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such is my modesty, that if I explored internal se[crets I should be laying out complimentary shillings rather than give trouble without remuneration. I have sent you a pretty emblematical thing which I happen to have in my possession: you may get some hints from it, though perhaps you may think it too tame: not sufficiently romantic,-the boughs not shooting fantastically enough, &c. But to supply poetry and wildness, you may read the American Farmer over again. Nevertheless, if you desire it, I will put my head within the shops-only speak your

wants.

N.B.-If I do not hear in 4 days that you have received Tingry &c., safe, I shall put you to the expence of a Letter to ascertain whether this parcel have [sic] been deliver❜d to you. Yours ever,

C. L.

Johnson shall not be forgot at his month's end.

CXXII.

TO THE SAME

Feb. 19th, 1806.

Dear H.,-Godwin has just been here in his way from Johnson's. Johnson has had a fire in his house; this happened about five weeks ago; it was in the day time, so it did not burn the house down, but it did so much damage that the house must come down, to be repaired. His nephew that we met on Hampstead Hill put it out. Well, this fire has put him so back, that he craves one more month before he gives you an answer. I will certainly goad Godwin (if necessary) to go again this very day four weeks; but I am confident he will want no goading. Three or four most capital auctions of pictures are advertised: in May, Wellbore Ellis Agar's, the first private collection in England, so Holcroft says; in March, Sir

[graphic]

Thomas Holcroft, from the painting by John Opie, R.A.,

in the National Portrait Gallery.

George Young's in Stratford Place, (where Cosway lives,) and a Mr Hulse's at Blackheath, both very capital collections, and have been announced for some months. Also the Marquis of Lansdowne's pictures in March; and though inferior to mention, lastly, the Tructhsessian Gallery. Don't your mouth water to be here? T'other night Loftus called, whom we have not seen since you went before. We meditate a stroll next Wednesday, fast-day. He happened to light upon Mr Holcroft, wife, and daughter, their first visit at our house. Your brother called last night. We keep up our intimacy. He is going to begin a large Madonna and child from Mrs H. and baby. I fear he goes astray after ignes fatui. He is a clever man. By the by, I saw a miniature of his as far excelling any in his show cupboard (that of your sister not excepted) as that show cupboard excels the show things you see in windows-an old woman, (d.. n her name!) but most superlative; he has it to clean-I'll ask him the name-but the best miniature I ever saw. But for oil pictures what has he to do with Madonnas? If the Virgin Mary were alive and visitable, he would not hazard himself in a Covent Garden pit-door crowd to see her. It isn't his style of beauty, is it? But he will go on painting things he ought not to paint, and not painting things he ought to paint. Manning is not gone to China, but talks of going this Spring. God forbid Coleridge not heard of. I am going to leave off smoke. In the meantime I am so smoky with last night's ten pipes, that I must leave off. Mary begs her kind remembrances. Pray write to us. This is no letter; but I supposed you grew anxious about Johnson.

!

N.B.-Have taken a room at three shillings a-week, to be in between five and eight at night, to avoid my nocturnal, alias knock-eternal, visitors. The first-fruits of my retirement has been a farce, which goes to

manager to-morrow.

Wish my ticket luck. God bless

you; and do write.-Yours, fumosissimus,

C. LAMB.

CXXIII.

TO JOHN RICKMAN

March 1806.

Dear Rickman,-I send you some papers about a salt-water soap, for which the inventor is desirous of getting a parliamentary reward, like Dr Jenner. Whether such a project be feasible, I mainly doubt, taking for granted the equal utility. I should suppose the usual way of paying such projectors is by patent and contracts. The patent, you see, he has got. A contract he is about with the Navy Board. Meantime, the projector is hungry. Will you answer me two questions, and return them with the papers as soon as you can? Imprimis, is there any chance of success in application to Parliament for a reward? Did you ever hear of the invention? You see its benefits and saving to the nation (always the first motive with a true projector) are feelingly set forth : the last paragraph but one of the estimate, in enumerating the shifts poor seamen are put to, even approaches to the pathetic. But, agreeing to all he says, is there the remotest chance of Parliament giving the projector any thing? And when should application be made, now, or after a report (if he can get it) from the Navy Board? Secondly, let the infeasibility be as great as you will, you will oblige me by telling me the way of introducing such an application in Parliament, without buying over a majority of members, which is totally out of projector's power. I vouch nothing for the soap myself; for I always wash in fresh water, and find it answer tolerably well for all purposes of cleanliness; nor do I know the projector; but a relation of mine has put me on writing to you, for whose parliamentary knowledge he has great

veneration.

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