as not
meant for Greek Scholars, like yourself, but for those who do not know
the original, which it very much misrepresents. I think it is my friend
Mrs. Kemble who has made it a little known on your wide Continent. As
you have taken the trouble to enquire for it all across the Atlantic,
beside giving me reason before to confide in your friendly reception of
it, I post you one along with this letter. I can fancy you might find
some to be interested in it who do not know the original: more interested
than in more faithful Translations of more ability. But there I will
leave it: only begging that you will not make any trouble of
acknowledging so small a Gift.

Some eighty of Carlyle's Friends and Admirers have been presenting him
with a Gold Medal of himself, and an Address of Congratulation on his
80th Birthday. I should not have supposed that either Medal or Address
would be much to his Taste: but, as more important People than myself
joined in the Thing, I did not think it became me to demur. But I shall
not the less write him my half-yearly Letter of Good Hopes and Good
Wishes. He seems to have been well and happy in our pretty County of
Kent during the Summer.

Believe me, with Thanks for the Interest you have taken in my _Libretti_,
yours sincerely, E. FITZGERALD.

P.S. I am doing an odd thing in bethinking me of sending you two
Calderon Plays, which my friend Mrs. Kemble has spoken of also in your
Country. So you might one day hear of them: and, if you liked what came
before, wish to see them. So here they are, for better or worse; and, at
any rate, one Note of Thanks (which I doubt you will feel bound to write)
will do for both, and you can read as little as you please of either. All
these things have been done partly as an amusement in a lonely life:
partly to give some sort of idea of the originals to friends who knew
them not: and printed, because (like many others, I suppose) I can only
dress my best when seeing myself in Type, in the same way as I can scarce
read others unless in such a form. I suppose there was some Vanity in it
all: but really, if I had that strong, I might have done (considering
what little I can do) like Crabbe's Bachelor--

I might have made a Book, but that my Pride
In the not making was more gratified. {187}

Do you read more of Crabbe than we his Countrymen?

_To Miss Aitken_. {188a}

WOODBRIDGE. _Dec._ 9/75.

DEAR MISS AITKEN,

It is a fact that the ni