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supported by passion and prejudice； and falling in with a dispute of this
nature； it is absolutely necessary to jump at once into fanaticism。
Accordingly； I had no sooner obtained a glimpse of the letter of the
starving poet； embalmed within the precious leaves of one of the most
noted albums of Europe； than I immediately enlisted under Lady
Holberton's colors as a faithful Otwaysian。 With that excellent lady I take
a tragical view of the Lumley Letter； conceiving that a man must be blind
as a bat； not to see that it was written by the author of Venice Preserved；
and this in spite of other celebrated collectors； who find in the same sheet
so much that is comical and Hudibrastic。 Strange that any man in his
senses should hold such an opinionyet the Butlerites number strong；
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some of them are respectable people； too； more's the pity that such should
be the case。
As we have already observed； the controversy began in the library of
Sir John Blank； and it continued throughout the life…time of that excellent
and well…known collector。 At his death； a few years since； it passed into
the hands of his daughter； the widow of Colonel H…； and it will be
readily imagined that although the main question is still as much
undecided as ever； yet the value of the document itself has been
immeasurably increased by a controversy of twenty years standing； on its
merits。 I wish I could add that the fortune of Colonel H… had
augmented in the same proportion； but； unhappily for his widow； the
reverse was the case； and it was owing to this combination of
circumstances that Lady Holberton at length obtained possession of the
Lumley Autograph。 Mrs。 H… became very desirous of procuring for her
eldest son a cornetcy in the regiment once commanded by his father； as
she was now too poor to purchase； the matter required management and
negotiation。 How it was brought about I cannot exactly say。 Suffice it to
declare that the young man received his commission； through the
influence of Lady Holberton； in a high military quarter； while the Lumley
Autograph was placed on a distinguished leaf of that lady's velvet…bound；
jewel…clasped album。
It so happened that I dined at Holberton…House on the eventful day
upon which the Lumley letter changed owners。 I saw immediately； on
entering the drawing…room； that Lady Holberton was in excellent spirits；
she received me very graciously； and spoke of her son； with whom I had
just traveled between Paris and Algiers。
〃Wish me joy； Mr。 Howard！〃 exclaimed the lady after a short
conversation。
Of course I was very happy to do so； and replied by some remarks on
the recent success of her friends in a parliamentary measure； just then
decidedLady Holberton being a distinguished politician。 But I soon
found it was to some matter of still higher moment she then alluded。
〃I never had a doubt as to our success in the house； last nightno；
rather wish me joy that I have at last triumphed in a negotiation of two
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years standing。 The Lumley Autograph is mine； Mr。 Howard！ The letter of
poor Otway； actually written in the first stages of starvationonly
conceive its value！〃
Other guests arriving I was obliged to make way； not however； before
Lady Holberton had promised me a sight of her recent acquisition； in the
evening。 In the mean time I fully entered into her satisfaction； for I had
already seen her album in Paris； and heard her sigh for this very addition
to its treasures。 During dinner the important intelligence that the Lumley
letter was her own； was imparted to the company generally。
〃I knew it！ I was sure of it from her smile； the moment I entered the
room！〃 exclaimed Mr。 T… the distinguished collector； who sat next me。
Another guest； Miss Rowley； also a collecting celebrity； was sitting
opposite； and turned so pale at the moment； that I was on the point of
officiously recommending a glass of water。
〃Have you albums in America； Mr。 Howard？〃 inquired a charming
young lady on my right。
〃There is no lack of them； I assure you；〃I replied。
〃Really！ Adela； Mr。 Howard tells me they have albums in America！〃
repeated the young lady to a charming sister； near her； while on my left I
had the satisfaction of hearing some gratifying remarks from Mr。 T…； as
to the state of civilization in my native country； as shown by such a fact。
〃And what are your albums like？〃 again inquired my lovely neighbor。
〃Not like Lady Holberton's； perhapsbut pretty well for a young
nation。〃
〃Oh dearnot like Lady Holberton's of coursehers is quite unique
so full of nice odd things。 But are your albums in America at all like
ours？〃
〃Why yes！ we get most of them from Paris and London。〃
〃Oh dear！ how strangebut don't you long to see this new treasure of
Lady Holberton'sthat dear nice letter of Otway's； written while he was
starving？〃 inquired the charming Emily； helping herself to a bit of pate de
Perigord。
｛pate de Perigord = an expensive French delicacy： goose liver pate
with truffles。｝
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〃Yes； I am exceedingly curious to see it。〃
〃You don't believe it was written by that coarse； vulgar Butler； do
you？〃
〃No； indeed；it is the pathetic Otway's； beyond a doubt！〃
My neighbor； the Butlerite； gave a contemptuous shrug； but I paid him
no attention； preferring to coincide with the soft eyes on my right； rather
than dispute with the learned spectacles to the left。
After dinner when we had done full justice to the bill of fare；
concluding with pines； grapes； and Newtown pippins； we were all gratified
with a sight of the poor poet's letter； by way of bonne bouche。 A little
volume written by Lady Holbertonprinted but not publishedrelating its
past history from the dat