Letters of Edward FitzGerald to Fanny Kemble (1871-1883) Part 38

{190} See letter of Madame de Sevigne to Madame de Grignan, June 15, 1689.

{191} In one of FitzGerald's Common Place Books he gives the story thus: "When Chancellor Cheverny went home in his Old Age and for the last time, 'Messieurs' (dit-il aux Gentilshommes du Canton accourus pour le saluer), 'Je ressemble au bon Lievre qui vient mourir au Gite.'"

{192a} Tom Taylor died July 12, 1880.

{192b} On July 16 FitzGerald wrote to me: 'Not being a.s.sured that you were back from Revision, I wrote yesterday to Cowell asking him--and you, when returned--to call on Professor Goodwin, of American Cambridge, who goes to-morrow to your Cambridge--to see--if not to stay with--Mr. Jebb.

Mr. Goodwin proposed to give me a look here before he went to Cambridge: but I told him I could not bear the thought of his coming all this way for such a purpose. I think you can witness that I do not wish even old English Friends to take me except on their way elsewhere: and for an American Gentleman! It is not affectation to say that any such proposal worried me. So what must I do but ask him to be sure to see Messrs.

Wright and Cowell when he got to Cambridge: and spend part of one of his days there in going to Bury, and (even if he cared not for the Abbey with its Abbot Samson and Jocelyn) to sit with a Bottle of light wine at the Angel window, face to face with that lovely Abbey gate. Perhaps Cowell, I said, might go over with him--knowing and loving Gothic--that was a liberty for me to take with Cowell, but he need not go--I did not hint at you. I suppose I muddled it all. But do show the American Gentleman some civilities, to make amends for the disrespect which you and Cowell told me of in April.'

{193} The defeat of General Burrows by Ayoub Khan, announced in the House of Commons, July 28, 1880. On July 29 further telegrams reported that General Burrows and other officers had arrived at Candahar after the defeat.

{194} The date should be September 19, which was a Sunday in 1880. Full moon was on September 18.

{197} In her 'Further Records,' i. 295, Mrs. Kemble says, 'Russia leather, you know, is almost an element of the atmosphere of my rooms, as all the shades of violet and purple are of their colouring, so that my familiar friends a.s.sociate the two with their notions of my habitat.'

{198} See 'Life of Crabbe,' p. 262.

{200} See 'Letters,' ii. 295.

{201a} On 'The Story of the Merchant of Venice' in the _Cornhill Magazine_ for March 1880.

{201b} 'Ballads and other Poems,' 1880.

{202} _Kelter_, condition, order. Forby's 'Vocabulary of East Anglia.'

{203a} See 'Letters,' ii. 110

{203b} 'Medusa and other Tales' (1868), republished in 1880 with a preface by her daughter, Mrs. Gordon.

{205} Full moon February 14th.

{206a} Acted at the Lyceum, January 3rd, 1881.

{206b} For February 1881.

{210} See letters of April 23rd, 1880, and December 1881.

{211a} See 'Letters,' ii. 180, 320.

{211b} Printed in 'Letters,' ii. 298-301.

{214} Partly printed in 'Letters,' ii. 305-7.

{216a} Printed in 'Letters,' ii. 310-312.

{216b} April 17th was Easter Day in 1881.

{217} Madame de Sevigne writes from Chaulnes, April 17th, 1689, 'A peine le vert veut-il montrer le nez; pas un rossignol encore; enfin, l'hiver le 17 d'Avril.'

{218} In _Macmillan's Magazine_ for April 1881.

{219} Partly printed in 'Letters,' ii. 313.

{221} Partly printed in 'Letters,' ii. 312.

{227a} On Madame de Sevigne.

{227b} Published in 1882 as 'Records of Later Life.'

{227c} See letter of August 24th, 1875.

{230} Partly printed in 'Letters,' ii. 320-1.

{231} The correct date is 1794-1805.

{233} 'Evenings with a Reviewer.' The Reviewer was Macaulay, and the review the Essay on Bacon.

{234a} At Boulge.

{234b} He was in London from February 17th to February 20th.

{236} See 'Letters,' ii. 324-6.

{237a} Full moon April 3rd, 1882.

{237b} 'Thomas Carlyle. The Man and His Books.' By W. H. Wylie. 1881, p. 363.

{241a} On May 7 FitzGerald wrote to me from Lowestoft:

"I too am taking some medicine, which, whatever effect it has on me, leaves an indelible mark on Mahogany: for (of course) I spilled a lot on my Landlady's Chiffonier, and found her this morning rubbing at the 'd.a.m.ned Spot' with Turpentine, and in vain."

And two days later:

"I was to have gone home to-day: but Worthington wishes me to stay, at any rate, till the week's end, by which time he thinks to remove what he calls 'a Crepitation' in one lung, by help of the Medicine which proved its power on the mahogany. Yesterday came a Cabinet-maker, who was for more than half an hour employed in returning that to its 'sound and pristine health,' or such as I hope my Landlady will be satisfied with."

{241b} Serjeant Ballantine's 'Experiences of a Barrister's Life'

appeared in March 1882.

{241c} Full moon was June 1st, 1882.

{243a} W. B. Donne died June 20th, 1882.

{243b} This letter is in my possession, and as it indicates what Mr.

Froude's plan originally was, though he afterwards modified it, I have thought it worth while to give it in full.

'5 ONSLOW GARDENS, S.W.

'_May_ 19.

'DEAR MR. FITZGERALD,