Chapter C: DICKENS, 6th Jan. 1843.--"You have been so used to these sort of

impertinences that I believe you will excuse me for saying how very much I am pleased with the first numbers of your new work. Pecksniff and his daughters, and Pinch, are admirable--quite first-rate painting, such as no one but yourself can execute."

"P.S.--Chuffey is admirable. I never read a finer piece of writing; it is deeply pathetic and affecting."

Miss G. HARCOURT, 29_th March_ 1843.--"My dear G---

The pain in my knee
Would not suffer me
To drink your bohea.
I can laugh and talk
But I cannot walk;
And I thought His Grace would stare,
If I put my leg on a chair.
And to give the knee its former power,
It must be fomented for half an hour;
And in this very disagreeable state
If I had come at all, I should have been too late."

JOHN MURRAY, 4_th June_ 1843.--"My youngest brother died suddenly, leaving behind him 100,000 pounds and no will. A third of this therefore fell to my share, and puts me at my ease for my few remaining years."

MRS GROTE, 17_th July_ 1843.--"I met Brunel at the Archbishop's and found him a very lively and intelligent man. He said that when he coughed up the piece of gold, the two surgeons, the apothecary, and physician all joined hands, and danced round the room for ten minutes, without taking the least notice of his convulsed and half-strangled state. I admire this very much."

"I much doubt if I have ever gained 1500 pounds by my literary labours in the course of my life" (31_st Aug._ 1843).