of her, now that she has come nearer to us to lodge. I have not
in my life seen anything so tragically _quixotic_ as her
Shakespeare enterprise: alas, alas, there can be nothing but
sorrow, toil, and utter disappointment in it for her! I do
cheerfully what I can;--which is far more than she _asks_ of me
(for I have not seen a prouder silent soul);--but there is not
the least possibility of truth in the notion she has taken up:
and the hope of ever proving it, or finding the least document
that countenances it, is equal to that of vanquishing the
windmills by stroke of lance. I am often truly sorry about the
poor lady: but she troubles nobody with her difficulties, with
her theories; she must try the matter to the end, and charitable
souls must further her so far.

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* Mr. O.M. Mitchell, the astronomer.
---------

Clough is settled in his Office; gets familiarized to it rapidly
(he says), and seems to be doing well. I see little of him
hitherto; I did not, and will not, try to influence him in his
choice of countries; but I think he is now likely to continue
here, and here too he may do us some good. Of America, at least
of New England, I can perceive he has brought away an altogether
kindly, almost filial impression,--especially of a certain man
who lives in that section of the Earth. More power to his
elbow!--Thackeray has very rarely come athwart me since his
return: he is a big fellow, soul and body; of many gifts and
qualities (particularly in the Hogarth line, with a dash of
Sterne superadded), of enormous _appetite_ withal, and very