Chapter 47

"September 29. 1812.

"Shakspeare certainly ceased to reign in _one_ of his kingdoms, as George III. did in America, and George IV. may in Ireland.[53] Now, we have nothing to do out of our own realms, and when the monarchy was gone, his majesty had but a barren sceptre. I have _cut away_, you will see, and altered, but make it what you please; only I do implore, for my _own_ gratification, one lash on those accursed quadrupeds--'a long shot, Sir Lucius, if you love me.' I have altered 'wave,' &c., and the 'fire,' and so forth for the timid.

"Let me hear from you when convenient, and believe me, &c.

"P.S.--Do let _that_ stand, and cut out elsewhere. I shall choke, if we must overlook their d----d menagerie."

[Footnote 53: Some objection, it appears from this, had been made to the passage, "and Shakspeare _ceased to reign_."]

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