nitude. I do not know whether I sent you my 'Elegy on
the _recovery_ of Lady * *:'--

"Behold the blessings of a lucky lot--
My play is damn'd, and Lady * * _not_.

"The papers (and perhaps your letters) will have put you in
possession of Muster Elliston's dramatic behaviour. It is to be
presumed that the play was _fitted_ for the stage by Mr. Dibdin,
who is the tailor upon such occasions, and will have taken measure
with his usual accuracy. I hear that it is still continued to be
performed--a piece of obstinacy for which it is some consolation to
think that the discourteous histrio will be out of pocket.

"You will be surprised to hear that I have finished another tragedy
in _five_ acts, observing all the unities strictly. It is called
'Sardanapalus,' and was sent by last post to England. It is _not
for_ the stage, any more than the other was intended for it--and I
shall take better care _this_ time that they don't get hold on't.

"I have also sent, two months ago, a further letter on Bowles, &c.;
but he seems to be so taken up with my 'respect' (as he calls it)
towards him in the former case, that I am not sure that it will be
published, being somewhat too full of' pastime and prodigality.' I
learn from some private letters of Bowles's, that _you_ were 'the
gentleman in asterisks.' Who would have dreamed it? you see what
mischief that clergyman has done by printing notes without names.
How the deuce was I to suppose that the first four asterisks meant
'Campbell' and _not_ 'Pope,' and that the blank signature meant
Thomas Moore[39]? You see what comes of being familiar with
parsons. His answers have not yet reached me, but I understand from
Hobhouse, that _he_ (H.) is attacked in them. If that be the case,
Bowles has broken the truce, (which he himself proclaimed, by the
way,) and I must have at him again.

"Did you receive my letters with the two or three concluding sheets
of Memoranda?

"There are no news here to interest much. A German spy (_boasting_
himself such) was stabbed last week, but _not_ mortally. The moment
I heard that he went about bullying and boasting, it was easy for
me, or any one else, to foretell what would occur to him, which I
did, and it came to pass in two days after. He has got off,
however, for a s