And thus dies the hero of my novel.
Far from courting the sympathy of mankind, I would rather be forgotten by posterity than give it the gratification of ejaculating preposterous sighs because I died like Camoens and Tasso on the bed of an hospital.
And since I must be buried in your country, I am happy in having insured for me the possession during the remains of my life of a cottage built after my plan, surrounded by flowering shrubs, almost within the tumpikes of the town, and yet as quiet as a country-house, and open to the free air.

Whenever I can freely dispose of a hundred pounds, I will also build a small dwelling for my corpse, under a beautiful Oriental plane-tree, which I mean to plant next November, and cultivate _con amore_.

So far I am indeed an epicure; in all other things I am the most moderate of men." The upshot of the letter is, that he wishes Mr.Murray to let him have L1,000, to be repaid in five years, he meanwhile writing articles for the _Quarterly_--one-half of the payment to be left with the publisher, and the remaining half to be added to his personal income.

He concludes: "In seeking out a way of salvation, I think it incumbent on me to prevent the tyranny of necessity, that I might not be compelled by it to endanger my character and the interest of a friend whose kindness I have always experienced, and whose assistance I am once more obliged to solicit." Mr.Murray paid off some of his more pressing embarrassments--L30 to Messrs.

Bentley for bills not taken up; L33 7_s_.