The godfather's present looks charming now it is engraved, and John is just now going off to take it to Mrs. Yates. To-morrow Wills and I are going to Gad's Hill. It will occupy the whole day, and will just leave me time to get home to dress for dinner. And that's all that I have to say, except that the first number of "Little Dorrit" has gone to forty thousand, and the other one fast following. My best love to Catherine, and to Mamey and Katey, and Walter and Harry, and the noble Plorn. I am grieved to hear about his black eye, and fear that I shall find it in the green and purple state on my return. Ever affectionately. THE HUMBLE PETITION OF CHARLES DICKENS, A DISTRESSED FOREIGNER, SHEWETH, That your Petitioner has not been able to write one word to-day, or to fashion forth the dimmest shade of the faintest ghost of an idea. That your Petitioner is therefore desirous of being taken out, and is not at all particular where. That your Petitioner, being imbecile, says no more. But will ever, etc. (whatever that may be). PARIS, _March 3rd, 1856._ [Sidenote: Mr. Douglas Jerrold.] "HOUSEHOLD WORDS" OFFICE, _March 6th, 1856._ MY DEAR JERROLD, Buckstone has been with me to-day in a state of demi-semi-distraction, by reason of Macready's dreading his asthma so much as to excuse himself (of necessity, I know) from taking the chair for the fund on the occasion of their next dinner. I have promised to back Buckstone's entreaty to you to take it; and although I know that you have an objection which you once communicated to me, I still hold (as I did then) that it is a reason _for_ and not against. Pray reconsider the point. Your position in connection with dramatic literature has always suggested to me that there would be a great fitness and grace in your appearing in this post. I am convinced that the public would regard it in that light, and I particularly ask you to reflect that we never can do battle with the Lords, if we will not bestow ourselves to go into places which they have long monopolised. Now pray discuss this matter with yourself once more. If you can come to a favourable conclusion I shall be really delighted, and will of course come from Paris to be by you; if you cannot come to a favourable conclusion I shall be really sorry, though I of course most readily defer to your right to regard such a matter from your own point of view. Ever faithfully yours. [Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.] "HOUSEHOLD WORDS" OFFICE, _Tuesday, March 11th, 1856_.[24] MY DEAR GEORGY, I have been in bed half the day with my cold, which is excessively violent, consequently have to write in a great hurry to save the post.