projecting to accept in March, 1855, that I cannot open my lips against
the peace in itself. I could not in any case wish the war continued,
except on new principles for worthier objects. However, Russia has really
had a terrible lesson, and a great humiliation. That she could not take
Silistria or Kars against Turkish troops, except by the accident of
famine, will never be forgotten by German armies or statesmen.... The
native Russian peasants and low persons do not _yet_ know that the Czar
was beaten; they suppose him to have conquered with immense cost; but the
nobility knew the truth, and it will leak through to the lowest people, I
expect, in the course of a few years. I think Europe has a respite of a
quarter of a century from the incubus of Russia; and _if_ in that interval
the Hapsburgs are overthrown, all will yet come right. I fear we are still
forced again (in spite of Mazzini and Kossuth) to regard the French as
having the initiative of revolutions. I have resolved to give up all extra
and needless effort of the brain, until I can really get rid of certain
morbid symptoms, quite chronic, which distress me, so that my projected
Latin analysis lies in embryo.

"... I have had satisfactory approval of my _Iliad_ from my brother, Dr.
Newman, a fastidious critic and practical poet, as also from other private
quarters which I count much on; but reviews as yet do not notice me.... I
have no high expectation of the very existence of the book becoming known,
except slowly to many who might perhaps be glad of it if they knew it....

"Ever your faithful friend,

"F. W. Newman."


In October of the same year he thus speaks of the School of University