Chapter LXIII: Letter 218: To Mr. Moore

"March 17. 1815.

"I meaned to write to you before on the subject of your loss[76];
but the recollection of the uselessness and worthlessness of any
observations on such events prevented me. I shall only now add,
that I rejoice to see you bear it so well, and that I trust time
will enable Mrs. M. to sustain it better. Every thing should be
done to divert and occupy her with other thoughts and cares, and I
am sure that all that can be done will.

"Now to your letter. Napoleon--but the papers will have told you
all. I quite think with you upon the subject, and for my _real_
thoughts this time last year, I would refer you to the last pages
of the Journal I gave you. I can forgive the rogue for utterly
falsifying every line of mine Ode--which I take to be the last and
uttermost stretch of human magnanimity. Do you remember the story
of a certain Abbé, who wrote a treatise on the Swedish
Constitution, and proved it indissoluble and eternal? Just as he
had corrected the last sheet, news came that Gustavus III. had
destroyed this immortal government. 'Sir,' quoth the Abbé, 'the
King of Sweden may overthrow the _constitution_, but not _my
book_!!' I think _of_ the Abbé, but not _with_ him.

"Making every allowance for talent and most consummate daring,
there is, after all, a good deal in luck or destiny. He might have
been stopped by our frigates--or wrecked in the Gulf of Lyons,
which is particularly tempestuous--or--a thousand things. But he is
certainly Fortune's favourite, and

Once fairly set out on his party of pleasure,
Taking towns at his liking and crowns at his leisure,
From Elba to Lyons and Paris he goes,
Making _balls for_ the ladies, and _bows_ to his foes.

You must have seen the account of his driving into the middle of
the royal army, and the immediate effect of his pretty speeches.
And now if he don't drub the allies, there is 'no purchase in
money.' If he can take France by himself, the devil's in 't if he
don't repulse the invaders, when backed by those celebrated
sworders--those boys of the blade, the Imperial Guard, and the old
and new army. It is impossible not to be dazzled and overwhelmed by
his character and career. Nothing ever so disappointed me as his
abdication, and nothing could have reconciled me to him but some
such revival as his recent exploit; though no one could anticipate
such a complete and brilliant renovation.

"To your question, I can only answer that there have been some
symptoms which look a little gestatory. It is a subject upon which
I am not particularly anxious, except that I think it would please
her uncle, Lord Wentworth, and her father and mother. The former
(Lord W.) is now in town, and in very indifferent health. You,
perhaps, know that his property, amounting to seven or eight
thousand a year, will eventually devolve upon Bell. But the old
gentleman has been so very kind to her and me, that I hardly know
how to wish him in heaven, if he can be comfortable on earth. Her
father is still in the country.

"We mean to metropolise to-morrow, and you will address your next
to Piccadilly. We have got the Duchess of Devon's house there, she
being in France.

"I don't care what Power says to secure the property of the Song,
so that it is _not_ complimentary to me, nor any thing about
'condescending' or '_noble_ author'--both 'vile phrases,' as
Polonius says.

"Pray, let me hear from you, and when you mean to be in town. Your
continental scheme is impracticable for the present. I have to
thank you for a longer letter than usual, which I hope will induce
you to tax my gratitude still further in the same way.

"You never told me about 'Longman' and 'next winter,' and I am
_not_ a 'mile-stone.'"[77]

[Footnote 76: The death of his infant god-daughter, Olivia Byron Moore.]

[Footnote 77: I had accused him of having entirely forgot that, in a preceding letter, I had informed him of my intention to publish with the Messrs. Longman in the ensuing winter, and added that, in giving him this information, I found I had been--to use an elegant Irish metaphor--"whistling jigs to a mile-stone."]

* * * * *