Faithfully yours always. [Sidenote: The Hon. Mrs. Watson.] TAVISTOCK HOUSE, _April 6th, 1852._ MY DEAR MRS. WATSON, My "lost character" was one of those awful documents occasionally to be met with, which WILL be everywhere. It glared upon me from every drawer I had, fell out of books, lurked under keys, hid in empty inkstands, got into portfolios, frightened me by inscrutably passing into locked despatch-boxes, and was not one character, but a thousand. This was when I didn't want it. I look for it this morning, and it is nowhere! Probably will never be beheld again. But it was very unlike this one; and there is no doubt that when these ventures come out good, it is only by lucky chance and coincidence. She never mentioned my love of order before, and it is so remarkable (being almost a _dis_order), that she ought to have fainted with surprise when my handwriting was first revealed to her. I was very sorry to leave Rockingham the other day, and came away in quite a melancholy state. The Birmingham people were very active; and the Shrewsbury gentry quite transcendent. I hope we shall have a very successful and dazzling trip. It is delightful to me to think of your coming to Birmingham; and, by-the-bye, if you will tell me in the previous week what hotel accommodation you want, Mr. Wills will look to it with the greatest pleasure. Your bookseller ought to be cashiered. I suppose "he" (as Rogers calls everybody's husband) went out hunting with the idea of diverting his mind from dwelling on its loss. Abortive effort! Charley brings this with himself. With kindest regards and remembrances, Ever, dear Mrs. Watson, most faithfully yours. [Sidenote: Mr. Charles Knight.] TAVISTOCK HOUSE, _June 29th, 1852._ MY DEAR KNIGHT, A thousand thanks for the Shadow, which, is charming. May you often go (out of town) and do likewise! I dined with Charles Kemble, yesterday, to meet Emil Devrient, the German actor. He said (Devrient is my antecedent) that Ophelia _spoke_ the snatches of ballads in their German version of "Hamlet," because they didn't know the airs. Tom Taylor said that you had published the airs in your "Shakespeare." I said that if it were so, I knew you would be happy to place them at the German's service. If you have got them and will send them to me, I will write to Devrient (who knows no English) a French explanation and reminder of the circumstance, and will tell him that you responded like a man and a--I was going to say publisher, but you are nothing of the sort, except as Tonson. Then indeed you are every inch a pub.! Ever affectionately. [Sidenote: The Lord John Russell.] TAVISTOCK HOUSE, _Wednesday, June 30th, 1852._ MY DEAR LORD,