The Boswell whom you met at Longmans was Sir Alex’s

only brother, & died a few months ago, of habitual drinking,

as his father did before him.

Sir Alex. had just returned from the funeral, when he was called upon by his antagonist.

– Poor James Boswell was a thoroughly good-natured inoffensive man, of considerable talents. Malone left him his papers to compleat an edition of Shakespere, & after many years labour he published it last year.

– He had not long been made a Commissioner of Bankrupts, before which his means had been somewhat scanty I believe. I have lost in him, not a friend indeed, but a pleasant old acquaintance, whom I was always glad to meet, & of whose good will & good word I was always sure. We were schoolfellows, & when Wynn left school, & left a bed vacant in my room, I who became head boy of the house by his departure, chose xx xxxx Boswell to succeed him. A brother of Bedfords (poor Horace, – H. Walpoles

godson) was at Westminster at the same time, – we used to call him D^r Johnson,

from an affectation he had of verbal criticism, which he supported by quoting Johnson always, – & I made Boswell write after my dictation some ridiculous anecdotes of him under this name, to be read for the amusement of the sixth form. Boswell enjoyed this as much as any one, tho he used to say it was a shame to make him mob his father, – & in latter years he delighted to tell the story, & tax me with tyrannizing over him. Horace was allowed to carry off the Memoirs, which he liked well enough himself to give to his brother, & I dare say Grosvenor has them at this day.

Boswell came here in 1815 to visit Lord Sunderlin (Malones brother) & was one of the party at our midnight bonfire on the summit of Skiddaw.

Alex. Boswell was an Etonian. I saw him once when he called in Deans Yard for his brother, – & indeed Bozzy’s conversation had made me at that time well-acquainted with all the Auchinleck family.

This is the second fatal duel which has grown out of the licence of the press,

both parties think neither party scruples at any slander which may injure or annoy its opponents, & the increase of duelling must be one consequence of this disgraceful system.

Edith-May I believe, will go to Harrogate next week, & I shall probably go to bring her home, which will be the extent of my travels this year. I had planned a journey thro Holland, if I could have afforded time & money, but that scheme must stand over till a more convenient season.

Ostervalds friend

will probably make his appearance here next month. You will not be able to deliver up your paintings to him, – for he is going to Russia instead of Manheim.

I had a visit lately from Gooden, who told me of M^r Sealy’s

secret marriage. – Wilberforce writes me word that the French are about to revive the Slave Trade, for the purpose of stocking Guiana with negroes

, – and also that they mean to attempt the conquest of S Domingo.

If this latter xxx account be true, the intent must be to get rid of men who are dangerous at home; & this must be so obvious that I do not think it will be attempted. But I shall hear more of this from Clarkson, who will no doubt pass a day with me, on his way to Scotland this summer. He resided in this country when first I came into it. – The Brazilians will pay the full price for their share in the slave trade, if a civil war should break out in Brazil.