E. F. G.
To S. Laurence.
Boulge, Woodbridge,
Febr: 9/49.
My dear Laurence,
Roe promised me six copies of his Tennyson. [242] Do you know anything of them? Why I ask is, that, in case they should be at your house, I may have an opportunity of having them brought down here one day. And I have promised them nearly all to people hereabout.
Barton is out of health; some affection of the heart, I think, that will never leave him, never let him be what he was when you saw him. He is forced to be very abstemious . . . but he bears his
illness quite as a man; and looks very demurely to the necessary end of all life. [243] Churchyard is pretty well; has had a bad cough for three months. I suppose we are all growing older: though I have been well this winter, and was unwell all last. I forget if you saw Crabbe (I mean the Father) when you were down here.
You may tell Mr. Hullah, if you like, that in spite of his contempt for my music, I was very much pleased, with a duett of his I chanced to see—‘O that we two were maying’—and which I bought and have forced two ladies here to take pains to learn. They would sing nicely if they had voices and were taught.
Fragment of Letter to J. Allen.
I see a good deal of Alfred, who lives not far off me: and he is still the same noble and droll fellow he used to be. A lithograph has been made from Laurence’s portrait of him; my portrait: and six copies are given to me. I reserve one for you; how can I send it to you?