[No date. Feb., 1833.]
My dear M.—I send you the last proof—not of my friendship— pray see to the finish.
I think you will see the necessity of adding those words after
"Preface"—and "Preface" should be in the "contents-table"—
I take for granted you approve the title. I do thoroughly— Perhaps if you advertise it in full, as it now stands, the title page might have simply the Last Essays of Elia, to keep out any notion of its being a second vol.—
Well, I wish us luck heartily for your sake who have smarted by me.—
LETTER 562
CHARLES LAMB TO T.N. TALFOURD
February, 1833.
My dear T.,—Now cannot I call him Serjeant; what is there in a coif? Those canvas-sleeves protective from ink, when he was a law-chit—a _Chitty_ling, (let the leathern apron be apocryphal) do more 'specially plead to the Jury Court of old memory. The costume (will he agnize it?) was as of a desk-fellow or Socius Plutei. Methought I spied a brother!
That familiarity is extinct for ever. Curse me if I can call him Mr. Serjeant—except, mark me, in company. Honour where honour is due; but should he ever visit us, (do you think he ever will, Mary?) what a distinction should I keep up between him and our less fortunate friend, H.C.R.! Decent respect shall always be the Crabb's—but, somehow, short of reverence.