This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903. Excerpt: ... is, not a Third part of all his collected Letters: but perhaps the best part, and quite enough for a Beginning. I can scarce imagine better Christmas fare: but I can"t, I say, guess how you would relish it. N.B. It is not gross or coarse: but you would not like the man, so satirical, selfish, and frivolous, you would think. But I think I could show you that he had a very loving Heart for a few, and a very firm, just, understanding under all his Wit and Fun. Even Carlyle has admitted that he was about the clearest-sighted Man of his time. To Mrs. Cowell. WooDBRlDGE, NoV. I 3/76. Dear Elizabeth, I did not answer your last kind letter because I thought you looked on it as an answer to several of mine to Cowell: in which I had said all I had to say. Nor must you reply to this (for I know you have many Letters to write, and much else to do beside), unless you and Cowell would like me to send you the Second Series of Lowell"s Among my Books. Cowell liked the first Volume, and will like the second equally well, I think: probably it is easily found at one of your Cambridge Libraries, and if so, or that you both of you have more than enough to read, and write, till the end of Term, do not answer, pray. Only, if you want it now, I can send it at once. With just a little less Ambition of fine, or smart writing, Lowell might almost do for many Books what Ste. Beuve has left undone. He has more Humour: but not nearly so much Delicacy of Perception, or Refinement of Style; in which Ste. Beuve seems to me at the head of all Critics. I should like to give him to you if you have him not.... Instead of going there1 (which one ought to have done), I have amused myself with reading over Boccaccio"s Decameron, which, I see by a Note at the end, I read last just nine years ago...