To Mr. Blackwood.
Birkenhead,
6th March.
I should like very much to put in a claim beforehand for the new book by the author of ‘Adam Bede.’ I wish very much you would tell me whether this mysterious personage is a woman. I shall feel very much humiliated if it is so, seeing I have staked my critical credit on the other side, and I fear shall scarcely believe it even if you tell me; but my curiosity is great. Thank you very much for the Magazine — I am charmed with ‘St. Stephen’s.’ It is Sir Edward’s, of course.
23rd March.
Many thanks for your kind exertions in the matter of Hampton Court. I am sorry her Majesty does not think it worth while to exert her royal bounty on my behalf; but I had not placed my hopes very high. Indeed I wanted more a bond which should oblige me to fix some definite place to live in than the place itself. I feel my entire freedom of choice in this particular a very forlorn liberty, and, always accustomed to consult another will, would be thankful now, when I have but my own to think of, to have an obligation or necessity, anything almost which would fix me to one place, without giving to my indolence and lassitude the pain of choice. I am very much obliged not the less by the kind trouble you have taken on my behalf.
The article I trust you will let me postpone till next month. I have been falling out of one cold into another since ever I arrived here. The change of climate is very perceptible, and this is one of the windiest corners in all England; so that I think I have gone through almost all the varieties of cold and influenza, and may now hope for a little exemption.
July,
I send you enclosed the first chapter of ‘Montalembert.’ I think it very likely you won’t like the execution, and pray don’t hesitate in the least to say so, for I am not vain of my French. If, however, by chance you should think it would do, I shall like the work very well, and will have pleasure in undertaking it. But I beg you will not feel any delicacy in saying, if you think so, that the translation is too bad for using. I am quite prepared to believe as much.
Elie, Fife,
I send by this post the proof and French text. One or two of M. le Comte’s corrections I rather object to, as mere substitutions of one word for another, not always (with humility) to the improvement of the sound. A glance at the proof will show you these, which I have put notes to. Thank you for your kind confidence in me: I will spare no trouble to improve the translation.
Montalembert’s corrections are very mild, I think; his opinion is a different matter. I enclose his letter which you kindly sent me: it is not exactly the kind of autograph which one would ask to retain. If he mollifies, or his French politeness suggests some little bonbon of approval afterwards, I will ask you for that as the autograph of so notable a person. If not, with your goodwill, I will take it out of him in the Magazine. It’s consolatory to think that he can be cut up into little pieces so easily — never man surely left himself more open to criticism. Have you his book about England, which was translated, I think? I should like to see the translation very much.