Faithfully ever. [Sidenote: Mr. F. D. Finlay.] CONTRADICTING A NEWSPAPER REPORT OF HIS BEING IN A CRITICAL STATE OF HEALTH. GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Tuesday, Sept. 3rd, 1867._ This is to certify that the undersigned victim of a periodical paragraph-disease, which usually breaks out once in every seven years (proceeding to England by the overland route to India and per Cunard line to America, where it strikes the base of the Rocky Mountains, and, rebounding to Europe, perishes on the steppes of Russia), is _not_ in a "critical state of health," and has _not_ consulted "eminent surgeons," and never was better in his life, and is _not_ recommended to proceed to the United States for "cessation from literary labour," and has not had so much as a headache for twenty years. CHARLES DICKENS. [Sidenote: M. Charles Fechter.] "ALL THE YEAR ROUND" OFFICE, _Monday, Sept. 16th, 1867._ MY DEAR FECHTER, Going over the prompt-book carefully, I see one change in your part to which (on Lytton's behalf) I positively object, as I am quite certain he would not consent to it. It is highly injudicious besides, as striking out the best known line in the play. Turn to your part in Act III., the speech beginning Pauline, _by pride Angels have fallen ere thy time_: by pride---- You have made a passage farther on stand: _Then did I seek to rise Out of my mean estate. Thy bright image, etc._ I must stipulate for your restoring it thus: Then did I seek to rise Out of the prison of my mean estate; And, with such jewels as the exploring mind Brings from the caves of knowledge, buy my ransom From those twin jailers of the daring heart-- Low birth and iron fortune. Thy bright image, etc. etc. The last figure has been again and again quoted; is identified with the play; is fine in itself; and above all, I KNOW that Lytton would not let it go. In writing to him to-day, fully explaining the changes in detail, and saying that I disapprove of nothing else, I have told him that I notice this change and that I immediately let you know that it must not be made. (There will not be a man in the house from any newspaper who would not detect mutilations in that speech, moreover.) Ever. [Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.] _Monday, Sept. 30th, 1867._ MY DEAREST GEORGY,