"Believe me ever, &c. "P.S. Murray, during my absence, _omitted_ the Tears in several of the copies. I have made him replace them, and am very wroth with his qualms,--'as the wine is poured out, let it be drunk to the dregs.'" * * * * * TO MR. MURRAY. "February 10. 1814. "I am much better, and indeed quite well, this morning. I have received _two_, but I presume there are more of the _Ana_, subsequently, and also something previous, to which the Morning Chronicle replied. You also mentioned a parody on the _Skull_. I wish to see them all, because there may be things that require notice either by pen or person. "Yours, &c. "You need not trouble yourself to answer this; but send me the things when you get them." * * * * * TO MR. MURRAY. "February 12. 1814. "If you have copies of the 'Intercepted Letters,' Lady Holland would be glad of a volume; and when you have served others, have the goodness to think of your humble servant. "You have played the devil by that injudicious _suppression_, which you did totally without my consent. Some of the papers have exactly said what might be expected. Now I _do_ not, and _will_ not be supposed to shrink, although myself and every thing belonging to me were to perish with my memory. Yours, &c. BN. "P.S. Pray attend to what I stated yesterday on _technical_ topics." * * * * * LETTER 163. TO MR. MURRAY. "Monday, February 14. 1814. "Before I left town yesterday, I wrote you a note, which I presume you received. I have heard so many different accounts of _your_ proceedings, or rather of those of others towards _you_, in consequence of the publication of these everlasting lines, that I am anxious to hear from yourself the real state of the case. Whatever responsibility, obloquy, or effect is to arise from the publication, should surely _not_ fall upon you in any degree; and I can have no objection to your stating, as distinctly and publicly as you please, _your_ unwillingness to publish them, and my own obstinacy upon the subject. Take any course you please to vindicate _yourself_, but leave me to fight my own way; and, as I before said, do not _compromise_ me by any thing which may look like _shrinking_ on my part; as for your own, make the best of it. Yours, BN." * * * * * LETTER 164. TO MR. ROGERS. "February 16. 1814. "My dear Rogers, "I wrote to Lord Holland briefly, but I hope distinctly, on the subject which has lately occupied much of my conversation with him and you.[15] As things now stand, upon that topic my determination must be unalterable.