1857. INFLAMMATORY ATTACK. 313 



Directorial Correspondence. ... I subjoin two conun- 

 drums for May's benefit. They made themselves in my 

 brain the other day, and as their study is fitted to invigorate 

 the intellect, and act on it as a powerful tonic, I recom- 

 mend them to her meditation. The answers I enclose in 

 a folded paper. 



1. In what country are all the people's arms, legs ? 



2. What fish are most active when the water is frozen 1 



" . . . It is at my pen's point to write about India, but 

 I forbear. We shall exchange thoughts on that solemn 

 subject again. Meanwhile, let me say that my sympathies 

 are not least with the humane Englishmen who are com- 

 pelled to be God's battle-axes on the guilty. Were I in 

 India, I should be hanging and shooting like the rest ol 

 them." 



The travelling that autumn had been contemplated with 

 considerable trepidation ; and thankfulness at no apparent 

 bad results from it was great. A return, however, of that 

 trial which had so often come upon him, namely, illness as 

 the winter session approached, was sent, so that he writes 

 to Mrs. J. H. Gladstone, on October 22d, "I have been 

 confined to the house for the last ten days with a sharpish 

 inflammatory attack, demanding leeches, and other medical 

 delectations. I told you that the doctors had discovered 

 a new malady in my distempered body, a swelling in the 

 side, which I knew too well was likely to be used as a pin- 

 cushion to stick thorns into by Satan. And so it was, but 

 thanks to the leeches, and the medicines, and the doctor, 

 and the good nursing, and above all, to the mercies of God, 

 I am back to my desk, warned in time to be very wary this 

 winter. 



" I ought to be very thankful that the attack did not occur 



