Summer at the Tremont?" That sounds well, and there are precedents in abundance-witness-“ A Winter at Long's"-"Six Weeks at Stevens's"— "A Month at Fladong's," &c., &c. I think you · told me you read (or redde, as Lord Byron writes it,) one or two of the above named, when you were last in London. C. S.

NOTE, IN ANSWER TO THE ABOVE, FROM DR.

ZACHARY

PHILEMON VANGRIFTER, TO COSTARD SLY, ESQUIRE.

MY DEAR FRIEND,-I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your packet, and the letter accompanying the same.

I will gladly take upon myself the trouble of getting your book through the press. It is a book to be read aloud in the long evenings. But why leave out some of my especial favorites? You have neither sent me "The Voice in the crowd"nor The Husband without a Wife"-nor even "Cousin Peter's Cousin."

You will be pleased to recollect, also, that I bargained for "The Irishman in America,” and "The Fangle Family." However, there is matter enough, and more than enough, for two volumes; and if the book takes, (of which, I think, there is little doubt,) we can cram the above mentioned into THE SECOND SERIES.

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5

As to the Title-upon my life, that is a matter which requires serious consideration. I do not like the one you have suggested. Your work is totally unlike the books mentioned in your P.S. Suppose we call it " A Voice from the Tremont"? Or what say ye to "The Tremont House Papers"? I am inclined to think the latter would be the most appropriate the most taking-the most catching. Certainly, the most dignified.

But, by the way, you have said little or nothing about THE TREMONT HOUSE, itself. That must be supplied. You must send me a preface, or introductory chapter,-or-or something of that sort; in which, you know, you can make proper mention of that establishment, and then go on to explain the plan of the work, &c. &c. Yes-yes -I must have a preface, before I can settle matters with my worthy publishers.

66

Mrs. Trollope has the impudence to assert, that

no Comic publication has ever been found to answer in America!" Don't believe it. If that assertion frightened you, be discouraged no longer. I assure you, we love to laugh as well as our neighbors.

It is true, (as a writer in the American Quarterly admits) "that this country has hitherto been deficient in proper encouragement to literary men." "But then," (adds the reviewer)-" there is no reason that it should continue to be the case any

longer." To be sure not. So cheer up-and send

me the Preface.

I remain, my dear Mr. Sly,

Very respectfully, yours,

ZACHARY PHILEMON VANGRIFTER.

LETTER FROM MR. COSTARD SLY TO DR. ZACHARY PHI

LEMON VANGrifter, in rePLY TO THE ABOVE,

MY DEAR Doctor,- "The Tremont House Papers" might do very well. But I think I have hit upon a better Title-" SAYINGS AND DOINGS at the TremoNT, &c." What say you to that? A catching title-eh? But what need of a Preface? What occasion for me to say one word about the Tremont? I could, to be sure, say a great deal,-yet, as Voltaire hath it, (somewhere or other,) "wo to him who says all he could say on any subject."

But every American knows the TREMONT HOUSE; and every foreigner, who has visited it, must, in candor, admit, that for comfort, good cheer, and the extent of its accommodations, it is not surpassed, if equalled, by any similar establishment in the world. Hark ye, Van, I say similar establishment. In England, we have no hotels, that I know of, conducted on the Table d'hôte system.

You would not have me give an architect's de

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7

scription of the House,-even though I were capable of so doing? Everybody, however, agrees that it is a right noble building-admirably situated.

(From my window, at this moment--the clock has just struck seven-I can see a bevy of beauties passing through the saloon of the Theatre to the boxes. Could any one wish for a finer PROSPECT?) But to go

"Up stairs, and down stairs,

And all about the house

Except my lady's chamber,"

into the dining rooms-reading room-parlorsclub-rooms-withdrawing rooms, and even into the -bar! All I can say, Van, is, that if you do not find yourself breathing an atmosphere of GOODFELLOWSHIP,—you must either be a very so-so sort of person yourself, or-or you have no nostrils!

My drumming heart beats to the memory of many friends I have made-loved-and lost, since I have been here. Lost! how? Why some of them have gone to the East,-and some to the West-("passing carcasses,-passing carcasses !") and some to the South, ("like great triumphers") and some across the broad Atlantic. "Fortune

speed them!"

Pleasant fellows they were, as you well know,

Vangrifter-brave talkers-ingenious story-tellers -stout debaters-excellent companions!

IS THIS A WORLD TO HIDE VIRTUES IN? No, Doctor Zachary Philemon Vangrifter? Why, then, should I keep under clasps, the memorials I have noted down of their good qualities-their pleasant sayings-their choice stories-their free discourses -their social virtues-their SLEEK NOTIONS?

Go to-I have said enough. I was always a bad hand at a Preface. If you think such a thing necessary, have the goodness to write it yourself.

Believe me, my dear Van,

Ever yours, &c.

COSTARD SLY.