1894-03-09 to Maurice Moore

Autograph letter signed, National Library of Ireland, 270 words

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

8 Kings Bench Walk, Temple, London

[Friday] March 9th 1894

My dear Maurice

[[The first three lines of the MS letter are crossed out.]

I am glad to be his godfather. I see you are full of your little son. I have always heard married men say that there is no happiness like children.

All the love I have for giving I give to you my dear Maurice, and my great regret is that we seem condemned to live our lives apart. There is no one like you — no one so loyal, so good.

I do not know what you mean when you speak of your heaviness of mind. I know no one so clever, your mind is not heavy. It is your modesty that makes you see yourself in a false light. It is you, not I, who have the family brains — I always say so as I daresay Mother has told you. You have not taken the trouble to acquire the scribbling trick but that is little or nothing. Fifty years will wipe out all I have written.

The best thing I have done is certainly Esther Waters; I always intended to dedicate the book to you if it came out well. I think it has. You will receive it next week.

I should like to write a longer letter but if I add another line I shall miss the post.

Affectionately

George Moore

Give my affectionate regards to your wife who I hope is doing well.