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Or； perhaps； by taming him down to a mere producer of autographs；
his habits will change so entirely that he will no longer be the same
animal； no longer bear a comparison with the lion of the past。 On the
other hand should the great race become extinct； what will be the
fate of the family of autograph…feeders？ What a fearful state of
things would ensue； even in our day； were the supply to be reduced
but a quire！ The heart sickens at the picture which would then be
presentedcollectors turning on each other； waging a fierce war over
every autographic scrap； making a battle…field of every social circle。
Happily； nature seems always to keep up the balance in such
matters； and it is a consoling reflection that if the million are now
consumers； so have they become producers of autographs； it is
therefore probable that the evil will work its own remedy； and we
may hope that the great writers of the next century will be shielded
in some measure by the diversion made in their favor through the
lighter troops of the lion corps。
As for the full merits of the controversy so hotly waged over the
Lumley autograph between the Otwaysians and the Butlerites；
dividing the collecting world into two rival parties； we shall not here
enter into it。 In all such matters it is better to go at once to the
fountain head； if the reader is curious on the subject； as doubtless
he must be； he is referred to one octavo and five duodecimo
volumes； with fifty pamphlets which have left little to say on the
point。 Let it not be supposed； however； for an instant； that the
writer of this article is himself undecided in his opinion on this
question。 By no means； and he hastens to repel the unjust
suspicion； by declaring himself one of the warmest Otwaysians。 It is
true that he has some private grounds for believing that a
dispassionate inquiry might lead one to doubt whether Otway or
Butler ever saw the Lumley autograph； but what of that； who has
time or inclination for dispassionate investigation in these stirring
days！ In the present age of universal enlightenment； we don't
trouble ourselves to make up our opinionswe take and give them；
we beg； borrow； and steal them。 True； there are controversies
involving matters so important in their consequences； so serious in
their nature； that one might conceive either indifference or
fanaticism equally inexcusable with regard to them； but there are
also a thousand other subjects of discussion； at the present day； of
that peculiar character which can only thrive when 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； 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 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。｝
〃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 date of its discovery in
the library of Lord G…； her grandfather； to the present day； passed
from hand to hand； and this review of its various adventures of
course only added force to the congratulations offered upon the
acquisition of this celebrated autograph。
｛pine = pineapple。 Newtown pippin = a green； tart； tangy American
apple； originally from Long Island； a favorite of George Washington
and Thomas Jefferson； bonne bouche = a tasty morsel （French）｝
While the company were succeeding each other in offering their
homage to the great album； my attention was called off by a tap on
the shoulder from a friend； who informed me that Miss Rowley； a
very clever； handsome woman of a certain age； had expressed a wish
to make my acquaintance。 I was only too happy to be presented。
After a very gracious reception； and an invitation to a party for the
following evening； Miss Rowley observed：
〃You have Autographs； in America； I understand； Mr。 Howard。〃
〃Both autographs and collectors；〃 I