a leading
idea by no logical process. Keats said that no Poetry was worth
[anything] unless it came spontaneously as Leaves to a Tree, etc. {79} I
have no faith in your Works of Art done on Theory and Principle, like
Wordsworth, Wagner, Holman Hunt, etc.

But, one thing you can do on Theory, and carry it well into Practice:
which is--to write your Letter on Paper which does not let the Ink
through, so that (according to your mode of paging) your last Letter was
crossed: I really thought it so at first, and really had very hard work
to make it out--some parts indeed still defying my Eyes. What I read of
your remarks on Portia, etc., is so good that I wish to keep it: but
still I think I shall enclose you a scrap to justify my complaint. It
was almost by Intuition, not on Theory, that I deciphered what I did.
Pray you amend this. My MS. is bad enough, and on that very account I
would avoid diaphanous Paper. Are you not ashamed?

I shall send you Spedding's beautiful Paper on the Merchant of Venice
{80} if I can lay hands on it: but at present my own room is given up to
a fourth Niece (Angel that I am!) You would see that S[pedding] agrees
with you about Portia, and in a way that I am sure must please you. But
(so far as I can decipher that fatal Letter) you say nothing at all to me
of the other Spedding Paper I sent to you (about the Cambridge Editors,
etc.), which I must have back again indeed, unless you wish to keep it,
and leave me to beg another Copy. Which to be sure I can do, and will,
if your heart is set upon it--which I suppose it is not at all.

I have not heard of Donne for so long a time, that I am uneasy, and have
written to Mowbray to hear. M[owbray] perhaps is out on his Holyday,
else I think he would have replied at once. And 'no news may be the Good
News.'

I have no news to tell of myself; I am much as I have been for the last
four months: which is, a little ricketty. But I get out in my Boat on
the River three or four hours a Day when possible, and am now as ever
yours sincerely

E. F.G.

XXXII.

[_Oct._ 4, 1875]

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

I duly received your last legible Letter, and Spedding's Paper: for both
of which all Thanks. But you must do something more for me. I see by
Notes and Queries that you are contributing Recollections to some
American Magazine; I want you to tell me where I can get this, with all
the back Numbers in which you have written.

I return the e