Page:A Voice from the Nile, and Other Poems. (Thomson, Dobell).djvu/49

 eleven, and I have much to do to-morrow, I will conclude in pity for myself if not in ruth for you."

The next extract is from a letter dated November 1, 1878:—

"I am very sorry but scarcely surprised that things are not very flourishing with you just now. You are correct in supposing that it is ditto with me. With the natural depression of trade infinitely aggravated during the past two years by the wretched impolicy of our Jewish-Jingo misgovernment, it cannot be well with anybody but arm-manufacturers, exchange speculators, and Hebrew adventurers; and things seen likely to grow much worse before they get better The 'Improvisations' I shall be delighted to see. It is so scarce that I have never yet been able to come across it, and have never seen any mention of it save that by Rossetti in his supplementary chapter (a very fine one) to the 'Life of Blake.' It is not even in the British Museum, having been printed for private circulation only, if I remember aright. I should think it would be a real treasure to any of Wilkinson's few admirers; for, as you know, the fewer the devotees of any man or thing, the more enthusiastic."

The following is from a letter dated December 23, 1878:—

Many thanks for the 'Improvisations A brief glance at it, and perusal of the remarkable note at the