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32 Weymouth St., Portland Place, W. - Condolences on the death of Lady Houghton; notes that her husband admired her, as did Hawthorne and Leigh Hunt.

Declares that a 'Friend hopes that "Fortune" is merely deferred - as also Fame...' [Note in Myers' hand explains this is a reply 'to some mock-heroic lines announcing (Myers') relinquishment of any project in the Direction of (word deleted)]. Thanks him for the enclosure.

Claims to begin gradually 'to have a conception of [Cyril?] Flower.' States that he is reading [George Meredith's] latest novel [Harry Richmond] 'with a painful sense of genius wasted'. Thinks 'the Septimus [Felton]" will [come] out a fair Hawthorne, not more.' Announces that he expects to hear of Hayman on Saturday from Arthur'.

23 Bruton Street. - Is ill in bed; will Milnes lend her [Nathaniel Hawthorne's] The Scarlet Letter?

Accompanied by blotting sheet with the signature of Ida Corbett.

Suggests that he had better pay the visit to which he looks forward, having ascertained from [Henry Weston] Eve 'that Edward had attained the desire of his laziness, and extolled Easter Holidays from an unwilling Committee...' Asks whether she intends to go to Rugby for the vacation. Informs her that the only time he can go to them is 'the Monday week after Easter to stay till the Saturday: or two or three days at the beginning of Passion week...' Explains that he has asked a friend [G. O. Trevelyan] to stay with them at Rugby for the week after Easter, and that he intends to go down to examine at Harrow at the end of March. Refers to a poem entitled 'Wander, o wander', which he wrote for her, and which now appears in 'McMillan's magazine'. Reports that he told their mother, and that she wrote him 'a reproachful criticism for being so unfeeling towards the young lady!' Asks if she has seen [Nathaniel] Hawthorne's [The] Scarlet Letter, which he judges to be 'a wonderful work'. Reports that he is just getting to the end of his hard work, as the Littlego begins the following Monday. Refers to an enclosed poem of [E.E.] Bowen's, [not included], about the Rifle-Corps. Tells her to show it to Donne, if he has not seen it.

Newport, Rhode Island. - Success of The Scarlet Letter etc in England; Hawthorne has enhanced unpoetic life of New England with a romance of its past; Hawthorne's reclusive habits; encloses an autograph [no longer present]; is sending Hawthorne's last volume, and a pamphlet of his own, via Chapman in the Strand. Report of poor American display at the Great Exhibition will be a timely blow to national vanity, but it does demonstrate America's lack of an underclass 'to produce luxuries for others, while they starve themselves'; hopes the same can be said in 1951 or 2051. Would like to revisit London. Has read Mrs Browning's noble new poem [Casa Guidi Windows] and Companions of My Solitude [by Arthur Helps]. Postscript: letters should always be addressed to Cambridge, Mass.