It had been sent me by Tennyson or his son Hallam (for I can't
distinguish their MS. now), that I might see that A. S. Battle fragment:
{206} which is remarkable in its way, I doubt not. I see by the Athenaeum
that A. T. is bringing out another Poem--another Drama, I think--as
indeed he hinted to me during his flying visit to Woodbridge. He should
rest on his Oars, or ship them for good now, I think: and I was audacious
to tell him as much. But he has so many Worshippers who tell him
otherwise. I think he might have stopped after 1842, leaving Princesses,
Ardens, Idylls, etc., all unborn; all except The Northern Farmer, which
makes me cry. . . .

I dare say there are many as good, if not better, Arctic accounts than
'Under the Northern Lights,' but it was pleasant as read out to me by the
rather intelligent Lad who now serves me with Eyes for two hours of a
Night at Woodbridge. . . . I am, you see at old Quarters: but am soon
returning to Woodbridge to make some Christmas Arrangements. Will Peace
and Good Will be our Song this year? Pray that it be so.

_To Miss Thackeray_.

LITTLE GRANGE, WOODBRIDGE.
_Decr._ 12, 1876.

DEAR ANNIE THACKERAY,

Messrs. Smith and Elder very politely gave me leave to print, and may be
publish, three Stanzas of your Father's 'Ho, pretty Page,' adapted (under
proper direction) to an old Cambridge Tune, which he and I have sung
together, tho' not to these fine Words, as you may guess. I asked this
of Messrs. Smith and Elder, because I thought they had the Copyright. But
I did not mean to publish them unless with your Approval: only to print a
few Copies for friends. And I will stop even that, if you don't choose.
Please to tell me in half a dozen words as directly as you can.

The Words, you know, are so delightful (stanzas one, two, and the last),
and the old Tune of 'Troll, troll, the bonny brown Bowl' so pretty, and
(with some addition) so appropriate, I think, that I fancied others
beside Friends might like to have them together. But, if you don't
approve, the whole thing shall be quashed. Which I ought to have asked
before: but I thought your Publishers' sanction might include yours.
Please, I say, to say Yes or No as soon as you can.

I have been reading the two Series of 'Hours in a Library' with real
delight. Some of them I had read before in Cornhill, but all together
now: delighted, I say, to find all I can so heartily concur and believe
in put into a shape that