Letters of Edward FitzGerald | Page 7

and chews his Tobacco in peace. An Aldbro' Sailor
talking of my Boat said--'She go like a Wiolin, she do!' What a pretty
Conceit, is it not? As the Bow slides over the Strings in a liquid Tune.
Another man was talking yesterday of a great Storm: 'and, in a moment,
all as calm as a Clock.'
By the bye, Forby reasons that our Suffolk third person singular 'It go,
etc.,' is probably right as being the old Icelandic form. Why should the
3rd p. sing. be the only one that varies. And in the auxiliaries May,
Shall, Can, etc., there is no change for the 3rd pers. I incline to the
Suffolk because of its avoiding a hiss.
To George Crabbe.
MARKET-HILL, WOODBRIDGE. June 4/61.
MY DEAR GEORGE,
Let me know when you come into these Parts, and be sure I shall be
glad to entertain you as well as I can if you come while I am here. Nor
am I likely to be away further than Aldbro', so far as I see. I do
meditate crossing one fine Day to Holland: to see the Hague, Paul
Potter, and some Rembrandt at Rotterdam. This, however, is not to be

done in my little Boat: but in some Trader from Ipswich. I also talk of a
cruise to Edinburgh in one of their Schooners. But both these
Excursions I reserve for such hot weather as may make a retreat from
the Town agreeable. I make no advances to Farlingay, because (as yet)
we have not had any such Heat as to bake the Houses here: and, beside,
I am glad to be by the River. It is strange how sad the Country has
become to me. I went inland to see Acton's Curiosities before the
Auction: and was quite glad to get back to the little Town again. I am
quite clear I must live the remainder of my Life in a Town: but a little
one, and with a strip of Garden to saunter in. . . .
I go sometimes to see the Rifles drill, and shoot at their Target, and
have got John {22} to ask them up to Boulge to practise some day: I
must insinuate that he should offer them some Beer when they get there.
It is a shame the Squires do nothing in the matter: take no Interest: offer
no Encouragement, beyond a Pound or two in Money. And who are
those who have most interest at stake in case of Rifles being really
wanted? But I am quite assured that this Country is dying, as other
Countries die, as Trees die, atop first. The lower Limbs are making all
haste to follow. . . .
By the bye, don't let me forget to ask you to bring with you my Persian
Dictionary in case you come into these Parts. I read very very little: and
get very desultory: but when Winter comes again must take to some
dull Study to keep from Suicide, I suppose. The River, the Sea, etc.,
serve to divert one now.
Adieu. These long Letters prove one's Idleness.
To R. C. Trench. {23a}
MARKET-HILL, WOODBRIDGE. July 3/61.
DEAR DOCTOR TRENCH,
Thank you sincerely for the delightful little Journal {23b} which I had
from you yesterday, and only wished to be a dozen times as long. The
beautiful note at p. 73 speaks of much yet unprinted! It is a pity Mrs.

Kemble had not read p. 79. I thought in the Night of 'the subdued Voice
of Good Sense' and 'The Eye that invites you to look into it.' I doubt I
can read, more or less attentively, most personal Memoirs: but I am
equally sure of the superiority of this, in its Shrewdness, Humour,
natural Taste, and Good Breeding. One is sorry for the account of Lord
Nelson: but one cannot doubt it. It was at the time when he was
intoxicated, I suppose, with Glory and Lady Hamilton. What your
Mother says of the Dresden Madonna reminds me of what Tennyson
once said: that the Attitude of The Child was that of a Man: but perhaps
not the less right for all that. As to the Countenance, he said that scarce
any Man's Face could look so grave and rapt as a Baby's could at times.
He once said of his own Child's, 'He was a whole hour this morning
worshipping the Sunshine playing on the Bedpost.' He never writes
Letters or Journals: but I hope People will be found to remember some
of the things he has said as naturally as your Mother wrote them. {24}
To W. H. Thompson.
MARKET-HILL, WOODBRIDGE. July 15/61.
MY DEAR THOMPSON,
I was very glad to hear of you again. You need never take it to
Conscience, not answering my