friends of yours
would stand together; no doubt they wish to ascertain that point. Pardon
me if I add, that in satisfying their cautious and anxious inquiries as
to your influence with these persons, it may be wise to throw a little
shade of mystery, and not to tell everything too openly at first;
because, when objects are clearly defined, they do not affect our
imaginations as when they are somewhat concealed.... Vast as the project
seems, held up as it will be by personages of wealth, interests,
politics, etc., whenever it is once set up, I should have no fears for
the results, which are indeed the most important that one can well
conceive.... Had the editor of "Paul Jones" consulted me a little, I
could probably have furnished him with the account of the miserable end
of his hero; and I am astonished it is not found, as you tell me, in
your American biography. [Footnote: The last paragraph in Mr.
D'Israeli's letter refers to "The Life of Paul Jones," which has been
already mentioned. As the novel "Aylmer Papillon," written in 1824, was
never published, the preface to "Paul Jones" was Benjamin's first
appearance as an author.]

Meanwhile, young Disraeli still remained with Mr. Lockhart at
Chiefswood.

_Mr. B, Disraeli to John Murray_.

_September_, 1825.

MY DEAR SIR,

I am quite sure, that upon the business I am upon now every line will be
acceptable, and I therefore make no apology for this hurried despatch. I
have just received a parcel from Oliver & Boyd. I transmitted a letter
from M. to Wright, and which [Footnote: This is an ungrammatical
construction which Lord Beaconsfield to the end of his days never
abandoned. _Vide_ letter on p. 318 and Lothair _passim_.--T.M.] was for
your mutual consideration, to you, _via Chronometer_, last Friday. I
afterwards received a note from you, dated Chichester, and fearing from
that circumstance that some confusion would arise, I wrote a few lines
to you at Mr. Holland's. [Footnote: The Rev. W. Holland, Mr. Murray's
brother-in-law, was a minor canon of Chichester.] I now find that you
will be in town on Monday, on which day I rather imagine the said
letter from M. to Wright will arrive. I therefore trust that the
suspected confusion will not arise.

I am very much obliged to you for your letters; but I am very sorry that
you have incurred any trouble, when it is most probable that I shall not
use them. The Abbotsford and Chiefswood families have placed me on such
a f