Your note about the _Golden Mary_ gave me great pleasure; though I don't believe in one part of it; for I honestly believe that your story, as really belonging to the rest of the narrative, had been generally separated from the other stories, and greatly liked. I had not that particular shipwreck that you mention in my mind (indeed I doubt if I know it), and John Steadiman merely came into my head as a staunch sort of name that suited the character. The number has done "Household Words" great service, and has decidedly told upon its circulation. You should have come to the play. I much doubt if anything so complete will ever be seen again. An incredible amount of pains and ingenuity was expended on it, and the result was most remarkable even to me. When are you going to send something more to H. W.? Are you lazy?? Low-spirited??? Pining for Paris???? Ever affectionately. [Sidenote: Mr. C. W. Dilke.] OFFICE OF "HOUSEHOLD WORDS," _Thursday, March 19th, 1857._ MY DEAR MR. DILKE, Forster has another notion about the Literary Fund. Will you name a day next week--that day being neither Thursday nor Saturday--when we shall hold solemn council there at half-past four? For myself, I beg to report that I have my war-paint on, that I have buried the pipe of peace, and am whooping for committee scalps. Ever faithfully yours. [Sidenote: The Earl of Carlisle.] GRAVESEND, KENT, _Wednesday, April 15th, 1857._ MY DEAR LORD CARLISLE, I am writing by the river-side for a few days, and at the end of last week ---- appeared here with your note of introduction. I was not in the way; but as ---- had come express from London with it, Mrs. Dickens opened it, and gave her (in the limited sense which was of no use to her) an audience. She did not quite seem to know what she wanted of me. But she said she had understood at Stafford House that I had a theatre in which she could read; with a good deal of modesty and diffidence she at last got so far. Now, my little theatre turns my house out of window, costs fifty pounds to put up, and is only two months taken down; therefore, is quite out of the question. This Mrs. Dickens explained, and also my profound inability to do anything for ---- readings which they could not do for themselves. She appeared fully to understand the explanation, and indeed to have anticipated for herself how powerless I must be in such a case. She described herself as being consumptive, and as being subject to an effusion of blood from the lungs; about the last condition, one would think, poor woman, for the exercise of public elocution as an art.