. But let this pass; we shall all one day pass along with the rest — the world is too full of such things, and our very sorrow is selfish.
received a letter from you, which my late occupations prevented me from duly noticing
. — I hope your friends and family will long hold together. I shall be glad to hear from you, on business, on commonplace, or any thing, or nothing — but death — I am already too familiar with the dead. It is strange that I look on the skulls which stand beside me (I have always had
four
in my study) without emotion, but I cannot strip the features of those I have known of their fleshy covering, even in idea, without a hideous sensation; but the worms are less ceremonious. — Surely, the Romans did well when they burned the dead. — I shall be happy to hear from you, and am,
Yours, etc.