A case has been got up--whether by Irving, the Stage Representative of Shylock, or by his Admirers--to prove the Jew to be a very amiable and ill-used man: insomuch that one is to come away from the theatre loving him and hating all the rest. He dresses himself up to look like the Saviour, Mrs. Kemble says. So old Jem disposes of _that_, besides unravelling Shakespeare's mechanism of the Novel he draws from, in a manner (as Jem says) more distinct to us than in his treatment of any other of his Plays "not professedly historical." And this latter point is, of course, far more interesting than the question of Irving and Co.,--which is a simple attempt, both of Actor and Writer, to strike out an original idea in the teeth of common-sense and Tradition. And now came the end, unexpected and the result of an accident, which he maintained was entirely his own fault. In writing to tell me of the fatal result, one of his dearest friends said: I grieve to tell you that all is over with our dear old friend.... He intended to cross before two carriages--crossed before one--found there was not time to pass before the other, and instead of pausing stepped back under the hansom which he had not seen, and which had not time to alter its course. He spent more strength in exculpating the poor driver than on any personal matter during his illness as soon as he regained memory of the circumstances. "Mowbray Donne," says FitzGerald, when all was over, "wrote me that Laurence had been there four or five days ago, when Spedding said, that had the Cab done but a little more, it would have been a good Quietus. Socrates to the last." And in another letter: Tennyson called at the Hospital, but was not allowed to see him, though Hallam did, I think. Some one calling afterwards, Spedding took the doctor's arm, and asked, "Was it Mr. Tennyson?" Doctors and nurses all devoted to the patient man. To Fanny Kemble he writes: It was very, very good and kind of you to write to me about Spedding. Yes: Aldis Wright had apprised me of the matter just after it happened--he happening to be in London at the time; and but two days after the accident heard that Spedding was quite calm, and even cheerful; only anxious that Wright himself should not be kept waiting for some communication which S. had promised him! Whether to live, or to die, he will be Socrates still.