1890-08-01 to Maurice Moore

Autograph letter signed, National Library of Ireland, 447 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

8 Kings Bench Walk, Temple

[Friday] August 1st 1890

My dear Maurice

You have every reason to think me a madman, for surely the peculiarity of leaving those whom you love best three whole years without a letter can only be defined as madness. I do not attempt either to explain or excuse. I know what the facts are — I know there is no one that means to me so much as you do, and yet I have been unable to bring myself to write to you for so long a while. True it is that I did write twice and on both occasions my letters miscarried, and once a package of books was returned to me through the post, but these mishaps should not have discouraged me.

So you are married. When shall I see you both? India is a curse, a sort of amateur death, so completely does it divide men’s lives. You said you would be coming home in a year, but for how long? I hope for life, or else when we take our departure for good we shall bow ourselves out through the final exit as comparative strangers.

Augustus is doing well. Julian is rearranging the orchestral portion of his new opera. Augustus has a paper called the Hawk which I hope he sends you. I asked him to do so.

The other day I sent you the Fortnightly containing an article of mine . I can write better now than ever but I am deceived in nothing, I do not think that I shall do anything of real value. The others delude themselves, they confuse contemporary reputation with the real reputation that time grants slowly but always with inflexible justice. The fools quarrel as [to] where they should sit at the authors dinner. I see over the head of such puerile vanity. I have the sentiment of great work but I cannot produce it, voilà ma confession, what I strictly believe to be true.

I am writing now a long novel about servants, servants devoured by racing, le petit côté des courses. Obviously a good idea, racing novels have hitherto been confined to Lords and Earls, but shall I be able to do it?

Be this as it may I hope I shall soon see you my dear Maurice. These artistic cravings only end in disappointment. The natural affections are all that this world has for giving. Give my kind regards to your wife. I hope to see her and to become a great friend of hers.

Affect yours,

George Moore