These I never pass.

You may therefore suppose that I resemble the Hermit of Parnell.
"As yet by books and swains the world he knew, Nor knew if books and swains report it true." If you substitute newspapers and visitors for books and swains, you may form an idea of what I know of the present state of things.

Write to me as one who is ignorant of every event except political occurrences.
These I learn regularly; but if Lord Byron were to publish melodies or romances, or Scott metrical tales without number, I should never see them, or perhaps hear of them, till Christmas.

Retirement of this kind, though it precludes me from studying the works of the hour, is very favourable for the employment of "holding high converse with the mighty dead." I know not whether "peeping at the world through the loopholes of retreat" be the best way of forming us for engaging in its busy and active scenes.

I am sure it is not a way to my taste.