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on a most insubstantial Foundation –

Darwin's Letters to you are certainly unpolite [sic], but your reply is surely a little too vindictive – it is Queen Elizabeth giving Essex a Box on the Ear – observe that I consider Essex in the Light of a privy Counsellor to the virgin Queen & not in that of a Lover! —I hope however that your imperial Spirit cooled so far as to make you change that unworthy resolution of not sending Him a copy of your Poem, – the very Poem which He had joined in correcting!

O my dear irritable Sister, let us teach one another to bear with Philosophy the Severity, the Impertinence, the ill manners of Criticism - for if they do not learn to bear all this, what Poets may expect to sleep in Peace?– Darwin is sarcastick; but He has been long your Friend, & has many Virtues with great poetical Talents; surely it is better to smile at the