I made up a very good number yesterday. You will see in it a very short article that I have called "Now!" which is a highly remarkable piece of description. It is done by a new man, from whom I have accepted another article; but he will never do anything so good again.
Ever affectionately.
[Sidenote: M. de Cerjat.]
GAD"S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Wednesday, Aug. 26th, 1868._
MY DEAR CERJAT,
I was happy to receive your esteemed letter a few days ago.
The severity of the winter in America (which was quite exceptional even in that rigorous climate), combined with the hard work I had to do, tried me a good deal. Neuralgia and colds beset me, either by turns or both together, and I had often much to do to get through at night. But the sea voyage home again did wonders in restoring me, and I have been very well indeed, though a little fatigued, ever since. I am now preparing for a final reading campaign in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It will begin on the 6th of October, and will probably last, with short occasional intermissions, until June.
The great subject in England for the moment is the horrible accident to the Irish mail-train. It is now supposed that the petroleum (known to be a powerful anaesthetic) rendered the unfortunate people who were burnt almost instantly insensible to any sensation. My escape in the Staplehurst accident of three years ago is not to be obliterated from my nervous system. To this hour I have sudden vague rushes of terror, even when riding in a hansom cab, which are perfectly unreasonable but quite insurmountable. I used to make nothing of driving a pair of horses habitually through the most crowded parts of London. I cannot now drive, with comfort to myself, on the country roads here; and I doubt if I could ride at all in the saddle. My reading secretary and companion knows so well when one of these odd momentary seizures comes upon me in a railway carriage, that he instantly produces a dram of brandy, which rallies the blood to the heart and generally prevails. I forget whether I ever told you that my watch (a chronometer) has never gone exactly since the accident? So the Irish catastrophe naturally revives the dreadful things I saw that day.
The only other news here you know as well as I; to wit, that the country is going to be ruined, and that the Church is going to be ruined, and that both have become so used to being ruined, that they will go on perfectly well.
[Sidenote: Miss d.i.c.kens.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND," NO. 26, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C., _Sat.u.r.day, Sept. 26th, 1868._
MY DEAREST MAMIE,
I will add a line to this at the Athenaeum, after seeing Plorn off, to tell you how he went away.
ATHENaeUM, _Quarter to Six._
I can honestly report that he went away, poor dear fellow, as well as could possibly be expected. He was pale, and had been crying, and (Harry said) had broken down in the railway carriage after leaving Higham station; but only for a short time.
Just before the train started he cried a good deal, but not painfully.
(Tell dear Georgy that I bought him his cigars.) These are hard, hard things, but they might have to be done without means or influence, and then they would be far harder. G.o.d bless him!
PARLIAMENT. REPLY TO A PROPOSAL MADE THROUGH ALEXANDER RUSSEL, OF "THE SCOTSMAN," THAT HE SHOULD ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE PUT FORWARD AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF EDINBURGH.
[Sidenote: Mr. F. D. Finlay.]
GAD"S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Sunday, Oct. 4th, 1868._
MY DEAR FINLAY,
I am much obliged to you in all friendship and sincerity for your letter. I have a great respect for your father-in-law and his paper, and I am much attached to the Edinburgh people. You may suppose, therefore, that if my mind were not fully made up on the parliamentary question, I should waver now.
But my conviction that I am more useful and more happy as I am than I could ever be in Parliament is not to be shaken. I considered it some weeks ago, when I had a stirring proposal from the Birmingham people, and I then set it up on a rock for ever and a day.
Do tell Mr. Russel that I truly feel this mark of confidence, and that I hope to acknowledge it in person in Edinburgh before Christmas. There is no man in Scotland from whom I should consider his suggestion a greater honour.
Ever yours.
[Sidenote: M. Charles Fechter.]
Poor Plorn is gone to Australia. It was a hard parting at the last. He seemed to me to become once more my youngest and favourite little child as the day drew near, and I did not think I could have been so shaken.
You were his idol to the hour of his departure, and he asked me to tell you how much he wanted to bid you good-bye.
Kindest love from all.
Ever heartily.
[Sidenote: The same.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND,"
_Wednesday, Oct. 7th, 1868._
MY DEAR FECHTER,
I got your letter sent to Gad"s Hill this morning. Until I received it, I supposed the piece to have been put into English from your French by young Ben. If I understand that the English is yours, then I say that it is extraordinarily good, written by one in another country.
I do not read again in London until the 20th; and then "Copperfield."
But by that time you will be at work yourself.
Let us dine at six to-day, in order that we may not have to hurry for the comic dog.
Ever faithfully.
[Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.]
QUEEN"S HOTEL, MANCHESTER, _Sunday, Oct. 11th, 1868._
MY DEAREST GEORGY,
We had a fine audience last night in the Free Trade Hall, though not what we consider a large money-house. The let in Liverpool is extremely good, and we are going over there at half-past one. We got down here pleasantly enough and in good time; so all has gone well you see.
t.i.tiens, Santley, and an opera company of that cla.s.s are at the theatre here. They have been doing very poorly in Manchester.
There is the whole of my scanty news. I was in wonderful voice last night, but croak a little this morning, after so much speaking in so very large a place. Otherwise I am all right. I find myself constantly thinking of Plorn.
[Sidenote: Miss d.i.c.kens.]