can of
the Interest I take in Trollope's Novels, by constantly breaking out into
Argument with the Reader (who never replies) about what is said and done
by the People in the several Novels. I say 'No, no! She must have known
she was lying!' 'He couldn't have been such a Fool! etc.'

[1873.]

MY DEAR POLLOCK,

. . . I am very shy of 'The Greatest Poem,' The Greatest Picture,
Symphony, etc., but one single thing I always was assured of: that 'The
School' was the best Comedy in the English Language. Not wittier than
Congreve, etc., but with Human Character that one likes in it; Charles,
both Teazles, Sir Oliver, etc. Whereas the Congreve School inspires no
sympathy with the People: who are Manners not Men, you know. Voila de
suffisamment perore a ce sujet-la. . . . I set my Reader last night on
beginning The Mill on the Floss. I couldn't take to it more than to
others I have tried to read by the Greatest Novelist of the Day: but I
will go on a little further. Oh for some more brave Trollope; who I am
sure conceals a much profounder observation than these Dreadful Denners
of Romance under his lightsome and sketchy touch, as Gainboro compared to
Denner.

[_July_ 1873.]

MY DEAR POLLOCK,

Thank you for the Fraser, and your Paper in it: which I relished very
much for its Humour, Discrimination, and easy style; like all you write.
Perhaps I should not agree with you about all the Pictures: but you do
not give me any great desire to put that to the test.

Max Muller's Darwin Paper reminded me of an Observation in Bacon's Sylva;
{160} that Apes and Monkeys, with Organs of Speech so much like Man's
have never been taught to speak an Articulate word: whereas Parrots and
Starlings, with organs so unlike Man's, are easily taught to do so. Do
you know if Darwin, or any of his Followers, or Antagonists, advert to
this?

I have been a wonderful Journey--for me--even to Naseby in
Northamptonshire; to authenticate the spot where I dug up some bones of
those slain there, for Gurlyle thirty years ago. We are to put up a
Stone there to record the fact, if we can get leave of the present Owners
of the Field; a permission, one would think, easy enough to obtain; but I
have been more than a Year trying to obtain it, notwithstanding; and do
not know that I am nearer the point after all. The Owner is a Minor: and
three Trustees must sanction the thing for him; and these three Trustees
are all great People, all living in di