onal acquaintance."

And Hood, writing to a friend, enclosing a copy of Peel's letter, says,
"Sir R. Peel came from Burleigh on Tuesday night, and went down to
Brighton on Saturday. If he had written by post, I should not have it
till to-day. So he sent his servant with the enclosed on SATURDAY NIGHT;
another mark of considerate attention." He is frightfully unwell, he
continues: his wife says he looks QUITE GREEN; but ill as he is, poor
fellow, "his well is not dry. He has pumped out a sheet of Christmas
fun, is drawing some cuts, and shall write a sheet more of his novel."

Oh, sad, marvellous picture of courage, of honesty, of patient
endurance, of duty struggling against pain! How noble Peel's figure is
standing by that sick-bed! how generous his words, how dignified and
sincere his compassion! And the poor dying man, with a heart full of
natural gratitude towards his noble benefactor, must turn to him and
say--"If it be well to be remembered by a Minister, it is better still
not to be forgotten by him in a 'hurly Burleigh!'" Can you laugh? Is not
the joke horribly pathetic from the poor dying lips? As dying Robin Hood
must fire a last shot with his bow--as one reads of Catholics on their
death-beds putting on a Capuchin dress to go out of the world--here is
poor Hood at his last hour putting on his ghastly motley, and uttering
one joke more.

He dies, however, in dearest love and peace with his children, wife,
friends; to the former especially his whole life had been devoted,
and every day showed his fidelity, simplicity, and affection. In going
through the record of his most pure, modest, honorable life, and living
along with him, you come to trust him thoroughly, and feel that here is
a most loyal, affectionate, and upright soul, with whom you have been
brought into communion. Can we say as much of the lives of all men of
letters? Here is one at least without guile, without pretension, without
scheming, of a pure life, to his family and little modest circle of
friends tenderly devoted.

And what a hard work, and what a slender reward! In the little domestic
details with which the book abounds, what a simple life is shown to us!
The most simple little pleasures and amusements delight and occupy him.
You have revels on shrimps; the good wife making the pie; details about
the maid, and criticisms on her conduct; wonderful tricks played with
the plum-pudding--all the pleasures centring round the little humble
h