grossly abusive, in very fair couplets. There is a note against
Massinger near the end, and one cannot quarrel with one's company,
at any rate. The author detects some incongruous figures in a
passage of English Bards, page 23., but which edition I do not
know. In the _sole_ copy in your possession--I mean the _fifth_
edition--you may make these alterations, that I may profit (though
a little too late) by his remarks:--For '_hellish_ instinct,'
substitute '_brutal_ instinct;' '_harpies_' alter to '_felons_;'
and for 'blood-hounds' write 'hell-hounds.'[72] These be 'very
bitter words, by my troth,' and the alterations not much sweeter;
but as I shall not publish the thing, they can do no harm, but are
a satisfaction to me in the way of amendment. The passage is only
twelve lines.

"You do not answer me about H.'s book; I want to write to him, and
not to say any thing unpleasing. If you direct to Post Office,
Portsmouth, till _called_ for, I will send and receive your letter.
You never told me of the forthcoming critique on Columbus, which is
not _too_ fair; and I do not think justice quite done to the
'Pleasures,' which surely entitle the author to a higher rank than
that assigned him in the Quarterly. But I must not cavil at the
decisions of the _invisible infallibles_; and the article is very
well written. The general horror of '_fragments_' makes me
tremulous for 'The Giaour;' but you would publish it--I presume, by
this time, to your repentance. But as I consented, whatever be its
fate, I won't now quarrel with you, even though I detect it in my
pastry; but I shall not open a pie without apprehension for some
weeks.

"The books which may be marked G.O. I will carry out. Do you know