My financial position becomes a little more obscure and difficult of comprehension every year, as you know; but I rub on somehow.

I have been working at literature like a galley-slave; have contributed no end of stuff to the Quarterlies; and am engaged upon a book,--yes Gil, positively a book,--which I hope may do great things for me if ever I can finish it." "Is it a novel ?" "A novel! no!" cried John Saltram, with a wry face; "it is the romance of reality I deal with.

My book is a Life of Jonathan Swift.

He was always a favourite study of mine, you know, that brilliant, unprincipled, intolerant, cynical, irresistible, miserable man.

Scott's biography seems to me to give but a tame picture, and others are only sketches.