es--that is, I have given up meat. When I was talking of this to
Vipan, he told me that you had once tried it, and given it up. I shall
hear your account of its effect on you. The truth is, that mine is the
wrong time of life to begin a change of that kind: it is either too
early, or too late. But I have no doubt at all of the advantage of
giving up meat: I find already much good from it, in lightness and
airiness of head, whereas I was always before clouded and more or less
morbid after meat. The loss of strength is to be expected: I shall keep
on and see if that also will turn, and change into strength. I have
almost Utopian notions about _vegetable diet_, begging pardon for making
use of such a vile, Cheltenhamic, phrase. Why do you not bring up your
children to it? To be sure, the chances are, that, after guarding their
vegetable morals for years, they would be seduced by some roast partridge
with bread sauce, and become ungodly. This actually happened to the son
of a Dr. Newton who wrote a book {23} about it and bred up his children
to it--but all such things I will tell you when I meet you. Gods! it is
a pleasant notion that one is about to meet an old acquaintance in a day
or two.

Believe me then your most sincere friend,

E. FITZGERALD.

Pipes--are their names ever heard with you? I have given them up, except
at Cambridge. But the word has something sweet in it--Do you ever smoke?

7 SOUTHAMPTON ROW, BLOOMSBURY,
[_Oct_. 25, 1833.]

DEAR DONNE,

. . . As to myself, and my diet, about which you give such excellent
advice: I am still determined to give the diet I have proposed a good
trial: a year's trial. I agree with you about vegetables, and soups: but
my diet is chiefly _bread_: which is only a little less nourishing than
flesh: and, being compact, and baked, and dry, has none of the washy,
diluent effects of green vegetables. I scarcely ever touch the latter:
but only pears, apples, etc. I have found no benefit yet; except, as I
think, in more lightness of spirits: which is a great good. But I shall
see in time.

I am living in London in the quarter of the town which I have noticed
above: in a very happy bachelor-like way. Would you would come up here
for a few days. I can give you bed, board, etc. Do have some business
in town, please. Spedding is here: taking lessons of drawing, before he
goes for good into Cumberland: whither, for my sake and that of all his
friends, I wish he