receipt by next post. Mr. Hobhouse
must have the correction of it for the press. You may show it first
to whom you please.

"I wish to know what became of my two Epistles from St. Paul
(translated from the Armenian three years ago and more), and of the
letter to R----ts of last autumn, which you never have attended to?
There are two packets with this.

"P.S. I have some thoughts of publishing the 'Hints from Horace,'
written ten years ago[71],--if Hobhouse can rummage them out of my
papers left at his father's,--with some omissions and alterations
previously to be made when I see the proofs."

[Footnote 71: When making the observations which occur in the early part
of this work, on the singular preference given by the noble author to the
"Hints from Horace," I was not aware of the revival of this strange
predilection, which (as it appears from the above letter, and, still more
strongly, from some that follow) took place so many years after, in the
full maturity of his powers and taste. Such a delusion is hardly
conceivable, and can only, perhaps, be accounted for by that tenaciousness
of early opinions and impressions by which his mind, in other respects so
versatile, was characterised.]

* * * * *

LETTER 365. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, March 29. 1820.

"Herewith you will receive a note (enclosed) on Pope, which you
will find tally with a part of the text of last post. I have at
last lost all patience with the atrocious cant and nonsense about
Pope, with which our present * *s are overflowing, and am
determined to make such head against it as an individual can, by
prose or verse; and I will at least do it with good will. There is
no bearing it any longer; and if it goes on, it will destroy what
little good writing or taste remains amongst us. I hope there are
still a few men of taste to second me; but if not, I'll battle it
alone, convinced that it is in the best cause of English
literature.

"I have sent you so many packets, verse and prose, lately, that you
will be tired of the postage, if not of the perusal. I want to
answer some parts of your last letter, but I have not time, for I
must 'boot and saddle,' as my Captain Craigengelt (an officer of
the old Napoleon Italian army) is in waiting, and my groom and
cattle to boot.

"You h