te and go to bed, instead of to the theater that
night....

I was at a party last night where I met Lord Hill (then commander
of the forces), who had himself presented to me, and who renewed in
person the promise he had sent me through Sir John Macdonald (who
was adjutant-general), to exert and interest himself to the utmost
of his power about Henry's commission.

John has finished his Anglo-Saxon book, and Murray has undertaken
to publish it for him, offering at the same time to share with him
whatever profits may accrue from it. The work is of a nature which
cannot give either a quick or considerable return; but the offer,
like all Mr. Murray's dealings with me, is very kind and liberal,
for a publisher is not easily found any more than readers for such
matter. (The book was the Anglo-Saxon Poem of Beowulf.) He asked me
to let him publish "Francis I.," as it is to be acted, without the
fifth act, but this I would not consent to. I have rather an
affection for my last scene in the Certoso at Pavia, with the monks
singing the "De Profundis" while the battle was going on, and the
king being brought in a prisoner and making the response to the
psalm--which is all historically true....

I must bid you good-by, dear, as I am going to the Angerstein
Gallery with the Fitzhughs....

Yours ever affectionately,
F. A. K.

_Saturday, 4th._--I was obliged to send an excuse to Turnerelli. I
could not sit to him this morning, as it is now determined that
"Francis I." is to be brought out, and received official notice
that it was to be read in the greenroom to-day. We went to the
theater at eleven, and all the actors were there. I felt very
uncomfortable and awkward; but, after all, writing a play is not a
sin, so I plucked up my courage and sat down with the rest. My
father read it beautifully, but even cut as it is, it is of an
_unendurable_ length. They were all very kind and civil, and
applauded it very much; but I do not love the sound of clapping of
hands, and did not feel on this occasion as if I had done the sort
of thing that deserves it....

At half-past five went to the theater; it was the first night of
the opera, and rained besides, both which circumstances th