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CHAPTER X.

1794—1797.

Jephson’s Poem and Letters—Another Tender Attachment—Death of Boswell—Aubrey’s Papers—The Irelands Shakspeare Forgeries—Letter of Burke—Lord Charlemont—New Tragedy by Jephson—Lord Orford—Reynolds’ Memoir and Works—Death of Burke.

In the office of literary accoucheur to Roman Portraits, a reminder occasionally dropped from the parent to keep him up to his work. Here we are permitted to witness the throes of the poet in the act of delivery; for alas! who fated to cudgel his wits for the entertainment of the public can forget the self-imposed toil of the process! He writes from Castletown (Ireland) early in January 1794:—

You are by this time, I suppose, returned from Cheshire,—I heartily hope with your health improved, your eyes strengthened, and again assailable by letter. In my last, I gave my opinion that it was not necessary to make any alteration in the first couplet of Cicero’s character; but if you don’t think so, the following line (pretty nearly your own words) may do, viz.:—

“But all these desperate parricides concealed
A woman’s tongue,” &c.

I am glad you are pleased with the note upon the poor Queen of France. Pray alter it as little as possible, for it runs so well in its present form that it drew streams of tears down the cheeks of two or three very sensible ladies who read my copy of it here. It gives me pleasure to think that in a work of mine there will be at least one striking passage