Abbotsford: Nov. 27, '50.
Dear Newman,—The receipt of your letter gave me sincere pleasure. It renews a correspondence which I value very highly, and which my own stupidity had interrupted. Offence I had never taken, but causes such as you describe much better than I could have done were the occasion of my silence.
You may now find that you have brought more trouble on yourself, for there are many things on which I should like to ask you questions, and I know that your time is already much engaged. However, at present my chief object is to assure you how very glad I am again to write to you, as the friend whom I almost fear I had thrown away. Whatever occurs, do not let us be again estranged. It is not easy, as one gets older, to form new friendships of any kind, and least of all such as I have always considered yours….
Ever, dear Newman,
Yours affectionately
JAMES R. HOPE.
The Very Rev. Dr. Newman to J. R. Hope, Esq., Q.C.
Oratory, Birmingham: November 29, 1850.
My dear Hope,—I write a line to thank you for your letter, and to say how glad I shall be to hear from you, as you half propose, whether or not I am able to say anything to your satisfaction, which would be a greater and different pleasure.
It makes me smile to hear you talk of getting older. What must I feel, whose life is gone ere it is well begun?