You say nothing in your note of your Lyceum preparations. I trust they are all going on well. There is a fine opening for you, I am sure, with a good beginning; but the importance of a good beginning is very great. If you ever have time and inclination to tell me in a short note what you are about, you can scarcely interest me more, as my wishes and strongest sympathies are for and with your success--_mais cela va sans dire_. I went to the Chatelet (a beautiful theatre!) the other night to see "Rothomago," but was so mortally _gene_ with the poor nature of the piece and of the acting, that I came out again when there was a week or two (I mean an hour or two, but the hours seemed weeks) yet to get through. My dear Fechter, very faithfully yours always. [Sidenote: Mr. Clarkson Stanfield, R.A.] PARIS, RUE DU FAUBOURG ST. HONORE, 27, _Friday, Dec. 5th, 1862._ MY DEAR STANNY, We have been here for two months, and I shall probably come back here after Christmas (we go home for Christmas week) and stay on into February. But I shall write and propose a theatre before Christmas is out, so this is to warn you to get yourself into working pantomime order! I hope Wills has duly sent you our new Christmas number. As you may like to know what I myself wrote of it, understand the Dick contributions to be, _his leaving it till called for_, and _his wonderful end_, _his boots_, and _his brown paper parcel_. Since you were at Gad's Hill I have been travelling a good deal, and looking up many odd things for use. I want to know how you are in health and spirits, and it would be the greatest of pleasures to me to have a line under your hand. God bless you and yours with all the blessings of the time of year, and of all times! Ever your affectionate and faithful DICK. [Sidenote: M. Charles Fechter.] PARIS, _Saturday, Dec. 6th, 1862._ MY DEAR FECHTER, I have read "The White Rose" attentively, and think it an extremely good play. It is vigorously written with a great knowledge of the stage, and presents many striking situations. I think the close particularly fine, impressive, bold, and new.