  59 Montagu square, London, W. My dear Fitz, It is very good of Mrs. Kemble to wish to Only—she should know that I am not writing his life—but editing his autobiographical reminiscences and diaries—and unless the anecdote could be introduced to explain or illustrate these, it would not be serviceable for my present purpose. But for its own sake and for Macready’s I should like to be made acquainted with it. I am making rapid way with the printing—in fact have got to the end of what will be Vol. I. in slip—so that I hope the work may be out by or soon after Christmas, if the engravings are also ready by that time. It will be, I am sure, most interesting—and will surprise a great many people who did not at all know what Macready really was. You last heard of me at Clovelly—where we spent a delightful month—more rain than was pleasant—but on the whole charming. I think I told you that Annie Thackeray was there for a night—and that we bound her over not to make the reading public too well acquainted with the place, which would not be good for it. Since then—a fortnight at St. Julians—and the same time at Tunbridge Wells—I coming up to town three times a week—
T. Wells was very pleasant—I like the old-fashioned place—and can always people the Pantiles (they call it the Parade now) with Dr. Johnson and the Duchess of Kingston, and the Bishop of Salisbury and the foreign baron, and the rest. Miladi and Walter are at Paris for a few days. I am keeping house with Maurice—Yours, W. F. Pk. We have J. S.’s |
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