is stand
on high ground, and appeals to Titian, Michel Angelo, and Reynolds.
Eastlake is always shifting about, and appealing to Sir Robert Peel,
Etty, and the Picture-dealers. {225} Now farewell. Write when you can
to Boulge.

_To S. Laurence_.

[1847.]

DEAR LAURENCE,

. . . I assure you I am deeply obliged to you for the great trouble you
have taken, and the kindness you have shewn about the portrait. In spite
of all our objections (yours amongst the number) it is very like, and
perhaps only misses of being quite like by that much more than
hairbreadth difference, which one would be foolish to expect to see
adequated. Perhaps those painters are right who set out with rather
idealising the likeness of those we love; for we do so ourselves probably
when we look at them. And as art must miss the last delicacy of nature,
it may be well to lean toward a better than our eyes can affirm.

This is all wrong. Truth is the ticket; but those who like strongly, in
this as in other cases, love to be a little blind, or to see too much.
One fancies that no face can be too delicate and handsome to be the
depository of a noble spirit: and if we are not as good physiognomists as
we are metaphysicians (that is, intimate with any one particular mind)
our outward eyes will very likely be at variance with our inward, or
rather be influenced by them. Very instructive all this!

I wish you would come to me to-night for an hour at ten: I don't know if
any one else will be here.

_To T. Carlyle_.

ALDERMAN BROWNE'S, BEDFORD.
[20 _Septr_. 1847.]

DEAR CARLYLE,

I was very glad of your letter: especially as regards that part in it
about the Derbyshire villages. In many other parts of England (not to
mention my own Suffolk) you would find the same substantial goodness
among the people, resulting (as you say) from the funded virtues of many
good humble men gone by. I hope you will continue to teach us all, as
you have done, to make some use and profit of all this: at least, not to
let what good remains to die away under penury and neglect. I also hope
you will have some mercy now, and in future, on the 'Hebrew rags' which
are grown offensive to you; considering that it was these rags that
really did bind together those virtues which have transmitted down to us
all the good you noticed in Derbyshire. If the old creed was so
commendably effective in the Generals and Counsellors of two hundred
years ago, I think we may be w