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known him in the flesh. Your book is not a memoir
it is to me one of the truest biographies in this our
own or any other language. This is not a superlative
statement it is plain, unvarnished truth. One
understands Johnston from Boswell yet after much
study and many readings I at least don't know
him. From Carlyle's essay on 'Mirabeau' that
man one also knows, only to be shaken a bit
by Mrs Webster's 'French Revolution'. Strachey's
'Cardinal Manning' made me know the man
while his 'Gordon' only made me more puzzled.
Six volumes by Monypenny & Buckle entranced
me as a novel by _ entrances one, but even yet
I don't know Dizzy as I know Minto. Morley's
three volumes with all the religous part almost
left out of Gladstone's life cannot of course
enable any one to know Gladstone. And yet in
the short volumes which you call 'a memoir'
you have made me at least know a man
by the name of Minto. A real genuine man
the noblest work of God! I'm so glad to be
able to write and tell you so. For to have a
noble example of life living in daily contact
with one as 'Minto' now lives on my bookshelves
here is a God's gift. I do thank you. What
about a 1/- edition so that poorer men who also
worship good might have a chance.

Yours sincerely

M. Robertson