of Genius, who, I think, has crippled his growth by over-
elaboration) came suddenly upon me here six weeks ago: and, many years as
it was since we had met, there seemed not a Day's Interval between. He
looked very well; and very happy; having with him his eldest Son, a very
nice Fellow, who took all care of 'Papa,' as I was glad to hear him say,
not 'Governor' as the Phrase now is. One Evening he was in a Stew
because of some nasty Paragraph in a Newspaper about his not allowing Mr.
Longfellow to quote from his Poems. And he wrote a Note to Mr. L. at
once in this room, and his Son carried it off to the Post that same
Night, just in time. So my House is so far become a Palace, being the
Place of a Despatch from one Poet to the other, all over that Atlantic!

We never had the trees in Leaf so long as this Year: they are only just
rusty before my window, this Nov. 8. So I thought they would die of mere
Old Age: but last night came a Frost, which will hasten their End. I
suppose yours have been dying in all their Glory as usual.

You must understand that this Letter is to acknowledge the Vita Nuova
(which, by the by, I think ought to be the Title on the Title page as
well as outside), so do not feel obliged to reply, but believe me yours
truly,

E. F. G.

_To Miss Anna Biddell_.

WOODBRIDGE.
_Saturday_, _Nov._ 76.

. . . You spoke once of even trying Walpole's Letters; capital as they
are to me, I can't be sure they would much interest, even if they did not
rather disgust, you: the Man and his Times are such as you might not care
for at all, though there are such men as his, and such Times too, in the
world about us now. If you will have the Book on your return home, I
will send you a three-volume Collection of his Letters: that is, not a
Third part of all his collected Letters: but perhaps the best part, and
quite enough for a Beginning. I can scarce imagine better Christmas
fare: but I can't, I say, guess how you would relish it. N.B. It is not
gross or coarse: but you would not like the man, so satirical, selfish,
and frivolous, you would think. But I think I could show you that he had
a very loving Heart for a few, and a very firm, just, understanding under
all his Wit and Fun. Even Carlyle has admitted that he was about the
clearest-sighted Man of his time.

_To John Allen_.

LOWESTOFT. _Decr._ 9/76.

MY DEAR ALLEN,

It was stupid of me not to tell you that I did not want Contemporary
back.