They are all undated save by the day of the month, but the post-marks show them to have been all written in 1836-8.

The first is a very long letter, almost the whole of which is about a quarrel between husband and wife, both friends of the writer, which it would serve no good purpose to publish.

The following passage from it, however, must not be lost:-- * * * * * "What egregious blockheads must those animals have been who discover a resemblance to my style in Latin or other quotations.

I have no need of crutches.

I can walk forward without anybody's arm; and if I wanted one, I should not take an old one in preference.