Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/71

Rh “In divinity nothing goes off so rapidly as controversy, such as the Oxford Tracts, filled with disputes whether the clergy should turn to the south or to the north in administering the sacrament, and whether they should pray from a low stool or a reading-desk, while meanwhile the weightier matters of the law are neglected; but I trust the Bible will assert its superiority over the rubric, and St. Paul be always authority. In fiction there has been a most extraordinary sale for Lady Lytton Bulwer’s new work, ‘Cheveley,’ two editions of which were sold in London before a single copy has been spared to us at a distance; therefore, I have only seen extracts sufficient to prove that it is flavored to the reigning taste with gossip and scandal, our present ministry and her Majesty the Queen being introduced as leading characters, and made to take a conspicuous share in the story and in the dialogues. It is quite a recent innovation, that of taking living persons and using them as puppets to play the game of life with, but it occasions great astonishment that the Queen herself has been so freely handled. Sir Lytton Bulwer and his lady used to write fictions in concert, but they have now quarrelled and have separated; therefore she adopts the Tory side of politics in opposition to him, and wishes to show that the wit and talent of their former works was all her own, which has sharpened her pen considerably.

“I should like much to see the New York Review which you mention; and although it is an additional pleasure to see any of your friends who are obliging enough to bring me an introduction from you, yet the expense of any package or letter is no object to me, and I hope may never stand in the way of my hearing from you or receiving any such notices of my work as might be not only interesting, but extremely useful as containing suggestions.

“I propose this summer to spend some months in travelling over the most interesting parts of Scotland. Little has been written of a lighter kind on this romantic land, and in all probability I may be tempted to continue my ‘Hill and