I have not courted it back yet. Luckily I and
the world can very well afford to wait for its return. I began
Thucydides two days ago! and read (after your example) a very little
every day, _i.e._ have done so for two days. Your Sanscrit sentences are
very fine. It is good for you to go on with that. We hear Mr. Nottidge
{213} is dying: who can be sorry for him!

Yours,

E. F. G.

* * * * *

Early in 1847 Carlyle received a communication from an unknown
correspondent, who professed to have in his possession a number of
letters written by Cromwell and other documents, which if genuine were
certainly of importance. As I published in the Historical Review for
April 1886 all the evidence which exists on the subject, I shall not
further dwell upon it here, except to say that I am not in the least
convinced by the arguments which have been put forward that the thirty-
five letters of Cromwell which Carlyle printed in Fraser's Magazine for
1847 were forged by his imperfectly educated correspondent William
Squire. Squire was living at Yarmouth at this time, and as FitzGerald
was frequently in his neighbourhood Carlyle asked him to endeavour to see
him and examine the papers which he professed to have. In reply to
Carlyle's letter he wrote as follows in February 1847.

DEAR CARLYLE,

When I go into Norfolk, which will be some time this Spring, I will go to
Yarmouth and see for Mr. Squire, if you like. But if he is so rusty as
you say, and as I also fancy, I doubt if he will open his treasures to
any but to you who have already set him creaking. But we shall see. Some
of his MS. extracts are curious and amusing. He writes himself something
like Antony Wood, or some such ancient book-worm. It is also curious to
hear of the old proud angry people about Peterboro', who won't show their
records.

I have not seen the lives of the Saints you spoke of in a former letter.
But when I go to London I must look out for a volume. I have begun to
read Thucydides, which I never read before, and which does very well to
hammer at for an hour in a day: though I can't say I care much for the
Greeks and their peddling quarrels; one must go to Rome for wars.

Don't you think Thackeray's Mrs. Perkins's Ball very good? I think the
empty faces of the dance room were never better done. It seems to me
wonderful that people can endure to look on such things: but I am forty,
and got out of the habit now, and certainly shall not try