"I did not know that Barré was your friend, nor even your acquaintance. Now that I do know it, I shall value him the more.... I trust I shall have good reason to thank the man that mentioned him. Nay, I am already overpaid, by the little that I did, by drawing out of his obscurity so worthy a gentleman. I never saw his face till very lately, nor ever spoke ten words to him before I ventured to propose him as a Major of Brigade."
And he adds:
"Barré and I have the great apartment of a three-decked ship to revel in, but, with all this space, and fresh air, I am sick to death. Time, I suppose, will deliver me from these sufferings [sea-sickness], though in former trials I never could overcome it", &c.
I cordially assent to your encomium on England's young general.
II.—To YUNAFF.
The lady to whom the affectionate and touching lines you have quoted were addressed was Miss Louther, a sister of Sir James Louther; rich, highly accomplished, and most amiable. Wolfe was to have been married to her, had he returned from Quebec. She was very averse to his accepting the command. But nothing could stay his military ardour, even though in indifferent health. Well might the epithet be applied to him—"favourite son of Minerva."
Miss Louther was an object of general sympathy, after her brave lover's fall; and some of the periodicals of the day contain beautiful verses, addressed to her, appropriate to the occasion. This lady's name is not mentioned in any of Wolfe's letters in my possession; but an allusion is made to her incidentally. She was a favourite with the old general and Mrs. Wolfe. In one of the early letters a graphic description is given by young Wolfe of another lady of rank, with whom he was much smitten. That was before he paid his addresses, however, to Miss Louther. But I do not feel at liberty to break the seal of confidence under which this information was communicated in Wolfe's letter, though at the distance of one hundred years, by mentioning farther particulars.
May I ask if the verses in your possession are signed by Wolfe; or in his autograph; and dated? It would be very interesting to have precise information, tending to identity Wolfe as the author of these lines.
III.—To W. A.
I shall be glad to know the contents of the petition, dated February, 1746, and of the six letters mentioned by you. They may throw some light on Wolfe's history. Will you allow me to communicate with you on this subject, by letter, through the Editor, as I reside at a distance from London?