82

The Eve of Battle.

The Duke's own letter announcing the sad intelligence to the poet, written a few days before Sir Walter's, but not received in due course, is a beautiful illustration of Christian composure. The description of the closing scene is deeply pathetic; and the unselfish resolution with which his Grace concludes is indicative of the noble heart which he possessed.

Except in the case of suicides, there are few examples on record of letters deliberately written in the anticipation of death. The following touching epistle was penned by the lamented Colonel Shadforth, of the 57th Regiment, the evening before the fruitless attack upon the celebrated 'Redan,' on the 18th of June 1855, when he fell along with many other brave companions in arms:

Before SebastOPOL, June 17, 9 P.M.

MY OWN BELOVED WIFE AND DEARLY BELOVED CHILDREN,-At one o'clock to-morrow morning I head the 57th to storm the Redan. It is, as I feel, an awfully perilous moment to me, but I place myself in the hands of our gracious God, without whose will a sparrow cannot fall to the ground. I place my whole trust in Him. Should I fall in the performance of my duty, I fully rely in the precious blood of our Saviour, shed for sinners, that I may be saved through Him. Pardon and forgive me, my beloved ones, for anything I may have said or

Thomas Arnold.

83

done to cause you one moment's unhappiness. Unto God I commend my body and soul, which are His; and, should it be His will that I fall in the performance of my duty, in the defence of my Queen and country, I most humbly say, 'Thy will be done.' God bless you and protect you; and my last prayer will be, that He in His infinite goodness may preserve me to you. God ever bless you, my beloved Eliza, and my dearest children, and if we meet not again in this world, may we all meet in the mansion of our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ. God bless and protect you; and ever believe me, your affectionate husband and loving father,

THOMAS SHADFORTH.

In the letters of Dr. Arnold, we find abundant illustration of that manliness of tone and liberality of sentiment for which he was so remarkably distinguished. His correspondence with the Chevalier Bunsen, Dr. Whately Archbishop of Dublin, Mr. Justice Coleridge, and other eminent men, on the leading questions of the day, is possessed of peculiar interest; but probably the majority of readers derive a still greater amount of gratification from the perusal of the numerous letters which he addressed to old pupils while residing at the Universities or engaged in the active business of life.

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The Ettrick Shepherd.

Quaint and Pithy Letters.

Apropos to the correspondence of eminent individuals, I may here introduce a few curiously expressed epistles from my own collection of autographs, which embraces a goodly array of the celebrities of the present century; and, of course, an additional amount of interest is attached to them from the circumstance-so far, at least, as I am aware-of their never having been published. Towards the end of the year 1813, the 'Ettrick Shepherd' writes from Edinburgh to his brother William, with reference to his celebrated poem, The Queen's Wake, and various other matters :

THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD TO HIS BROTHER WILLIAM.

EDIN., Novr. 28, 1813.

DEAR BROTHER,—I have been very much to blame in not answering your letter, but the truth is that I never write any letters. The one of yours which I received in Athol I cannot lay my hands upon, but I know I objected particularly to the terms perfect breed and perfection of a breed. I received all my things in the box safe, and I find them of excellent quality. I am sorry I have not got a copy of the Wake to you, tho' I sent for one. I send you the Review and Mag. You shall have a copy of the poem soon. I will see my nephew Robert today, as I am bound to the south. Mr. Gray has a good

Lady Charlotte Bury.

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letter from you, which I understand he has been reading in all the literary circles of Edinr., to show them, as he says, that the genius of the family is not all concentred in one head. For God's sake, take some thought of your wases and weres, has and have, is and are, etc. Excuse me, my dear William, for, believe me, the writing of a letter is now the greatest penance I suffer.— I am your affectionate brother, JAMES HOGG.

A few years later, Lady Charlotte Bury indites a somewhat comical note to Mr. Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, the Horace Walpole of Scotland (from whom I received it), towards the close of which she abruptly substitutes the first for the third person! Lady Charlotte was the daughter of the fifth, and aunt of the eighth and present Duke of Argyll. She was twice married, first to Colonel John Campbell of the family of Shawfield; and secondly (in 1818) to the Rev. Edward Bury :

LADY CHARLOTTE BURY TO CHARLES KIRKPATRICK SHARPE, ESQUIRE.

No. 6 NEW CAVENDISH STREET,

30th December 1826.

LADY CHARLOTTE BURY ventures to request a favour of Mr. Sharpe. If he has not forgotten that such a person is in existence, she hopes she may avail herself of old acquaintanceship; if he has, she can only plead Mr. Sharpe's well-known ability and learning on matters

86

'Style' of the Third Person.

such as she is about to address him, and trust to his politeness to forgive her.

Lady Charlotte Bury is very anxious to obtain every species of information respecting her family of Argyll -and if Mr. Sharpe will in any way assist her to do this, either by reference or by sending her any papers or documents, she will be very seriously obliged to him. There was a lady of the family who was a poetess—now whether bad or good, Lady C. would give the world for her poetry-but the most trifling circumstances will be all accounted valuable. Accept [the third person puzzles me] accept then, I pray, my compts. and good wishes and excuses, and forgive this chambermaid piece of eloquence. CHARLOTTE MARIA BURY.

Although the 'style' of the third person may be found suitable for invitations to dinner and certain other formal communications, there can be no doubt that it proves highly inconvenient when the note extends to any length. In such a case the result is generally far from elegant, and even the most skilful use of the pronouns is productive of ambiguity; e.g., 'Mrs. Smith presents her compliments to Mrs. Simpson, and will feel extremely obliged by her informing her whether she could conveniently favour her with an interview in the course of to-morrow afternoon, as she is anxious to make some inquiries respecting her present housekeeper.— 18 CAMBRIDGE SQUARE, 20th November 1869.'

Here