Life and Letters of Thomas Campbell (3), Volume 3William Beattie This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850. Excerpt: ... 221 CHAPTER VI. SHAKSPEARE AND PETRARCH. From Brougham Hall Campbell returned direct to London; but, after an absence of three months--the "happiest three of his life "--he confessed that it was no easy task to break off idle habits, and pull once more in harness. The friends and festivities of Scotland were still uppermost in his thoughts; and in a letter to Mrs. Ireland--the "Mary Kenny" of early days--he thus reverts to them: --"Oct. 13th... The joy of my heart at meeting so many unchanged friends in Scotland has not yet subsided; and I need not say that, among the choicest of those friends, I reckon yourself and yours. How exquisitely went off your petits-soupers.'...! send you the enclosed letter, because I know it will please you, as containing honourable mention of one who is dear to you. "You will better understand the letter when I explain to you that during my three days' sojourn with Lord B. we quarrelled about the pronunciation of words! He said Lunnon, I said London! I told him he pronounced no better than John Moody in the Comedy. I reproached him, also, with pronouncing haunted havmted; and asked him why it should not rhyme with enchanted? The matter is a trifle; but I have a full conviction of being in the right!" The passage is this: --" I wish you had been here when the Edinburgh deputation came t'other day. I never saw better men; but they were strangers to me, and one of them, Mr. Ireland, is, it seems, a friend of yours. We were exceedingly pleased with him indeed. I was extremely vexed at their having the trouble of such a journey, and I never shall forget their kindness." Extract of a letter from Lord Brougham to T. Campbell. To this "grave discussion" Campbell often reverted in after days, with a laugh of affected triumph. "Jan. 15... |
