Last week I went over to Yarmouth and saw Squire. I was prepared, and I think you were, to find a quaint old gentleman of the last century. Alas for guesses at History! I found a wholesome, well-grown, florid, clear- eyed, open-browed, man of about my own age! There was no difficulty at all in coming to the subject at once, and tackling it. Squire is, I think, a straight-forward, choleric, ingenuous fellow--a little mad--cracks away at his family affairs. 'One brother is a rascal--another a spend-thrift--his father was of an amazing size--a prodigious eater, etc.--the family all gone to _smithers_,' etc. I liked Squire well: and told him he must go to you; I am sure you will like him better than the London penny-a-liners. He is rather a study: and besides he can tell you bits of his Ancestor's journal; which will indeed make you tear your hair for what is burned--Between two and three hundred folio pages of MSS. by a fellow who served under Oliver; been sent on secret service by him; dreaded him: but could not help serving him--Squire told me a few circumstances which he had picked up in running over the Journal before he burnt it; and which you ought to hear from himself before long. Dreadful stories of Oliver's severity; soldiers cut down by sabre on parade for 'violence to women'--a son shot on the spot just before his Father's house for having tampered with Royalists--no quarter to spies--noses and ears of Royalists slit in retaliation of a like injury done to Roundheads;--many deeds which that ancient Squire witnessed, or knew for certain, and which he and his successor thought severe and _cruel_:--but I could make out nothing unjust--I am very sure _you_ would not. The Journalist told a story of Peterboro' Cathedral like yours in your book about Ely:--Oliver marching in as the bells were ringing to service: bundling out canons, prebendaries, choristers, with the flat of the sword; and then standing up to preach himself in his armour! A grand picture. Afterwards they broke the painted windows which I should count injudicious;--but that I sometimes feel a desire that some boys would go and do likewise to the Pusey _votive_ windows; if you know that branch of art. Ancestor Squire got angry with Oliver toward the end of the Journal; on some such account as this--Cromwell had promised him a sum of money; but the ancestor got taken prisoner by pirate or privateer before he went to claim the money; had to be redeemed by Oliver; and the redemption money was subtracted from the whole sum promised by Oliver when payment-time came. This proceeding seemed to both Squires, living and dead, shabby; but one not belonging to the family may be permitted to think it all fair.