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is an answer is unfortunately lost :-"The description which you give of your associated studies is so inviting, that had not my blood been cooled and subdued by what is equivalent to at least sixty winters, viz., a six years' residence in college, I certainly must have burst these chains of celibacy, in which interest entangles me, and have precipitated myself into matrimony."

In November Mr. Cary went to Oxford for the purpose of taking his Master's degree, and towards the end of the year was called to London on business. During these brief absences he wrote the following letters

TO HIS WIFE.

November, 1796.

DEAREST JANE,

I am much disappointed at not having a letter from you this morning, but am more inclined to lay the blame of my unhappiness on the uncertainty of the conveyance than on your negligence. I got safely here about five yesterday morning, went to bed, and rose to regret your loss, and to think that five more days must pass before I could see you. One and a half are now gone, and my business proceeds so smoothly that I do not fear being able to see you on Thursday evening. I doubt whether a letter written to-morrow would reach you on Wednesday, and will therefore send this

to-day. My friends here are well. I am just going to dine with Birch. I should seem at home here if I could forget you, but that is impossible; and if it was possible I should not wish it. Price receives me into his lodgings, the same that I had formerly myself. I talk as if you knew all my friends.

Is it possible that the reason why I don't hear from you can be that you don't know my direction? My mother would certainly have told you, if you were at a loss. There is little chance of my seeing your brother Stephen here; he would not think it worth while to come for two days only. He could not get my letter till to-day, as the mail of Saturday got the start of me. How I long to be with you once more under our quiet roof at Bromley? Will it not be better to write to Betty and tell her to make fires in our house? But I shall see you on Thursday, and you cannot, I believe, write before. I am paying away all our money, and hope to leave this place without a single debt, except for the instruction it has afforded me; one that I can never discharge. This evening I shall probably go to a music meeting where there will be Cramer and Mrs. Bland. The only thing to prevent me will be, that I feel disposed to enjoy as little pleasure as I can if you don't partake of it.

My frizeur comes and calls me away. Good by, sweet Jane.

TO THE SAME.

Glocester Hotel, 4 o'clock. Piccadilly, December 29, 1796.

MY DEAR JANE,

I

I have been writing letters every moment almost since I have been in London, so that you won't wonder I am almost sick of the occupation. have not yet had time to go to Suffolk-street to inquire about Stephen, but will go there immediately; and if he is in London add a line to let you know; if not, close my letter and put it in the office before I return. You will laugh at me if I tell you my journey was really a pleasant one. The agreeable fellow-traveller whom I mentioned to you in the few lines of galimathias I wrote you from Coventry, where we stopped to dine, entertained me till supper-time, 11 o'clock, by quotations of Greek, Latin, Italian, and French writers, in which he displayed a most marvellous power of memory. He was an officer, but I know not his name, which I regret much. From 11 to half past 7, when we arrived in London, I slept so soundly as not to perceive they had changed horses but once-then I was dozing-though we came fifty-two miles. This never happened to me before. On my arrival here after going to bed for two hours, I went to see the Bishop's secretary, who makes me fear I shall be detained in town till Monday; then went in search of the coffee-house which my father had recom

mended me, and which I found had been closed fifteen years; then came over to the first hotel that I saw c the other side of the street, ate a hearty breakfast, wrote two letters, then went to call on Dr. Robertson, the man whom next to Heaven I may thank that I ever saw you; then returned to my hotel, wrote two more letters, and am now, as you may perceive, writing to you, and losing the opportunity of hearing the debate in the House of Commons, into which I now of course cannot gain admittance, as I very well perceive myself. But I must chatter no longer, or my letter will be too late for the post.

Adieu, dearest Jenny,

Your affectionate Husband,

H. F. C.

I have just thrown the ink instead of the sand over the paper; however it shall go, and will perhaps make you laugh. Adieu, sweet Jane.

His journal and his note-book again attest both his industry and his critical taste.

JOURNAL, 1796, CONTINUED.

October 10 to 13. Read Zimmerman on Solitude. The subject of this essay is its commendation; but it has disappointed my expectations. Much that is said of Rousseau and Lavater is interesting. It comes into English through the medium of the

Read Anstey's

French, and is greatly curtailed.

New Bath Guide with Jane.

December 3. Finished Sydney's Pembroke's Arcadia with Jane.

5. Began Voyage du Jeune Anacharsis with Jane, and read to p. 59.

6. Continued Anacharsis to p. 80 with Jane. 7. Continued Anacharsis to p. 93 with Jane. 8. Continued Anacharsis to p. 144 with Jane. 9. Continued Anacharsis to p. 162 with Jane. 10. Continued Anacharsis to p. 185 with Jane. 11. Read Henry IV., first Part, and first act of the second Part with Jane.

12. Continued Anacharsis to p. 209, and finished the second Part of Henry IV. with Jane.

13. Continued Anacharsis to p. 245 with Jane.

14. Finished the Poetics of Aristotle in the edition of Tyrwhitt. Continued Anacharsis to p. 269 with Jane.

15. Read the Caractacus of Mason, and continued Anacharsis to p. 287 with Jane.

16. Continued Anacharsis to p. 301 with Jane. 17. Continued Anacharsis to p. 314 with Jane. 18. Read St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans in Greek.

19. Read St. Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians in Greek.

20. Continued the Greek Testament; the second Epistle to the Corinthians, and the Epistle to the

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