Chapter XLVIII: Letter 103: To Lord Holland

"September 29. 1812.

"Shakspeare certainly ceased to reign in _one_ of his kingdoms, as
George III. did in America, and George IV. may in Ireland.[53] Now,
we have nothing to do out of our own realms, and when the monarchy
was gone, his majesty had but a barren sceptre. I have _cut away_,
you will see, and altered, but make it what you please; only I do
implore, for my _own_ gratification, one lash on those accursed
quadrupeds--'a long shot, Sir Lucius, if you love me.' I have
altered 'wave,' &c., and the 'fire,' and so forth for the timid.

"Let me hear from you when convenient, and believe me, &c.

"P.S.--Do let _that_ stand, and cut out elsewhere. I shall choke,
if we must overlook their d----d menagerie."

[Footnote 53: Some objection, it appears from this, had been made to the passage, "and Shakspeare _ceased to reign_."]

* * * * *