_À propos_ of spiritual messages comes in Georgina, and, hearing that I am writing to you, delivers the following enigma to be conveyed to Mrs. White: "Wyon of the Mint lives _at_ the Mint." Feeling my brain going after this, I only trust it with loves from all to all. Ever faithfully. [Sidenote: Mr. Charles Knight.] TAVISTOCK HOUSE, _March 17th, 1854._ MY DEAR KNIGHT, I have read the article with much interest. It is most conscientiously done, and presents a great mass of curious information condensed into a surprisingly small space. I have made a slight note or two here and there, with a soft pencil, so that a touch of indiarubber will make all blank again. And I earnestly entreat your attention to the point (I have been working upon it, weeks past, in "Hard Times") which I have jocosely suggested on the last page but one. The English are, so far as I know, the hardest-worked people on whom the sun shines. Be content if, in their wretched intervals of pleasure, they read for amusement and do no worse. They are born at the oar, and they live and die at it. Good God, what would we have of them! Affectionately yours always. [Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.] OFFICE OF "HOUSEHOLD WORDS," NO. 16, WELLINGTON STREET, NORTH STRAND, _Wednesday, April 12th, 1854._ * * * * * I know all the walks for many and many miles round about Malvern, and delightful walks they are. I suppose you are already getting very stout, very red, very jovial (in a physical point of view) altogether. Mark and I walked to Dartford from Greenwich, last Monday, and found Mrs. ---- acting "The Stranger" (with a strolling company from the Standard Theatre) in Mr. Munn's schoolroom. The stage was a little wider than your table here, and its surface was composed of loose boards laid on the school forms. Dogs sniffed about it during the performances, and _the_ carpenter's highlows were ostentatiously taken off and displayed in the proscenium. We stayed until a quarter to ten, when we were obliged to fly to the railroad, but we sent the landlord of the hotel down with the following articles: 1 bottle superior old port, 1 do. do. golden sherry, 1 do. do. best French brandy, 1 do. do. 1st quality old Tom gin, 1 bottle superior prime Jamaica rum, 1 do. do. small still _Isla_ whiskey, 1 kettle boiling water, two pounds finest white lump sugar, Our cards, 1 lemon, and Our compliments. The effect we had previously made upon the theatrical company by being beheld in the first two chairs--there was nearly a pound in the house--was altogether electrical.