Chapter XLIV: Letter 198: To Mr. Murray

"Newstead Abbey, September 7. 1814.

"I should think Mr. Hogg, for his own sake as well as yours, would
be 'critical' as Iago himself in his editorial capacity; and that
such a publication would answer his purpose, and yours too, with
tolerable management. You should, however, have a good number to
start with--I mean, _good_ in quality; in these days, there can be
little fear of not coming up to the mark in quantity. There must be
many 'fine things' in Wordsworth; but I should think it difficult
to make _six_ quartos (the amount of the whole) all fine,
particularly the pedler's portion of the poem; but there can be no
doubt of his powers to do almost any thing.

"I _am_ 'very idle.' I have read the few books I had with me, and
been forced to fish, for lack of argument. I have caught a great
many perch and some carp, which is a comfort, as one would not lose
one's labour willingly.

"Pray, who corrects the press of your volumes? I hope 'The Corsair'
is printed from the copy I corrected, with the additional lines in
the first Canto, and some _notes_ from Sismondi and Lavater, which
I gave you to add thereto. The arrangement is very well.

"My cursed people have not sent my papers since Sunday, and I have
lost Johanna's divorce from Jupiter. Who hath gotten her with
prophet? Is it Sharpe, and how? * * * I should like to buy one of
her seals: if salvation can be had at half-a-guinea a head, the
landlord of the Crown and Anchor should be ashamed of himself for
charging double for tickets to a mere terrestrial banquet. I am
afraid, seriously, that these matters will lend a sad handle to
your profane scoffers, and give a loose to much damnable laughter.

"I have not seen Hunt's Sonnets nor Descent of Liberty: he has
chosen a pretty place wherein to compose the last. Let me hear from
you before you embark. Ever," &c.

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