rata page, the
alteration of the couplet I have just sent (half an hour ago) must
take place, in spite of delay or cancel; let me see the _proof_
early to-morrow. I found out _murmur_ to be a neuter _verb_, and
have been obliged to alter the line so as to make it a substantive,
thus--

"The deepest murmur of this lip shall be
No sigh for safety, but a prayer for thee!

Don't send the copies to the _country_ till this is all right."

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Dec. 2. 1813.

"When you can, let the couplet enclosed be inserted either in the
page, or in the errata page. I trust it is in time for some of the
copies. This alteration is in the same part--the page _but one_
before the last correction sent.

"P.S. I am afraid, from all I hear, that people are rather
inordinate in their expectations, which is very unlucky, but cannot
now be helped. This comes of Mr. Perry and one's wise friends; but
do not _you_ wind _your_ hopes of success to the same pitch, for
fear of accidents, and I can assure you that my philosophy will
stand the test very fairly; and I have done every thing to ensure
you, at all events, from positive loss, which will be some
satisfaction to both."

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Dec. 3. 1813.

"I send you a _scratch_ or _two_, the which _heal_. The Christian
Observer is very savage, but certainly well written--and quite
uncomfortable at the naughtiness of book and author. I rather
suspect you won't much like the _present_ to be more moral, if it
is to share also the usual fate of your virtuous volumes.

"Let me see a proof of the six before incorporation."

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Monday evening, Dec. 6. 1813.

"It is all very well, except that the lines are not numbered
properly, and a diabolical mistake, page 67., which _must_ be
corrected with the _pen_, if no other way remains; it is the
omission of '_not_' before '_disagreeable_,' in the _note_ on the
_amber_ rosary. This is really horrible, and nearly as bad as the
stumble of mine at the threshold--I mean the _misnomer_ of Bride.
Pray do not let a copy go without the '_not_;' it is nonsense, and
worse than nonsense as it now stands. I wish the pri