The Horfords (father and brother here) asked us to dine, but were engaged.
Met the Bayntums, but not Clementina. Rather think I may to day.
yrs ever
B. D.
Let me have a letter in Duke St. Bulwer is getting on immensely and I shd not be surprised if we shortly see him in a most eminent position, but this not to be spoken of. Met Ensor.
Omitting many letters of piquant interest I come to one written in the autumn of 1851, in which the rising statesman deals somewhat severely with his old friend, The Times. It runs as follows:—
Hughenden, Sept 19 1851
My dear Sa,—Your mischance was very vexatious, but I was glad to hear that you had arrived all safe in such kind quarters.
I see Jem on Tuesday, who passed a longish morning here.
At Monday I was at Aylesbury where I was obliged to dine with the old society—Lowndes, Stone, Howard Wyse, Bernard, Hale, Isham, and Young of Quainton and 3 clergymen supported me, and Lowndes of Chesham in the chair. I made a good speech on a difficult subject, and the meeting seemed in heart. I saw to-day in The Times two columns of incoherent and contradictory nonsense wh made me blush, tho' I ought to be hardened by this time on such subjects. I have seen no other papers. They can't be worse, and perhaps may in some degree neutralise the nonsense of The Times. I am only afraid the world will think it all Delphi and diplomatic, and that the wordy obscurity was intentional, whereas I flattered myself I was as terse and simple as suited a farmer's table.
I am rather improving and getting on a little.