MY DEAR OLD ALFRED--Please direct the enclosed to Frederick. I wrote him some months ago getting Parker to direct; but have had no reply. _You_ won't write to me, at which I can't wonder. I keep hoping for King Arthur--or part of him. I have got here to the seaside--a dirty, Dutch-looking sea, with a dusty Country in the rear; but the place is not amiss for one's Yellow Leaf. I keep on reading foolish Persian too: chiefly because of it's connecting me with the Cowells, now besieged in Calcutta. But also I have really got hold of an old Epicurean so desperately impious in his recommendations to live only for _To-day_ that the good Mahometans have scarce dared to multiply MSS. of him. He writes in little quatrains, and has scarce any of the iteration and conceits to which his people are given. One of the last things I remember of him is that--"God gave me this turn for drink, perhaps God was drunk when he made me"--which is not strictly pious. But he is very tender about his roses and wine, and making the most of this poor little life. All which is very poor stuff you will say. Please to remember me to the Lady. I don't know when I shall ever see you again; and yet you can't think how often I wish to do so, and never forget you, and never shall, my dear old Alfred, in spite of Epicurus. But I don't grow merrier.--Yours ever, E. F. G. In 1872 he was busy with the _third_ edition of _Omar_, and wrote to consult Tennyson. The first edition had contained only seventy-five quatrains. The second was a good deal longer, containing one hundred and ten. The third was again shortened to one hundred and one: WOODBRIDGE, _March 25th, 1872_. MY DEAR ALFRED--It would be impertinent in me to trouble you with a question about _my_ grand Works. But, as you let me know (through Mrs. T.) that you liked Omar, I want to know whether you read the _First_ or _Second_ Edition; and, in case you saw _both, which you thought best_? The reason of my asking you is that Quaritch (Publisher) has found admirers in America who have almost bought up the whole of the last enormous Edition--amounting to 200 copies, I think--so he wishes to embark on 200 more, I suppose: and says that he, and his Readers, like the first Edition best: so he would reprint these. Of course _I_ thought the second best: and I think so still: partly (I fear) because the greater number of verses gave more time for the day to pass from morning till night. Well, what I ask you to do is, to tell me which of the two is best, if you have seen the two. If you have _not_, I won't ask you further:--if you have, you can answer in two words. And your words would be more than all the rest. This very little business is all I have eyes for now; except to write myself once more ever your's and Mrs. Tennyson's, E. F. G.