shall all one day pass along with the rest--the world is too full
of such things, and our very sorrow is selfish.

"I received a letter from you, which my late occupations prevented
me from duly noticing.--I hope your friends and family will long
hold together. I shall be glad to hear from you, on business, on
common-place, or any thing, or nothing--but death--I am already too
familiar with the dead. It is strange that I look on the skulls
which stand beside me (I have always had _four_ in my study)
without emotion, but I cannot strip the features of those I have
known of their fleshy covering, even in idea, without a hideous
sensation; but the worms are less ceremonious.--Surely, the Romans
did well when they burned the dead.--I shall be happy to hear from
you, and am yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 60. TO MR. HODGSON.

"Newstead Abbey, August 22. 1811.

"You may have heard of the sudden death of my mother, and poor
Matthews, which, with that of Wingfield, (of which I was not fully
aware till just before I left town, and indeed hardly believed it,)
has made a sad chasm in my connections. Indeed the blows followed
each other so rapidly that I am yet stupid from the shock; and
though I do eat, and drink, and talk, and even laugh, at times, yet
I can hardly persuade myself that I am awake, did not every
morning convince me mournfully to the contrary.--I shall now wave
the subject,--the dead are at rest, and none but the dead can be