Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters Volume I Part 13

_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.

"_June_ 22, 1841.

"I almost thought I should have had another gossip with you ere this--_je vous dirai pourquoi_,--don't laugh, though I'll forgive you even if you should,--but I received a requisition asking me to allow myself to be put in nomination for Trinity College at the coming election. As I write hurriedly, I can only say that although the matter gave me more surprise than satisfaction, yet on thinking over it, weighing all the _pros_ and _cons_, reflecting that, although unsuccessful now, I might, if well supported, be luckier at a later period; and finally, thinking that politics are about the best trade going, I said rather more yea than nay: all the calculations of my friends say that Shaw must be beaten, and [ ] has no hope, if contested.

The B. of Exeter is most warm in my cause, and says, 'Start for Trinity, for if unsuccessful there, your colours are shown and you'll get another ship.'

"Now I have gone cautiously to work. I have said, Tell me what can you do for me? say what forces can you bring into the field in my support?

what are my chances? what are my expenses?

"The medicals would stand by me well, so would a large section of my Bar friends. The parsons are, however, the main body. What would they do? I can't guess.

"Meanwhile I am on the tenter-hooks: each post may decide me one way or the other, and, to confess the fact, I have enormous confidence in my good luck. I never pushed it yet without a fortunate result, and I am more than ever inclined to test its constancy.

"I write these few and very hurried lines solely to apprise you of what is going forward. Before this reaches you the whole may have ended in smoke, or I may be on my way over.

"If the latter, I shall of course be as anxious as may be; only believe one thing: rash as I may seem when determined to make a spring, I take time enough, before I gird for the effort, to reflect upon the consequences and calculate the results. With my warmest regard to you and yours."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer._

_June_ 1841.

"I send you the last four vols, of Capefigue. Are you doing anything further for M'Glashan, and what? What would you think of translating some of the _feuilletons_ of the French papers? they are either short stories or clever [? literary] criticisms. I could always give you a supply of the freshest. Do tell me what you think of this, and for once in your life, my dear friend, speak a little of yourself and your own concerns."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer._

"_July_ 2,1841.

"I send you some _feuilletons_ which, if you translate, I should take.

The 'Cha.s.se au [ ]' is admirable.

"I have been applied to to write a Life of Napoleon on a great scale, based on Capefigue's work. (Don't speak of this to Curry.) I look for a big sum, but the negotiation hangs."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer._

"Quartier Leopold, Brussels, _July_ 3, 1841.

"The opportunity of sending my letter having failed me at the time I expected, I reopen my package to add a few more words. I have read your kind letter with much attention, and a most sincere grat.i.tude for the evidence of an interest I never doubted. Circ.u.mstances have rendered the pursuit hopeless at present, but the future chances I should look to with some anxiety and hope,--and I'll tell you why. Should I succeed in getting in, I know from the opinion of those high in position how much the work of even an inferior person is looked for and prized by a party, and to what uses can be put the man who has acquired a certain readiness at reply [some words undecipherable here], the way of publication, and what [? friends] a.s.sist him.

"I do not mean to say that even the ambition of such a position in society would repay one who likes his ease for the wear and tear, anxiety, turmoil, and annoyance of political existence, but what I mean is this, that an equal quant.i.ty of work directed to the interests of a party is better paid and better advantaged than when executed for a publisher. And when I see the men of my own standing--and I could name a dozen such who neither have done anything as yet, nor can they in future--well off, promoted, placed, and provided for, simply because they took up public life as a trade, _vice_ a profession, I am well disposed to think that with a very long acquaintance and a strong troop of what the world calls friends, some character, and a strong determination to get on,--why, I think the game a good one.

"Well as you know me, you as well as John make one mistake about me. I am not--I never was--a sanguine man. I have pumped up false enthusiasm many a time till it has imposed even upon myself, and when success came people said I predicted it, but, my dear friend, I never was fortunate yet without being the man most astonished at my own good luck. This I mention that you may know that it is no piece of soft unction I am flattering myself with, but a cold cautious calculation in which for a certain outlay of labour, directed in a way I like, I look for a certain amount of income. But enough of myself, my hopes, fears, plots, perplexities....

"Folds has just been decreed the sum of 8000 for his fire (as malicious burning). Will you try and ascertain if any remuneration is to be made to me for my losses, a considerable portion of my MSS. being burnt and destroyed, for which I have received no amends?"

_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.

"Brussels, _July_ 19, 1841.

"I wrote lately to you mentioning, among other matters, some hopes I entertained that Mr Folds' fire might prove a most genial flame, warming not only him but me. Is this a likely circ.u.mstance? I would not wish the Currys in any manner to be involved in the reparation--if such there be--to be made to me, but if Mr Folds really does receive compensation for his type, why should not I for my tale? To him, therefore, would I look, and I think in justice he can't refuse my application.

"The weather here is awful beyond anything I ever heard of--incessant rain, cold and strong winds, the harvest greatly injured, the hay totally ruined. How are you off in Ireland?

"In election matters your success has been indeed triumphant. I have just learned from our Amba.s.sador that he has received a t.i.tle from 'The Duke.' The party are up in the stirrups and delighted with the success.

The only certain appointment as yet made out is that of Lord de Grey formerly (Lord) Grantham, Lord Ripon's brother, to be Viceroy. This is from the Duke, and may be relied on. Lord Londonderry is spoken of as Amba.s.sador for Paris, but they hope to send him to Russia. Lord Lyndhurst is pretty sure of the Chancellorship if his age doesn't prevent his acceptance. It is all nonsense about his being named Amba.s.sador to Paris: his wife could not be received there, where her father had been for years a paid spy of the police, mixing in the lowest walk, and among the most debased and degenerate a.s.sociates....

"I believe M'Glashan is coming to see me. John, I fear, has given up his trip; and indeed if he did come, I'd rather he would do so when I was quite free of all the other visitors, for I think he would only be bored by the artistic clique by whom, for the next few weeks, I am likely to be surrounded.

"Are you doing anything in the writing way? Or is there anything here in the book market which you would like to look at? A very valuable and a still more amusing book is just published in Paris, called 'Le Forcat,'

in which the whole state and condition of the prisoner at the galleys is displayed, ill.u.s.trating the history of crime and punishment in a most curious and remarkable light. What would you think of making from this material some article for the D. U. Mag.?

"You see I am most anxious about [exploiting] you, and more than all, because I can answer for your success. Pray, my dear friend, don't neglect what I know to be your qualification, and what with such as you would deem very little labour must prove a good [? speculation] as regards money."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.

"Brussels, _Aug_. 8,1841.

"I am delighted to find that at last you have taken my advice. The 'Cha.s.se' is capital I read it to M'Glashan last night. He is much pleased with it. I shall now continue to pour in _feuilletons_ on you, and you must work.

"We are about to start for a ramble into Germany with M'Glashan, taking my own horses. We shall probably remain some weeks. I have arranged with him about several things,--among others, a work in two vols, on Belgium.

Some articles on Capefigue would tell, and certainly 'The Forcat' would be worth your while dipping into....

"If I only had sufficient pluck to cut calomel and camphor, I think I could even save money. As it is, I am only pulling the devil by the tail from one year's end to the other."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer._

"Brussels, _Sept_. 7,1841.

"I have just returned from a five weeks' ramble in Germany, where I have been greatly delighted. M'Glashan was with us; he will tell you all our adventures."

'Jack Hinton' was causing him just as much anxiety as 'O'Malley' had produced. He told M'Glashan that the book would drive him mad; that he could think of nothing else, and that he could enjoy no rest until he had finished it.

He sighed often for the companionship of some sympathetic Mends; and one day he was delighted to welcome two very distinguished ones--Samuel Lover and Hablot K. Browne. M'Glashan wanted to have a "portrait of the author" for 'Jack Hinton,' and Lover was commissioned to paint the portrait. Phiz came to consult Lever about the ill.u.s.trations for his new book, Lever having entered a protest against Browne's tendency to caricature.