Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters Volume I Part 9

"As I have received no account of the former MSS., I have worked night and day to complete this in the prospect that, if you like it, it can be published by the 15th January [? February], I have, I believe, improved upon the finale; I think that now the ending is as good as I could make it. How the original MS.* went astray I cannot ascertain, and it is now needless to inquire; but as I myself saw it put in the Emba.s.sy's bag, and know that it must have arrived at the P.O., I cannot conceive what subsequently became of it. Holdswith is so infernally stupid that, however blameless he may be, I curse him in my own mind for the misfortune, particularly as once before it was through him a nearly similar mischance occurred. The scenes for ill.u.s.tration are not so good, of course, in the concluding No. The best, however, are the whist-party with the king, and O'Leary in prison.

* Some chapters of 'Harry Lorrequer.'

"I have already explained about the portrait, which was a total failure.

Phiz must invent a vignette for the t.i.tle. I have sat up nearly till morning the last fortnight, and am quite worn out. The chaps, are, however, with a few exceptions, written _de novo_, as my memory completely failed me as to the former ones; but I have read both to the same parties, who concur in preferring the latter. As I shall feel most nervous about the safe arrival of this after my late misfortune, let me hear when it reaches Dublin."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer._

"Boulevard de l'Observation, _March_ 1, 1839.

"The king has become very unpopular: his busts are pulled down or broken in various places through the country, and many former adherents of the Government speak openly that they would prefer a thousand times to become a province of Spain rather than be a disunited country, as the loss of Limburg and Luxemburg would make them.... Banks are breaking on every side--two at Louvain, one at Antwerp, and one at Liege within the last week,--and c.o.c.kerill, an English manufacturer, whose wages to workmen alone amounted to a thousand a-week, is declared bankrupt....

"I saw a private letter from Lord Melbourne to-day, saying that they had got 'a famous Lord-Lieutenant for Ireland.'...

"I am very anxious about 'Lorrequer,' for, unfortunately, like most--I might say all--my resources, they are always digested before being swallowed, and the possibility of any trick [on the part of M'Glashan]--a possibility of which I cannot entirely divest my mind--has hara.s.sed me much of late."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer_.

"Brussels, _March_ 29, 1839.

"... I have been, and am, but very so-so in health latterly. My old enemy, my liver--who has most vulgar prejudices against 'good cookery'

and French wines--has expressed his discontent most palpably. If I could spare time for a trip over the water the sea would, I think, set all right.

"This place has received a great blow from the late troubles, and, _entre nous_, I should at once take wing for Paris if I had 500 _en poche_, but as I haven't as many francs, _il faut que j'y reste encore_."

_To Mr Alexander Spencer._

"Boulevard de l'Observation, _April_ 1839.

"I fear if my letters to you were to rise up in evidence against me, that my cry, like that of the horse-leech, would be found to be one 'Give! Give!'

"But true it most certainly is my poverty, not my will, consents. The war, the weather, and the taste for Italy (confound these cla.s.sical publications!) have all conspired to take our English population [away from] here latterly, and I find myself, like the Bank de Belgique, _presque en etat de faillite_. Therefore send me the 26 you have; and if b.u.t.t has anything due--which I believe and hope he has,--send that also. I shall try if some of the London magazines will not accept contributions from me,--as my 'Lorrequer' repute is a little in my favour, now is the time; but for some days past I have been poorly,--my ancient enemy, the liver--who has certain vulgar antipathies to _dindes aux truffes_ and iced champagne--has again been threatening me, and I am obliged to do very little.

"The letter you enclosed me from [ ] was so singular, I am sorry you did not read it. It appears that about four years ago some person gave Mr S. the words and music of 'The Pope' as his own, which has since gone through several editions and turned out a safe speculation. Mr S. at length learns that I am the real Simon Pure, and with great honesty and no less courtesy writes me a very handsome--indeed I should not be astray if I said gentlemanlike--letter apologising for his usurpation of my property, and requesting of me to point out any charity to which I would desire a donation to be sent, and that he will do it at once. Kate has just seen a paragraph in 'The Mail' which you sent, that offers a good occasion for doing a service, and I think I may as well not let slip the opportunity. With this intent I have written a letter to Mr S., which I leave open for you to read, and, if you approve, forward it to him, pointing out the destination, and leaving the sum of his contribution to himself. If you could conveniently see Mr S. it will be gratifying to me to know how he behaves, for I confess the affair has interested me a good deal; and finally, if the contribution be sent, I should like it to go to [ ] of Sandford Chapel. I have begun a new series in the Mag.,* and have a more lengthy and weightier speculation on the stocks.**

* "Continental Gossiping."

**'Charles O'Malley.'

"I believe M'Glashan will write soon, but in any case let me hear by the 26th (pay-day for my rent). Of course you don't think of paying for 'Lorrequer,' and pray row Curry if your copy is not always an early one. Tell me what you think of the ill.u.s.trations. I am much pleased with them."

_To Mr James M'Glashan._

"Brussels, _May_ 3,1839.

"I have not been so well latterly, and am trying to get some one to order me to travel a little. As old Lady B------e always found a doctor who 'knew her const.i.tution,' and told her to take 'Curacoa' frequently, I hope to find an intelligent physician too. I have so much material in my head, which would work up advantageously in our Gossipings,--sketches of places, society stories, with some hints upon the Continent that only a residence suggests,--that I have some idea of giving them a much wider range, taking in literature, politics, manners, habits, &c., &c., mingled with sufficient incident and story, all thrown into a somewhat narrative form, and making a book of it. Mortimer O'Sullivan, to whom I mentioned this, if near you, will explain my plan, which he approved--perhaps I should say suggested--when here. I should give every city, most of the travelled routes, and some untravelled ones, sketches of the German universities, songs, &c.; and in fine, make up a slap-dash ramble abroad that would astonish better-behaved and more sedate travellers, keeping our original t.i.tle; and with the aid of Phiz, who should not want scenes for ill.u.s.tration, I think the thing would do. Of course, it should appear in 1-or 2-vol. form, and if you like may come forth in the Mag. each month. Answer me on this head soon, for if you like it I think I will go to Germany, visit the Spas, and try if we cannot beat that most insufferable humbug and bore, old Grenville. If 'Harry Lorrequer' succeed, a new work by the author, as the newspapers have it, should take the tide of public favour at the flood.

"My trip to Ireland is so very contingent upon the people who won't be sick at present, but are keeping it all for July and August, that I should like to hear from you more fully."

_To Mr James M'Glashan_.

"_May_ 1839".

"I have had, since I wrote, an offer, unsolicited on my part, made to me to complete Grenville's books by a vol. upon the Spas of Belgium and the North of Germany."

_To Mr James M'Glashan_.

"BRUSSELS, _May_ 1839.

"I send you a short chapter of 'Continental Gossipings.'

"For the great abruptness of its transitions I shall apologise to you, though not to the public, by mentioning that here the choice of topics is extended, and the opportunity for variety increased; as in a _table d'hote_ dinner where there are fifty dishes, it is hard if you could not have something to your taste. And to follow up the ill.u.s.tration, if you object to the order of their service, I reply that I have lived long enough in Germany to be quite content at finding puddings precede soups and fish come after cheese. Therefore, you see, I am above or (if you prefer it) beneath criticism.

"'The Morning Post' has not said anything as yet. Remind Johnson on this head for me. 'The Morning Post' is a tower of strength, and we must contrive to have it with us. I have been so out of health that I can do but little, and have some thoughts of going over to London for the sake of the voyage, and to get presented, in which case I shall have an opportunity of going across and seeing you all in the 'sweetest city upon the Say.' Tell me, too, is the story of the Dutch Minister, who was humbugged by false despatches last summer in Paris, known in Ireland?

If not, it is too good to lose, and will be _bon_ for our 'Continental Gossipings.' This place abounds in munition for the press; but I am so circ.u.mstanced I cannot take advantage of it. One week of 'Confessions'

for Brussels would, however, be worth all Master Harry's, if he went on for a century.

"The treaty has been peaceably accepted here, and no political excitement of any kind has followed: disturbances are, however, to be feared if anything should occur in France; and it is said, upon good authority, that in such an event Leopold would abdicate. I believe with all my soul he is perfectly sick of the whole concern.

"The French is terribly mangled in 'Lorrequer.' Pray have this amended."

_To Mr James M'Glashan._

"Brussels, May 28,1839.

"Had it not been for your urgent desire upon the subject, the German tour had been long since abandoned by me. The difficulties which I encountered in merely thinking over the plans were such as nearly floored the undertaking, However, after burning four attempts, I send you a few pages of my fifth and last essay, which, if you like, I shall continue. What I claim for myself is simply this, to praise or abuse to the top of my Irish bent everything which comes across me. I don't care for the _incognito_ further than serves to support the spirit of the thing, but, of course, purporting to be the production of a German, it had better be preserved. 'Gossips from Abroad' I think of calling the great unborn. My plan is a tour beginning at Rotterdam, sketching life, manners, &c, as we go on, telling stories, describing places, &c.; up the Rhine to Baden, into Germany, the German cities, spas, universities, the Danube, Saxony, Switzerland, Tyrol, France, Paris, Belgium, and Loire,--in two goodly vols., like 'Lady Chatterton' as to size. I could give the more touchy bits for the Mag. _de temps en temps_, and reserve the whole for publication early in the coming year. I have already some of my best material almost ready. So pray write me your views anent this. But pray write soon. My impatience for answers to my letters bodes but ill to your future welfare, if certain _blessings_ invoked by me are to have any chance of accomplishment. My trip to Dublin is not out of the question, but act as if it were, and let me hear from you. I cannot work with spirit or industry till all the detail of arrangement is got done with; and now that my busiest doctoring season is over, I should like to set to work with energy. Your idea of the woodcuts in the page is quite perfect, and I like it amazingly. A boar's head, a Swiss chalet, and Tyrol pa.s.s: a Danube skiff would take well and ornament the book."

_To Mr James M'Glashan._

"Brussels, _June_ 4, 1839.

"I have so many things to say to you that I treasure them all up for the visit which I have promised myself to Ireland, but which I daily fear can scarcely take place. This is a season in which so many notorieties come through that I have dreaded being away. Polignac, Peel, Lords Brougham and Lyndhurst, the Bishop of Exeter, and several others have come under my hands since last summer, and I cannot with safety or prudence lose the opportunity of making such acquaintances. However, if it be manageable I must do it, for I wish very much to talk over and discuss several plans and projects I have been thinking over. Since I sent off my last MSS. to you a week ago, I have written nothing but recipes of blue pill and senna draughts....