666 MR. MAYHEW's LETTER TO MR. RARLOW. 
had the honour of appearing in 6 The Veterinarian 9 some 
months ago. 
In that paper I, save when specially pointing to the con- 
trary, appeal to facts. If Mr. Barlow’s studies do not enable 
him to follow me through so very simple a statement of 
things, which should be obvious to every professional mind, 
I may regret his ignorance, but cannot possibly enlighten his 
understanding. 
I was just as ee matchless” in my “ reckless assumption,” 
and in i£ the wild vagaries of a morbid fancy,” in ee the 
wonderful story of a heart,” as I happened to be in my last 
communication to your journal. In both instances I pro- 
ceeded upon previous information. Indeed, after the specimen 
I had experienced of his qualifications, it did surprise me that 
Mr. Barlow should be exalted into an editor ; but, when he 
supposes I, out of my imagination, elevated him to such a 
position, I must assure him he gives me credit for a power of 
conjecture, to which I have not the slightest claim. Against 
my better judgment, and in direct opposition to anything I 
could have supposed possible, I was misled by positive 
assertion volunteered by a gentleman living a few miles north 
of the Tweed. 
My credulity is to be regretted ; but the too active imagi- 
nation, which Mr. Barlow imputes as a grievous sin to me, 
appears to remain with him, since his “ morbid fancy” made 
me do that which I do not think all the stimulants in 
England could have rendered me foolish enough to have 
supposed. Mr. Barlow certainly is gifted with inordinate 
imagination, for it has tempted him to invest me with 
ee sentimentality } ” — a quality which no critic has hitherto 
detected in any writing to which my name has been appended. 
May I beg that somebody — not the author of the late 
imaginative epistle — -will enlighten me by pointing to the 
passages which induced the sagacious Mr. Barlow to honour 
me with so very novel an attribute. 
I have the honour to be, sir. 
Your very humble servant, 
Edward Mayhew. 
7 , London Street, Norfolk Square, 
Paddington. 
