Art and Science 



will sometimes do, though the loss of a limb 

 may not be seriously felt. 



I have been reminded lately of these con- 

 siderations with more than common force by 

 reading the very voluminous correspondence 

 left by my grandfather. Dr. Butler, of Shrews- 

 bury, whose memoirs I am engaged in writing. 

 I have found a large number of interesting 

 letters on subjects of serious import, but must 

 confess that it is to the hardly less numerous 

 lighter letters that I have been most attracted, 

 nor do I feel sure that my eminent namesake 

 did not share my predilection. Among other 

 letters in my possession I have one bundle 

 that has been kept apart, and has evidently 

 no connection with Dr. Butler's own life. I 

 cannot use these letters, therefore, for my 

 book, but over and above the charm of their 

 inspired spelling, I find them of such an ex- 

 tremely trivial nature that I incline to hope 

 the reader may derive as much amusement 

 from them as I have done myself, and venture 

 to give them the publicity here which I must 

 refuse them in my book. The dates and 

 signatures have, with the exception of 



49 D 



