It is such a delight to be able at last to write to you, to tell you that few events this year have given me such great pleasure as your noble success in Oxford. The English have shown how gladly they will listen to something good and new, if any one will lay it before them in their own halls and in their “gown.” Morier has faithfully reported everything, and my whole family sympathize in your triumph, as if it concerned ourselves. I have heard from Empson that he will let your article appear in the third quarter (1st July). All space for the 1st of April had been promised since December. He will have it printed very early, that we may have time to read it comfortably, and see if it really wants a “head and tail.” He seems to think it is _not_ wanted. So much the better, I answered him. George writes diligently, _De Nili fontibus_, and revels in the scientific life of Bonn. He is coming at Easter for four weeks, and intends immediately after Whitsuntide to take his degree _cum honore_. You have seen that Lachmann was obliged to have his foot amputated, as it was mortifying. The operation was very well performed; but the question is, whether the evil may not still spread. Haupt writes in great anxiety; he hurried off to his friend, to nurse him. Theodore comes as early as the 7th of April, and goes to the University after Easter. We have all had something of influenza, but not so that we were obliged to give up our _Tuesday evenings_, which are very well attended, as many as 300 people, who amuse themselves and us well. When are you coming to us? I have come to the end of the third volume, in working over “Egypt,” and have already besides a third of the fourth volume ready for press. By the 1st of May the fourth volume must be sent to Gotha. [16.] CARLTON TERRACE, _Tuesday Morning, May 13, 1851_, 7 o’clock. (_Olymp._ I. I. I.) according to new German Chronology. See tables for “Egypt.” I must at last take my early morning hour to write to you, instead of writing, or rather preparing, a chapter of my fifth volume. For I find the flood of business which begins with breakfast subsides now only after midnight, and I have many things I must say to you. First, my thanks and good wishes for the sketch of your lectures. You have rightly understood the importance of epic poetry in its historical bearing, and for _the __ first time_ connected it with the earliest times of the epic nations, namely, the primitive period of their community of language.