is Bacon: the final
summing up simple, noble, deeply pathetic--rather on Spedding's own
Account than his Hero's, for whose Vindication so little has been done by
the sacrifice of forty years of such a Life as Spedding's. Positively,
nearly all the new matter which S. has produced makes against, rather
than for, Bacon: and I do think the case would have stood better if
Spedding had only argued from the old materials, and summed up his
Vindication in one small Volume some thirty-five years ago.

I have been sunning myself in Dickens--even in his later and very
inferior 'Mutual Friend,' and 'Great Expectations'--Very inferior to his
best: but with things better than any one else's best, caricature as they
may be. I really must go and worship at Gadshill, as I have worshipped
at Abbotsford, though with less Reverence, to be sure. But I must look
on Dickens as a mighty Benefactor to Mankind. {52}

This is shamefully bad writing of mine--very bad manners, to put any
one--especially a Lady--to the trouble and pain of deciphering. I hope
all about Donne is legible, for you will be glad of it. It is Lodging-
house Pens and Ink that is partly to blame for this scrawl. Now, don't
answer till I write you something better: but believe me ever and always
yours

E. F.G.

XXI.

LOWESTOFT: _October_ 4/74.

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

Do, pray, write your Macready (Thackeray used to say 'Megreedy') Story to
Pollock: Sir F. 59 Montagu Square. I rather think he was to be going to
Press with his Megreedy about this time: but you may be sure he will deal
with whatever you may confide to him discreetly and reverently. It is
'Miladi' P. who worshipped Macready: and I think I never recovered what
Esteem I had with her when I told her I could not look on him as a
'Great' Actor at all. I see in Planche's Memoirs that when your Father
prophesied great things of him to your Uncle J. P. K., the latter said,
'_Con quello viso_?' which '_viso_' did very well however in parts not
positively heroic. But one can't think of him along with Kean, who was
heroic in spite of undersize. How he swelled up in Othello! I remember
thinking he looked almost as tall as your Father when he came to Silence
that dreadful Bell.

I think you agree with me about Kean: remembering your really capital
Paper--in _Macmillan_ {53a}--about Dramatic and Theatric. I often look
to that Paper, which is bound up with some Essays by other
Friends--Spedding amon