was injured by a sewer made some time ago. There is nothing now but the house affair to keep me in Town, and me does long to come back. Pups. Lord Lyttons Letters. 391 CCLXXXII. To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. [Quite Miserable to hear sucli aa account of her.] May 28t?h 1829. My Own Dear Dear Dear Love, — I am quite miserable to hear such an account of you. I immediately hope to be with you to-day, and I am positively wretched not to do so, but I had made an appointment with Robins at 6 this even- ing, and I wish when 1 do join you not to leave you again. But I don't care for houses or sales in comparison with one moment's health to 00. You have no idea how unhappy I am about you. At all events, unless your letter received to-morrow assures me you are much better, I shall certainly be witli you to-morrow night, and we will then take 00 out of that horrid hole. Meanwhile, for God's sake, take care of ooself and have advice. Me has heard about Sir W. W.'s house, from Sir W". himself, and will tell 00 tlie objections when we meet ; but I have still offered £3,200, and if we can get it, shall think we do extremely well. I am to hear to-night. I din'd with Sir C. last evs ; Silvia looked ill ; met Lord Acheson. Me has accepted de Windhams' invite. God love, bless and keep 00, my own poor dearest love. Oo can't get this in time to put me off by a false account of ooself, and me sail certainly be with 00 to-morrow night, unless 00 letter gives me better news. Ever, ever, ever 00 own own Pups. 392 Lord Lyttons Letters. CCLXXXIII. To Mrs. E. L. Bulwer, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. ["Devereux." — Moore, " hot, laughing and vulgar."] Maij 22th, 1839. My Dearest, Dearest Poodle, — Me sent oo u parcel two hours ago, but me knows oo will expect to hear from me ; and so mc will write oo a single line. Me called on the Dyers as oo wisbed, and asked if tbere was one of tbe fam- ily at home, but there was not ; so me was forced to come away without seeing tbem. Me has also been to see that house in tbe country, but it is too dear ; and me thinks we had better continue for the present at 1'onbridge, if oo can get a better house. But at all events, and at tbe latest, me will be with oo on Monday nigbt, and me would set off immediately, were it not for this house business. To tell you the truth candidly, I am indifferent about it; if we don't get it, we shall save money, wbich is a great tiling. Page has written to me be is so busy, tbat ho begs I will take the letting of Woodcot on my own bands, which I sball now do. You have no idea, how I am plagued about the conclusion of "Devereux " — so hurried I can't write a line, and so bothered by the printers to send them all the MS. Me has sent of to M. de Belloc the first Vol. of Master " Devereux," as me thinks he looks very well in print. I hear that Henry is appointed to Vienna, and that it is con- sidered the best Mission there is at present. De London Revieiv is to come out to-morrow, and me believes there will be an attack upon me in it ; if so, me will bite 'em again most furiously. Me is dreadfully bored here, and every one dislikes me, which me thinks a very great big shame ; but then to be sure me is always snarling. Lord Lyttons Letters. 393 God ever love, bless and keep 00, my dearest Poodle, who never bores me, nor dislikes me, Oo OWN OWN POOR Pups. Moore has just entered — looking so red, hot, laughing and vulgar. Me does so, so, so hope that this will find 00 nearly well. 2,000,000,000 \kisRes.'\ Pups. CCLXXXIV. To Mus. BuLWER, Tonbridge Wells, Kent. [Decided to buy the House in Hertford Street.] May 30th, 1829. My Dearest Dear, Dear Poodle, — Me thinks from 00 letter that 00 is angry with me, or hurt that me does not come down to 00. God knows that I do most earnestly wish to come, and that I am in a state of perpetual pain at the thought of being away from 00, now 00 is ill. And yet it is folly to come, and then go the next day ; for me has been more wearied and annoyed about the house than you would think for ; and when you consider that 2,400 guineas is all the fortune I have in the world, except the Irish propert}',* you may readily conceive that it would be madness to give it away in a hurry. Thus I have been literally slaved to death with the enquiries I have made about the house. This very day I have been to all the surveyors of the parish, and am, upon my honor, ready to drop with fatigue ; for, what obliges me to make still greater enquiries, is the fact of their being another appli- cant for the house, and 1 am pressed for a reply. Now, to tell you the truth, there was something alarming about the foundations of the house, which obliged me to institute the most minute enquiries by several people ; and had I left * The Irish property was Miss Wheeler's. 394 Lord Lyttoiis Letters. London in the midst of these, I should have either lost the house,or decided upon it without due enquiry, and found it impossible and unsafe peril aps to live in it. To buy a house is not like hiring one for a mouth. When oo con- siders all this, 00 cannot think me unkind in staying, even tho' my heart bled when I thought oo was ill and away. God love oo, darling ! Me often thinks oo Avill never, never know how really deeply engrossingly I love you — until — but it is no matter. At length I have made up my mind to buy the house tit the price they ask, viz, 2.400 guineas or £2,570, for I cannot get it cheaper, and I shall be with the lawyers on Monday about it, and I will then come. Another thing which has bored me dreadfully, has been looking for a house near Town, and among all these things my head is distracted. It is a great pity you detest Tonbridge — where can we go ? I hope and trust in God that you arc well now, or nearly so — no one can tell how full of all sickening, bitter and wretched feelings I am. I would come to you now by the chaise, but I should not be there till near twelve, and you would be in bed ; besides, since you wish so to leave Tonbridge, it would be better if I employed to-morrow in searching for a house. I must break off ; the postman waits. God be with oo. Oo own darling uneasy and worn-out Pups. This next letter was written five years afterwards, in 1834. CCLXXXV. To Mrs E. L. Bulwer, 36 Hertford St., May Fair, London. [The letter written by Mr. E. L. Bulwer, from the Castle Hotel, after a gross personal outrage.] Richmond, Juhf Uli, 1834. 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Do i 50 How to Win in Wall Street 50 The Life of Sarah Bernhardt. .. 25 Arctic Travels — By Dr. Hayes., i 50 Flashes from "Ouida." i 25 The Story of a Day in London. 25 Lone Ranch — By Mayne Reid... i 50 The Train Boy — Horatio Alger., i 25 Dan, The Detective. Yio^ .. i 25 Death Blow to Spiritualism . .$ 3° The Life of Victor Hugo 50 Don Quixote. Illustrated 100 Arabian Nights. Do 1 00 Robinson Crusoe. Do i 00 Swiss Family Robinson — Illus. . 1 00 Debatable Land— R. Dale Owen. 2 00 Threading My Way. Do. i so Spiritualism — By I). D. Home... Princess Nourmahal — Geo. Sand Northern Ballads-E. L.Anderson Stories about Doctors — Jeffreson Stories about Lawyers. Do. Doctor Antonio — By Rurtini ....$' 50 Beatrice Cenci — From the Italian, i 50 The Story of Mary 150 Madame — By Frank Lee Benedict i 50 A Late Remorse. Do. 1 50 Hammer and Anvil. Do. i 50 Her Friend Laurence. Do. i 53 Mignonnette — liy Sangr^e i 00 MisoeUaneous Novels. Jessica— By Mrs. W. H. White Women of To-day. Do 1 The Baroness — Joaquin Miller... i One Fair Woman. Do. ... i TheBurnhams — Mrs. G.K.Stewart 2 Eugene Ridgewood — Paul James i Braxton's Bar — R. M. Daggett., i Miss Beck — By Tilbury Holt . . . i A Wayward Life i Winning Winds — Emerson.. ... i A CollegeWidow — C.H.. Seymour i An Errand Girl — Johnson i Ask Her. Man! Ask Her! i Hidden Power— T. H. Tibbies... i Two of Us — Calista Halsey Cupid on Crutches — A. B. Wood. ParsonThorne — E.M.Buckingham i 50 Errors — By Ruth Carter. .. i 50 Unmistakable Flirtation — Garner Wild Oats— Florence Marryatt... The Abbess of Jouarre — Renan.. The Mysterious Doctor — Stanley Doctor Mortimer — Fannie Bean. Two Brides— lurnard O'Reilly.. Louise and I — Hy Chas. Dodge., i 50 My Queen — By Sandette i 50 Fallen among Thieves — Rayne. i 50 Saint Leger — Richard U. Kimball i 75 75 I 50 I 00 I 50 I 50 2 00 I 50 I 00 I 50 I 50 u 75 I 75 I 75 I 75 I 75 I 75 I 50 I 50 Was He Successful ? — Kimball. Undercurrents of Wall St. Do. Romance of Student Life. Do. To-day. Do. Life in San Domingo. Do. Henry Powers, Banker. Do. Led Astray — By Octave Feuillet. Lava Fires — Smith The Darling of an Empire 150 Confessions of Two i 50 Nina's Peril — By Mrs. Miller.... i 50 Marguerite's Journal — For Girls i 50 Orpheus C.Kerr — Four vols. in one. Spell-Bound — Alexandre Dumas. Purple and Fine Linen — Fawcett Pauline's Trial — L. D. Courtney. Tancredi— Dr. E. A. Wood Measure for Measure — Stanley.. Charette — An American novel . .. Fairfax— By John Esten Cooke... Hilt to Hilt. Do. Out of the Foam. Do. Hammer and Rapier. Do. Kenneth — Hy Sallie A. I'.rock Heart Hungry. Mrs. Westmoreland 1 50 Clifford Troupe. Do. i 50 Price of a Life — R. F. Sturgis... i 50 Marston Hall — L. Ella Byrd i 50 Conquered — By a New Author... i 50 Tales from the Popular Operas. 1 50 Edith Murray — Joanna Mathews 1 50 San Miniato — Mrs. C.V. Hamilton. 1 00 All for Her — A Tale of New York, i 50 L'Assommoir — Zola's great novel i 00 Vesta Vane — By L. King, R. ... i 50 Walworth's Novels — Seven vols, i 50 2 00 75 X 50 I so I 50 1 50 I 50 1 50 1 50 I 50 ' 50 75 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. Series 9482 ]/^ puE '40cls ApAOi B s; II -aiBs . . . I iiBi }ou pinoiis AJiunoD am ui 30v\<\ v sjubji JM uBiuanuaa Auv '"O ^ M^'^H pn'"*^^ I ' K -a e IK 'S 3Unl UO UOIPIIB 5B PIOSH i IIiM Ji -paiisap aq ^iqissod pinoD qaiqM OJlilOD pUB }U3UI3A0jdlUl Ai3A3 SUIB}U0D UE uoi3uix3-i JO UMOJ am ui si n --^vnoo aijjdiuox opuEiJQ 31^1 am 30 sJiaq aqx 204 4 0341 BULli'ER LYTTOS'S LETTERS. To vindicate .ZZ^, °V'' '' HeteT ger Lady Lvtton. her executrix. Lou.sa Devej , Lseen m to collect the Z.....-/^^^-^^^^ ?«W/.^/./F^^. and the work wh.ch has I ,een for some time familiar to the Engl sh .ablic, is now offered to American readers (G. ,V. Dillingham, i2mo, pp. xx and 450- low ar these letters vindicate the memory of Lady .ytton is a question; as is usual :n mantal -rievances. there was probably blame on both lides That he was abo.ninably selfish, sensu- d and brutal there can be no doubt ; that she vas silly, sentimental and irritatmg there .s unhappily little cause to disbeheve^ What he reader is chiefly concerned wuh however n this volume, is the character of Edward 3ulwer, and the portrait is too complete, too borough in detail, too manifestly f^'^hfulto eave any chance for an extenuating plea. Ihe etters begin about eighteen months before the mthor's marriage to Rosina Wheeler m 1827, vnd they continue with long intermediary ,reaks to the year 1837 when the final separa- ion took place. Here is a sample of the ep,s- les written by the author of "Pelham to n,s jetroihed : — And so they dressed my poodle in white and black ? )zoodarlin,- how like a poodle 1 And had oo oo s .ootiful ears curled nicely, and did oo not look too pr tty .„d did not all the puppy dogs run after - ^-^ »^ °; vhat a darling 00 was? Ah! ™« -"'^^ "V'"^'^'""" .isses to be distributed as follows : 500.000 for 0° boot, ul nomb. Z5°.ooo toco right eye. .,0.000 to o^l^f.^^^e, ,.000.000 to 00 dear neck, and the rest to bed.v.ded =;ually between 00 arms and hands . • God bless 00. ^y prettiest of darlings, my love, my beauty, my Poodle, ^hom I dote upon to excess-oh such excess . Oo OWN OWN Puppy. ^ little later wc find him writing to his •darhng. beautiful poodle." "Nothing makes me so happy as to fancy that 00 is ; nothing UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACIUTY A A 001 424 174 9 \ -^^^N