which habit so frequently brings college
friendship to an end, he is likely to enter into public life. It
will be an excellent thing for his future books,--the fault of all
his writings, in spite of their great beauty, being a want of
reality, of the actual, healthy, every-day life which is a
necessary element in literature. All the great poets have
it,--Homer, Shakespeare, Scott. It will be the very best school for
our pet poet.

Nobody under the sun has so much right as you have to see Mr.
Dillon's book, which is in six quarto volumes, not one. Our dear
friend Mr. Bennoch knows him, and tells me to-day that Mr. Dillon
has invited him to go and look at it. He has just received it from
the binders. Of course Mr. Bennoch will introduce you. I was so
glad to read what looked like a renewed pledge of your return to
England.

Mr. Bentley has sent me three several applications for a second
series. At present Mr. May forbids all composition, but I suppose
the thing will be done. I shall introduce some chapters on French
poetry and literature. At this moment I am in full chase of Casimer
Delavigne's _ballads_. He thought so little of them that he
published very few in his Poesies,--one in a note,--and several of
the very finest not at all. They are scattered about here and
there. ---- has reproduced two (which I had) in his Memories; but I
want all that can be found, especially one of which the refrain is,
"Chez l'Ambassadere de France." I was such a fool, when I read it
six or seven years ago, as not to take a copy. Do you think Mr.
Hector Bossange could help me to that, or to any others not printed
in the Memories? ...Of course I shall devote one chapter to _our_
Emperor. Ah, how much better is such a government as his than one
which every four years causes a sort of moral earthquake; or one
like ours, where whole sessions are passed in squabbling! The loss
of his place has saved Disraeli's life, for everybody said he could
not have survived three months' badgering in the House. A very
intimate friend of his (Mr. Henry Drummond, the very odd, very
clever member for Surrey) says that he had certainly broken a
bloodvessel. One piece of news I have heard to-day from Miss
Goldsmid, that the Jews are certain now to gain their point and be
admitt