“I wonder will the new Secretary at F. O. act energetically about Greece? I have grave doubts that Gladstone will make conciliation the condition of his appointment. We are in a position to do whatever we like: the difficulty is to know what that should be. To cause the misfortune [? ], the blunders of [? ] & Co. would not have succeeded without the heavy rain that made the rivers impassable and retarded the movements. In fact, such a combination of evil accidents never was heard of, and had anybody failed in anything they did, the poor fellows would now be living. “I am glad to think Oliphant will come back to the world again,--these genial fellows are getting too rare to spare one of the best of them to barbarism. I should like to meet him again.” _To Mr John Blackwood._ “Trieste, _July_ 9, 1870. “I have just received your cordial note, and write at once to say how sorry I am not to be able to do a sketch of Lord C[larendon]. First of all, I have not anything that could serve to remind me of his career. I know he was a Commissioner of Customs in Ireland, an Ambassador in Spain, and a Viceroy in Dublin, but there ends my public knowledge of him. Personally I only remember him as a very high-bred and courteous gentleman, who made a most finished manner do service for wit (which he had not), and a keen insight into life, especially foreign life, of which he really only knew the conventional part. If I had the materials for his biography I would not hesitate about the sketch, but it is as well (for _you_) that I have not, for I should not do it well, and we should both of us be sorry at the failure. “I’ll tell you, however, who could and would do it well, Rob. Lytton, who married his niece, and is now at Knebworth. _He_ knew Lord C. intimately, and had exactly that sort of appreciation of him that the public would like and be pleased to see in print. “I don’t think Dickens’ memory is at all served by this ill-judged adulation. He was a man of genius and a loyal, warm-hearted, good fellow; but he was not Shakespeare, nor was Sam Weller Falstaff. “I hope you will like my Greek paper. I cannot turn my mind to anything else, and must add some pages when I see the proof. I hear there will be no Greek debate, as all parties are agreed not to discuss Lord C.’s absurd concession about the ship of war to take off the brigands,--a course which would have given Russia such a handle for future meddling, and left us totally unable to question it. “My journey has certainly done me good. My flurried action of the heart has greatly left me, and except a sense of deep dreariness and dislike to do anything--even speak--I am as I used to be. “I’d say time would do the rest if I did not hope for something more merciful than time and that shall anticipate time: I mean rest--long rest.” _To Mr John Blackwood._ “_Aug_. 4, 1870.