Farewell. C.L.

[The first letter that has been preserved of the second period of Lamb's
correspondence with Coleridge, which was to last until the end.

In the _Morning Post_ of January 7, 1800, had appeared the
correspondence between Buonaparte and Lord Grenville, in which
Buonaparte made an offer of peace. Lord Grenville's Note, it was pointed
out in the _Morning Post_ for January 16, was really written by William
Windham, Secretary for War, and on January 22 appeared an article
closely criticising its grammar.

Here is the passage concerning "also," to which Lamb particularly
alludes a little later in the letter:--

... "The _same_ system, to the prevalence of which France justly
ascribes all her present miseries, is that which has _also_ involved the
rest of Europe in a long and destructive warfare, of a nature long since
unknown _to_ the practice of civilized nations." Here the connective
word "also" should have followed the word "Europe." As it at present
stands, the sentence implies that France, miserable as she may be, has,
however, not been involved in a warfare. The word "same" is absolutely
expletive; and by appearing to refer the reader to some foregoing
clause, it not only loads the sentence, but renders it obscure. The word
"to" is absurdly used for the word "in." A thing may be unknown _to_
practitioners, as humanity and sincerity may be unknown to the
practitioners of State-craft, and foresight, science, and harmony may
have been unknown to the planners and practitioners of Continental
Expeditions; but even "cheese-parings and candle-ends" cannot be known
or unknown "_to_" a practice!!