officer from Chatham whom they knew very well (when dry), just married and going to India! So they all set up housekeeping together at Dessin's at Calais (where I am well known), and looked as if they had been passing a mild summer there. We have a pretty apartment here, but house-rent is awful to mention. Mrs. Bouncer (muzzled by the Parisian police) is also here, and is a wonderful spectacle to behold in the streets, restrained like a raging Lion. I learn from an embassy here, that the Emperor has just made an earnest proposal to our Government to unite with France (and Russia, if Russia will) in an appeal to America to stop the brutal war. Our Government's answer is not yet received, but I think I clearly perceive that the proposal will be declined, on the ground "that the time has not yet come." Ever affectionately. CCCCLIX. CHARLES FECHTER MY DEAR FECHTER, PARIS, Saturday, December 6, 1862. 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, impres sive, bold, and new. But I greatly doubt the expediency of your doing any historical play early in your management. By the words "historical play," I mean a play founded on any incident in English history. Our public are accustomed to associate historical plays with Shakespeare. In any other hands, I believe they care very little for crowns and dukedoms. What you want is something with an interest of a more domestic and general nature an interest as romantic as you please, but having a more general and wider response than a disputed succession to the throne can have for Englishmen at this time of day. Such interest culminated in the last Stuart, and has worn itself out. It would be up-hill work to evoke an interest in Perkin Warbeck. I do not doubt the play's being well received, but my fear is that these people would be looked upon as mere abstractions, and would have but a cold welcome in consequence, and would not lay hold of your audience. Now, when you have laid hold of your audience and have accustomed them to your theatre, you may produce" The White Rose" with far greater justice to the author and to the manager also. Wait. Feel your way. Perkin Warbeck is too far removed from analogy with the sympathies and lives of the people for a beginning. My dear Fechter, ever faithfully yours. CCCCLX. MISS MARY BOYLE GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, Kent, MY DEAR MARY, I must send you my Christmas greeting and Happy New Year wishes in return for yours; most heartily and fervently reciprocating your interest and affection. You are among the few whom I most care for and best love. Being in London two evenings in the opening week, I tried to persuade my legs (for whose judgment I have the highest respect) to go to an evening party. But I could not induce them to pass Leicester Square. The faltering presentiment under which they laboured so impressed me, that at that point I yielded to their terrors. They immediately ran away to the east, and I accompanied them to the Olympic, where I saw a very good play, "Camilla's Husband," very well played. Real merit in Mr. Neville and Miss Saville. We came across directly after the gale, with the Channel all bestrewn with floating wreck, and with a hundred and fifty sick schoolboys from Calais on board. I am going back on the morning after Fechter's opening night, and have promised to read "Copperfield" at the Embassy, for a British charity. Georgy continues wonderfully well, and she and Mary send you their best love. The house is pervaded by boys; and every boy has (as usual) an unaccountable and awful power of producing himself in every part of the house at every moment, apparently in fourteen pairs of creaking boots. My dear Mary, ever affectionately your JOE. CCCCLXI. MISS DICKENS PARIS, HÔTEL DU Helder, Rue du Helder, MY DEAREST MAMIE, As I send a line to your aunt to-day and know that you will not see it, I send another to you to report my safe (and neuralgic) arrival here. My little rooms are perfectly comfortable, and I like the hotel better than any I have ever put up at in Paris. John's amazement at and appreciation of Paris are indescribable. He goes about with his mouth open, staring at everything and being tumbled over by everybody. The state dinner at the Embassy, yesterday, coming off in the room where I am to read, the carpenters did not get in until this morning. But their platforms were ready or supposed to be and the preparations are in brisk progress. I think it I will be a handsome affair to look at a very handsome one. There seems to be great artistic curiosity in Paris to know what kind of thing the reading is. I know a "rela-shon (with one weak eye), who is in the gunmaking line, very near here. There is a strong family resemblance - but no muzzle. Lady Molesworth and I have not begun to "toddle" yet, but have exchanged affectionate greetings. I am going round to see her presently, and I dine with her on Sunday. The only remaining news is, that I am beset by mysterious adorers, and smuggle myself in and out of the house in the meanest and basest manner. With kind regard to Mr. and Mrs. Humphery, Ever, my dearest Mamey, your affectionate father. P. S.-Hommage à Madame B.! CCCCLXII. MONSIEUR REGNIER PARIS, Sunday, February 1, 1863. MY DEAR REGNIER, I was charmed by the receipt of your cordial and sympathetic letter, and I shall always preserve it carefully as a most noble tribute from a great and real artist. I wished you had been at the Embassy on Friday evening. The audience was a fine one, and the "Carol" is particularly well adapted to the purpose. It is an uncommon pleasure to me to learn that I am to meet you on Tuesday, for there are not many men whom I meet with greater pleasure than you. Heaven! how the years roll by ! We are quite old friends now, in counting by years. If we add sympathies, we have been friends at least a thousand years. Affectionately yours ever. CCCCLXIII. MISS DICKENS HÔTEL DU HELDER, PARIS, Sunday, February 1, 1863. MY DEAREST MAMIE, — I cannot give you any idea of the success of the readings here, because no one can imagine the scene of last Friday night at the Embassy. Such audiences and such enthusiasm I have never seen, but the thing culminated on Friday night in a two hours' storm of excitement and pleasure. They actually recommenced and applauded right away into their carriages and down the street. You know your parent's horror of being lionised, and will not be surprised to hear that I am half dead of it. I cannot leave here until Thursday (though I am every hour in danger of running away) because I have to dine out, to say nothing of breakfasting think of me breakfasting! every intervening day. But my project is to send John home on Thursday, and then to go on a little perfectly quiet tour for about ten days, touching the sea at Boulogne. When I get there, I will write to your aunt (in case you should not be at home), saying when I shall arrive at the office. I must go to the office instead of Gad's, because I have much to do with Forster about Elliotson. I inclose a short note for each of the little boys. Give Harry ten shillings pocket-money and Plorn six. The Olliffe girls, very nice. Florence at the readings, prodigiously excited. CCCCLXIV. MISS HOGARTH PARIS, Sunday, February 1, 1863. From my hurried note to Mamie, you will get general idea of a new star's having arisen in Paris. brightness you can have no adequate conception. some faint But of its [John has locked me up and gone out, and the little bell at the door is ringing demoniacally while I write.] You have never heard me read yet. I have been twice goaded and lifted out of myself into a state that astonished me almost as much as the audience. I have a cold, but no neuralgia, and am as well as can be expected." 66 I forgot to tell Mamie that I went (with Lady Molesworth) to hear "Faust" last night. It is a splendid work, in which that noble and sad story is most nobly and sadly rendered, and perfectly delighted me. But I think it requires too much of the audience to do for a London opera-house. The composer must be a very remarkable man indeed. Some management of light throughout the story is also very poetical and fine. We had Carvalho's box. I could hardly bear the thing, it affected me so. But, as a certain Frenchman said, "No weakness, Danton! So I leave off. CCCCLXV. CHARLES FECHTER PARIS, Wednesday, February 4, 1863. MY DEAR FECHTER, A thousand congratulations on your great success ! Never mind what they say, or do, pour vous écraser; you have the game in your hands. The romantic drama, thoroughly well done (with a touch of Shakespeare now and then) is the specialty of your theatre. Give the public the picturesque, romantic drama, with yourself in it; and (as I told you in the beginning) you may throw down your gauntlet in defiance of all comers. It is a most brilliant success indeed, and it thoroughly rejoices my heart! Unfortunately I cannot now hope to see "Maquet," because I am packing up and going out to dinner (it is late in the afternoon), and I leave to-morrow morning when all sensible people, except myself, are in bed; and I do not come back to Paris or near it. I had hoped to see him at breakfast last Monday, but he was not there. Paul Féval was there, and I found him a capital fellow. If I can do anything to help you on with Maquet" 1 when I come back I will most gladly do it. 66 My readings here have had the finest possible reception, and have achieved a most noble success. I never before read to such fine audiences, so very quick of perception, and so enthusiastically responsive. I shall be heartily pleased to see you again, my dear Fechter, and to share your triumphs with the real earnestness of a real friend. And so go on and prosper, and believe me, as I truly am, Most cordially yours. 1 Alluding to a translation of a play by M. Maquet, which M. Fechter was then preparing for his theatre. |