st
courteous, kindly, and dignified manner, if Mercy prevent not) is
about carrying it off with him again to America! To give Mercy a
chance, I by the first opportunity get under way for Morley's
Hotel, the address of Mr. ---; find there that Mr.--, since
morning, _has been_ on the road towards Liverpool and America,
and that the function of Mercy is quite extinct in this instance!
My reflections as I wandered home again were none of the
pleasantest. Of this Mr. --- I had heard some tradition, as of
an intelligent, accomplished, and superior man; such a man's
acquaintance, of whatever complexion he be, is and was always a
precious thing to me, well worth acquiring where possible; not
to say that any friend of yours, whatever his qualities
otherwise, carries with him an imperative key to all bolts and
locks of mine, real or imaginary. In fact I felt punished;--and
who knows, if the case were seen into, whether I deserve it?
What "business" it was that deprived me of a call from Mr. ---,
or of the possibility of calling on him, I know very well,--and
---, the little dog, and others know! But the fact in that
matter is very far different indeed from the superficial
semblance; and I appeal to all the _gentlemen_ that are in
America for a candid interpretation of the same. "Eighteen
million bores,"--good Heavens don't I know how many of that
species we also have; and how with us, as with you, the
difference between them and the Eighteen thousand noble-men and
non-bores is immeasurable and inconceivable; and how, with us as
with you, the _latter_ small company, sons of the Empyrean, will
have to fling the former huge one, sons of Mammon and Mud, into
some kind of chains again, reduce them to some kind of silence
again,--unless the old Mud-Demons are to rise and devour us all?
Truly it is so I construe it: and if --- and the Eighteen
millions are well justified in their anger at me, and the
Eighteen thousand owe me thanks and new love. That is my decided
opinion, in spite of you all! And so, along with ---, probably
in the same ship with him, there shall go my protest against the
conduct of ---; and the declaration that to the last I will
protest! Which will wind up the matter (without any word of
yours on it) at this time.--For the rest, though --- sent me his
Pamphlet, it is a fact I have not read a word of it, nor shall
ever read. My Wife read it; but I was away, with far other
things in my head; and i