xi.] FAILURE OF HEALTH. 361 



To DK. SYMONDS. 



* EDINBURGH, December 18th, 1854. 



' . . . I have finished, or all but finished, the " Disser- 

 tation." In fact it is out of hands, and will begin to be 

 printed immediately : but I shall carry it slowly through 

 press for the purpose of revisions. As you kindly take an 

 interest in it, and indeed have had a considerable share in 

 the fact of its production, you will I know be glad of 

 this. It extends to about 600 pages such as you have 

 seen me writing. It has been a very useful as well as 

 pleasant labour useful, I mean, as an employment of 

 interest ; and the very handsome honorarium I am to 

 receive 400 guineas is by no means a matter of indif- 

 ference. What a profoundly striking event this death of 

 the Czar ! I hope it will be the dawn of better days for 

 Europe, and this country in particular. I trust indeed 

 we have learned a lesson in the humiliation to which 

 England has been and is reduced, and which will not be 

 forgotten for one generation at least. 



* I do not follow the Times in their recent out- 

 cry about England being governed by a few families, 

 ruined by its aristocracy, and plebeian talent kept 

 down. Show us the talent ! Who has been named to 

 meet the crisis, who cannot get into power ? The House 

 of Commons is not elected by the aristocracy; yet 

 where is the commanding talent it possesses? In fact 

 the Times only exposes its own inconsistency. A few 

 weeks ago the single man it could name to be the saviour 

 of his country was Lord Dalhousie. I cannot help 

 thinking Layard, who is the present Times hero, rather a 

 light horseman. It is a rare event when I enter upon 

 politics, so pray forgive me ; and believe me, with j\lis. 

 l>es' kind and cordial remembrances/ 



out the middle of the session he writes thus : 

 4 I can give you a good report of myself. With trilling 

 oscillations my health is good, ,-md I f ( < 1 r -illy up to my 



!i<l tin- better for it. I take, indeed, extreme < 

 to avoid cold, t wind set in, which 



