ieve they are as usual: the bull-dogs, magnesia, soda-powders,
tooth-powders, brushes, and every thing of the kind which are here
unattainable. You still ask me to return to England: alas! to what
purpose? You do not know what you are requiring. Return I must,
probably, some day or other (if I live), sooner or later; but it
will not be for pleasure, nor can it end in good. You enquire after
my health and SPIRITS in large letters: my health can't be very
bad, for I cured myself of a sharp tertian ague, in three weeks,
with cold water, which had held my stoutest gondolier for months,
notwithstanding all the bark of the apothecary,--a circumstance
which surprised Dr. Aglietti, who said it was a proof of great
stamina, particularly in so epidemic a season. I did it out of
dislike to the taste of bark (which I can't bear), and succeeded,
contrary to the prophecies of every body, by simply taking nothing
at all. As to _spirits_, they are unequal, now high, now low, like
other people's I suppose, and depending upon circumstances.

"Pray send me W. Scott's new novels. What are their names and
characters? I read some of his former ones, at least once a day,
for an hour or so. The last are too hurried: he forgets
Ravenswood's name, and calls him _Edgar_ and then _Norman_; and
Girder, the cooper, is styled now _Gilbert_, and now _John_; and he
don't make enough of Montrose; but Dalgetty is excellent, and so is
Lucy Ashton, and the b----h her mother. What is _Ivanhoe_? and what
do you call his other? are there _two_? Pray make him write at
least two a year: I like no reading so well.

"The editor of the Bologna Telegraph has sent me a paper with
extracts from Mr. Mulock's (his name always reminds me of Muley
Moloch of Morocco) 'Atheism answered,' in which there is a long
eulogium of my poesy, and a great 'compatimento' for my misery. I
never could understand what they mean by accusing me of irreligion.
However, they may have it their own way. This gentleman seems to be
my great admirer, so I take what he says in good part, as he
evidently intends kindness, to which I can't accuse myself of being
invincible.

"Yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 360. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, March 5. 1820.

"In case, in your country, you