ings is true: nor written of Lord Houghton as a
'Robin Redbreast' of a man. I shall wait very patiently till Mudie sends
me Jane Carlyle--where I am told there is a word of not unkindly
toleration of me; which, if one be named at all, one may be thankful for.
{257}

Here are two Questions to be submitted to Mrs. Kemble by Messrs. Aldis
Wright and Littlegrange--viz., What she understands by--

(1.) 'The Raven himself is hoarse,' etc.

(2.) 'But this _eternal_ Blazon must not be,' etc.

Mrs. Kemble (who _will_ answer my letter) can tell me how she fares in
health and well-being; yes, and if she has seen, or heard, anything of
Alfred Tennyson, who is generally to be heard of in London at this time
of year. And pray let Mrs. Kemble believe in the Writer of these poor
lines as her ancient, and loyal, Subject

E. F.G.

'The raven himself is hoarse,' etc.

"Lady Macbeth compares the Messenger, hoarse for lack of Breath, to a
raven whose croaking was held to be prophetic of Disaster. This we
think the natural interpretation of the words, though it is rejected
by some Commentators."--_Clark and Wright's Clarendon Press
Shakespeare_.

"'Eternal Blazon' = revelation of Eternity. It may be, however, that
Sh. uses 'eternal' for 'infernal' here, as in _Julius Caesar_ I. 2,
160: 'The eternal Devil'; and _Othello_ IV. 2, 130: 'Some eternal
villain.' 'Blazon' is an heraldic term, meaning Description of
armorial bearings, * hence used for description generally; as in _Much
Ado_ II. 1, 307. The verb 'blazon' occurs in _Cymbeline_ IV. 2,
170."--_Ibid_.

Thus have I written out in my very best hand: as I will take care to do
in future; for I think it very bad manners to puzzle anyone--and
especially a Lady--with that which is a trouble to read; and I really had
no idea that I have been so guilty of doing so to Mrs. Kemble.

Also I beg leave to say that nothing in Mowbray's letter set me off
writing again to Mrs. Kemble, except her Address, which I knew not till
he gave it to me, and I remain her very humble obedient Servant,

THE LAIRD OF LITTLEGRANGE--

of which I enclose a side view done by a Woodbridge Artisan for his own
amusement. So that Mrs. Kemble may be made acquainted with the
'_habitat_' of the Flower--which is about to make an Omelette for its
Sunday Dinner.

N.B.--The 'Raven' is not he that reports the news to Miladi M., but 'one
of my fellows Who almost dead for bre