As to remarks, I can only say I will alter and acquiesce in any thing. With regard to the part which Whitbread wishes to omit, I believe the Address will go off _quicker_ without it, though, like the agility of the Hottentot, at the expense of its vigour. I leave to your choice entirely the different specimens of stucco-work; and a _brick_ of your own will also much improve my Babylonish turret. I should like Elliston to have it, with your leave. 'Adorn' and 'mourn' are lawful rhymes in Pope's Death of the unfortunate Lady.--Gray has 'forlorn' and 'mourn;'--and 'torn' and 'mourn' are in Smollet's famous Tears of Scotland. "As there will probably be an outcry amongst the rejected, I hope the committee will testify (if it be needful) that I sent in nothing to the congress whatever, with or without a name, as your Lordship well knows. All I have to do with it is with and through you; and though I, of course, wish to satisfy the audience, I do assure you my first object is to comply with your request, and in so doing to show the sense I have of the many obligations you have conferred upon me. Yours ever, B." [Footnote 52: At present, "As glared the volumed blaze."] * * * * * LETTER 103. TO LORD HOLLAND. "September 29. 1812. "Shakspeare certainly ceased to reign in _one_ of his kingdoms, as George III. did in America, and George IV. may in Ireland.[53] Now, we have nothing to do out of our own realms, and when the monarchy was gone, his majesty had but a barren sceptre. I have _cut away_, you will see, and altered, but make it what you please; only I do implore, for my _own_ gratification, one lash on those accursed quadrupeds--'a long shot, Sir Lucius, if you love me.' I have altered 'wave,' &c., and the 'fire,' and so forth for the timid. "Let me hear from you when convenient, and believe me, &c. "P.S.--Do let _that_ stand, and cut out elsewhere. I shall choke, if we must overlook their d----d menagerie." [Footnote 53: Some objection, it appears from this, had been made to the passage, "and Shakspeare _ceased to reign_."] * * * * * LETTER 105. TO LORD HOLLAND. "Far be from him that hour which asks in vain Tears such as flow for Garrick in his strain; _or_, "Far be that hour that vainly asks in turn {_crown'd his_} Such verse for him as { wept o'er } Garrick's urn. "September 30. 1812. "Will you choose between these added to the lines on Sheridan?[54] I think they will wind up the panegyric, and agree with the train of thought preceding them.