UP THE RHINE. TO GERARD BROOKE, ESQ., LEMINGTON, HANTS. MY DEAR BROOKE,-Your reproach is just. My epistolary taciturnity has certainly been of unusual duration; but instead of filling up a sheet with mere excuses, I beg to refer you at once to "Barclay's Apology for Quakerism," which I presume includes an apology for silence. The truth is, I have had nothing to write of, and in such cases I philosophically begrudge postage, as a contradiction to the old axiom ex nihilo nihil fit, inasmuch as the revenue through such empty epistles gets something out of nothing. Now, however, I have news to break, and I trust you are not so good a man as "unconcerned to hear the mighty crack." WE ARE GOING UP THE RHINE!!! You who have been long aware of my yearning to the abounding river, like the supposed mystical bending of the hazel twig towards the unseen waters, will be equally pleased and surprised at such an announcement. In point of fact, but for the preparations that are hourly B |