[Feb. 1882.]

My dear Mrs. Kemble:

I have quoted, and sent to Mr. SchÜtz Wilson, just thus much of your Letter, leaving his Friend to judge whether it is sufficiently encouraging to invite him to call on you. I suppose it is: but I thought safest to give your ipsissima verba.

‘It is so perfectly easy for any one in London to obtain my Address, that I think I may leave the future Mercutio to do so at his leisure or pleasure.’

I dare say you are pretty much indifferent whether he ventures or not; if he does, I can only hope that he is a Gentleman, and if he be so, I do not think you will be sorry to help him in trying to keep up your Father’s traditionary excellence in the part, and to save Mr. Terriss—to save Mercutio—from the contagion of Mr. Irving’s treatment of Shakespeare—so far as I have seen of it—which is simply two acts of Hamlet.

As I told you, I know nothing—even hitherto heard nothing of Mr. Terriss. His friend, S. Wilson, I have never seen neither. And I hope you will think I have done fairly well in my share of the Business.

Fanny Kerrich, my Niece, and a capital Woman, comes to me to-day, not more for the purpose of seeing myself, than my Brother’s Widow who lives alone in a dismal place three miles off. [234a] I am still wheezy, and want to get in order so as to visit my few friends in London next week. [234b]

You see there is no occasion for you to answer this: for, even if I have done amiss, it is past recall; and I am none the less ancient Friend

LittleG.!