The truth is, that I was shocked at seeing him compare the sufferings and death of a person who just continues to dance after the death of his lover is announced (for this is all his merit) to the pangs of Mount Calvary; and not choosing to attribute it to folly, because I reserved that charge for Weber, I unhappily in the present case ascribed it to madness, for which I pray God to forgive me, since the blow has fallen heavily when I really thought it would not be felt.

I considered Lamb as a thoughtless scribbler, who, in circumstances of ease, amused himself by writing on any subject.

Why I thought so, I cannot tell, but it was the opinion I formed to myself, for I now regret to say I never made any inquiry upon the subject; nor by any accident in the whole course of my life did I hear him mentioned beyond the name.
I remain, my dear Sir, Yours most sincerely, W.GIFFORD.
It is unnecessary to describe in detail the further progress of the _Quarterly_.

The venture was now fairly launched.

Occasionally, when some friction arose from the editorial pruning of Southey's articles, or when Mr.Murray remonstrated with the exclusion or inclusion of some particular article, Mr.Gifford became depressed, or complained, "This business begins to get too heavy for me, and I must soon have done, I fear." Such discouragement was only momentary.