early enough to catch you before you can get out—when we will proceed to the Academy. I think you must be suited with a good painting light in your Bay window. I wish you to return the Compliment by going with me to see a Poem I have hung up for the Prize in the Lecture Room of the Surry Institution. I have many Rivals the most threatening are An Ode to Lord Castlereagh, and a new series of Hymns for the New, new Jerusalem Chapel. You had best put me into your Cave of despair. Ever yours sincerely

John Keats

Severn, who has produced a very clever and unexaggerated picture." When the picture appeared at the Academy exhibition of the next year, there was the following note on it in Annals of the Fine Arts :-" This picture, it appears obtained the medal last year; and we are sorry that of all their students such as this should be the best. Their regulations drive the able from their schools, and humble mediocrity is all that is left them." In the Academy catalogue for 1820 the title of the picture (Number 398) is “Una and the Red Cross Knight in the Cave"; and an extract is given from The Faerie Queene (Book I, Canto IX, stanzas 48-52,-the passage in which Una seizes the dagger from the Red Cross Knight, and prevents his using it against himself.

When I saw you last, you ask'd me whether you should see me again before Christmas. You would have seen me if I had been quite well. I have not, though not unwell enough to have prevented me-not indeed at all -but fearful le[s]t the weather should affect my throat which on exertion or cold continually threatens me.-By the advice of my Doctor I have had a warm great Coat made and have ordered some thick shoes-so furnish'd I shall be with you if it holds a little fine before Christmas day. I have been very busy since I saw you, especially the last Week, and shall be for some time, in preparing some Poems to come out in the Spring, and also in brightening the interest of our Tragedy. Of the Tragedy I can give you but news semigood. It is accepted at Drury Lane with a promise of coming out next season: as that will be too long a delay we have determined to get Elliston to bring it out this Season or to transfer it to Covent Garden. This Elliston will not like, as we have every motive to believe that Kean has perceived how suitable the principal Character will be for him. My hopes of success in the literary world are now better than ever. Mr. Abbey, on my calling on him lately, appeared anxious that I should apply myself to something else-He mentioned Tea Brokerage. I

supposed he might perhaps mean to give me the Brokerage of his concern which might be executed with little trouble and a good profit; and therefore said I should have no objection to it, especially as at the same time it occur[r]ed to me that I might make over the business to George-I questioned him about it a few days after. His mind takes odd turns. When I became a Suitor he became coy. He did not seem so much inclined to serve me. He described what I should have to do in the progress of business. It will not suit me. I have given it up. I have not heard again from George, which rather disappoints me, as I wish to hear before I make any fresh remittance of his property. I received a note from Mrs. Dilke a few days ago inviting me to dine with her on Xmas day which I shall do. Mr. Brown and I go on in our old dog trot of Breakfast, dinner (not tea, for we have left that off), supper, Sleep, Confab, stirring the fire and reading. Whilst I was in the Country last Summer, Mrs. Bentley tells me, a woman in mourning call'd on me,—and talk'd something of an aunt of ours-I am so careless a fellow I did not enquire, but will particularly: On Tuesday I am going to hear some Schoolboys Speechify on breaking up day -I'll lay you a pocket pi[e]ce we shall have "My name is Norval." I have not yet look'd for the Letter you mention'd as it is mix'd up in a box full of papers-you must tell me, if you can recollect, the subject of it. This moment Bentley brought a Letter from George for me to deliver to Mrs. Wylie-I shall see her and it before I see you. The Direction was in his best hand written with a good Pen and sealed with a Tassi [e]'s Shakspeare such as I gave you-We judge of people's hearts by their Countenances; may we not judge of Letters in the same way?-if so, the Letter does not contain unpleasant

news-Good or bad spirits have an effect on the handwriting. This direction is at least unnervous and healthy. Our Sister is also well, or George would have made strange work with Ks and Ws. The little Baby is well or he would have formed precious vowels and Consonants-He sent off the Letter in a hurry, or the mail bag was rather a warm berth, or he has worn out his Seal, for the Shakespeare's head is flattened a little. This is close muggy weather as they say at the Ale housesI am, ever, my dear Sister, Yours affectionately

I wrote to you a Letter directed Walthamstow the day before yesterday wherein I promised to see you before Christmas day. I am sorry to say I have been and continue rather unwell, and therefore shall not be able to promise certainly. I have not seen Mrs. Wylie's Letter. Excuse my dear Fanny this very shabby note. Your affectionate Brother

John.

VOL. IV.

E

CXXIII.

To GEORGIANA AUGUSTA KEATS,

My dear Sis.:

born Wylie.

Thursday, January 13, 1820.

By the time that you receive this your troubles will be over. I wish you knew that they were half over; I mean that George is safe in England, and in good health. I fear I must be dull, having had no good

This brilliant letter written to Keats's brilliant sister-in-law in America has given rise to some controversy. The version here adopted, or the greater part of it, was published in the New York World of the 25th of June 1877, with the statement that it was written while George Keats was in England, on the same business that had disturbed Keats at Winchester. Lord Houghton mentions this visit as having been made "early in the winter"; and I presume George must have arrived some time between the "close muggy weather" of the third week in December 1819, mentioned at page 49, and Sunday the 9th of January 1820, when the two brothers dined at the Millers'. Lord Houghton gives a different version of a part of this letter, as written "soon after George's departure." The letter begins thus in the Life, Letters &c.—

My dear Sister,

By the time you receive this your troubles will be over, and George have returned to you.

Setting aside the verbal inconsistency between the two versions, the inconsistency as regards fact, which has been charged against them, is surely not real. Both versions alike indicate that Keats was writing with the knowledge that his letter would not reach Mrs. George Keats till after the return of her husband from his sudden and short visit to England; and, assuming the genuineness of the latter portion of this letter, which I have restored from The Philobiblion for August 1862, this was certainly the case. This portion seems to me, on internal evidence alone, of indubitable authenticity, although given side by side with a letter purporting to