LETTER 340

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“TheWorksofCharlesandMaryLamb—Volume6（.shg.tw）”

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LETTER340

CHARLESLAMBTOBERNARDBARTON

[P.M.January23，1824.]

MydearSir—Thatpeevishletterofmine，whichwasmeanttoconveyanapologyformyincapacitytowrite，seemstohavebeentakenbyyouintooseriousalight.ItwasonlymywayoftellingyouIhadaseverecold.ThefactisIhavebeeninsuperablydullandlethargicformanyweeks，andcannotrisetothevigourofaLetter，muchlessanEssay.TheLondonmustdowithoutmeforatime，atime，andhalfatime，forIhavelostallinterestaboutit，andwhetherIshallrecoveritagainIknownot.Iwillbridlemypenanothertime，¬teazeandpuzzleyouwithmyaridities.Ishallbegintofeelalittlemorealivewiththespring.Winteristome（mildorharsh）alwaysagreattrialofthespirits.IamashamednottohavenoticedyourtributetoWoolman，whomwelovesomuch.Itisdoneinyourgoodmanner.YourfriendTaylorcalleduponmesometimesince，andseemsaveryamiableman.Hislaststoryispainfullyfine.HisBookI"

like."

Itisonlytoostuftwithscripture，tooParsonish.ThebestthinginitistheBoysownstory.WhenIsayitistoofullofScripture，Imeanitistoofullofdirect"

ations;nobookcanhavetoomuchofSILENTSCRIPTUREinit.Butthenaturalpowerofastoryisdiminishedwhentheuppermostpurposeinthewriterseemstobetoremendsomethingelse，vizReligion.YouknowwhatHoracesaysoftheDEUSINTERSIT.Iamnotabletoexplainmyself，youmustdoitforme.—

MySisterspartintheLeicesterSchool（abouttwothirds）waspurelyherown;asitwas（tothesamequantity）intheShakspeareTaleswhichbearmyname.IwroteonlytheWitchAunt，thefirstgoingtoChurch，andthefinalStoryaboutalittleIndiangirlinaShip.

YouraccountofmyBlackBallingamusedme.Ithink，asQuakers，theydidright.Therearesomethingshardtobeunderstood.

ThemoreIthinkthemoreIamvexedathavingpuzzledyouwiththatLetter，butIhavebeensooutofLetterwritingoflateyears，thatitisasoreefforttositdowntoit，&Ifeltinyourdebt，andsatdownwaywardlytopayyouinbadmoney.Nevermindmydulness，Iamusedtolongintervalsofit.Theheavensseembrasstome—thenagainestherefreshingshower."

Ihavebeenmerryonceortwiceerenow."

YousaidsomethingaboutMr.Mitfordinalateletter，whichIbelieveIdidnotadvertto.IshallbehappytoshowhimmyMilton（itisalltheshowthingsIhave）atanytimehewilltakethetroubleofajaunttoIslington.IdoalsohopetoseeMr.Taylortheresomeday.Praysaysotoboth.

Coleridgesbookisgoodpartprinted，butsticksalittleformorecopy.ItbearsanunsaleableTitle—ExtractsfromBishopLeighton—butIamconfidenttherewillbeplentyofgoodnotesinit，moreofBishopColeridgethanLeighton，Ihope;forwhatisLeighton?

DoyoutroubleyourselfaboutLibelcases?TheDecisionagainstHuntforthe"

VisionofJudgment"

mademesick.WhatistobeeoftheoldtalkaboutOURGOODOLDKING—hispersonalvirtuessavingusfromarevolution&c.&c.Why，nonethatthinkitcanutteritnow.Itmuststink.AndtheVisionisreally，astoHim-ward，suchatolerantgoodhumourdthing.WhatawretchedthingaLordChiefJusticeis，alwayswas，&willbe!

Keepyourgoodspiritsup，dearBB—minewillreturn—Theyareatpresentinabeyance.ButIamratherlethargicthanmiserable.IdontknowbutagoodhorsewhipwouldbemorebeneficialtomethanPhysic.Myhead，withoutaching，willteachyourstoache.ItiswellIamgettingtotheconclusion.IwillsendabetterletterwhenIamabetterman.Letmethankyouforyourkindconcernforme（whichItrustwillhavereasonsoontobedissipated）&assureyouthatitgivesmepleasuretohearfromyou.—

YourstrulyC.L.

["

TheLondonmustdowithoutme."

LambcontributednothingbetweenDecember，1823（"

AmicusRedivivus"

），andSeptember，1824（"

BlakesmoorinH——shire"

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