day in June, FitzGerald
wrote to Posh:--

"WOODBRIDGE, _Friday_.

"MY DEAR POSHY,

"I am only back To-day from London, where I had to go for two days:
and I am very glad to be back. For the Weather was wretched: the
Streets all Slush: and I all alone wandering about in it. So as I was
sitting at Night, in a great Room where a Crowd of People were eating
Supper, and Singing going on, I thought to myself--Well, Posh might as
well be here; and then I should see what a Face he would make at all
this--This Thought really came into my mind.

"I had asked Mr. Berry to forward me any Letters because I thought you
might write to say the Lugger was planked. But now you tell me it is
no such thing: well, there is plenty of time: but I wished not to
delay in sending the Money, if wanted. I have seen, and heard, no
more of Newson; nor of _his_ new Lugger from Mr. Hunt--I am told that
one of the American yachts, _The Henrietta_, is a perfect Model: so I
am going to have a Print of her that I may try and learn the Stem from
the Stern of a Ship. If this North-Easter changes I daresay I may run
to Lowestoft next week and get a Sail, but it is too cold for that
now.

"Well, here is a letter, you see, my little small Captain, in answer
to yours, which I was glad to see, for as I do not forget you, as I
have told you, so I am glad that you should sometime remember the Old
Governor and Herring-merchant

"EDWARD FITZGERALD."

It should be observed that in this letter, as in several of those written
to Posh, FitzGerald signed his name, "Edward FitzGerald," in full, a
practice from which he was averse owing to certain facts connected with
another Edward Fitzgerald. Those who have heard the story of the
historic first meeting between the poet and the late Mr. Bernard Quaritch
will remember why _our_ FitzGerald disliked the idea of being confused
with the other Edward Fitzgerald.

{Posh and his old "Shud," in which nets, etc., belonging to the
partnership were stored, and where the letters now published were found:
p62.jpg}

The letter here given forces a delightful picture upon us. Its
simplicity makes it superbly graphic. Think of FitzGerald, refined in
feature and reserved in manner, a little unconventional in dress, but not
sufficiently so to be vulgarly noticeable--think of the man who has given
us the most poetical philosophy and the most philosophi