utly that my Name come too late for its Satin Apotheosis; but, if it
do not, I shall apologise to Carlyle for joining such Mummery. I only
followed the Example of my Betters.

Now I must shut up, for Photos and a Line of Music is to come in. I was
so comforted to find that your Mother had some hand in Dr. Kitchener's
Cookery Book, {89} which has always been Guide, Philosopher, and Friend
in such matters. I can't help liking a Cookery Book.

Ever yours
E. F.G.

No: I never turned my tragic hand on Fualdes; but I remember well being
taken in 1818 to the Ambigu Comique to see the 'Chateau de Paluzzi,'
which was said to be founded on that great Murder. I still distinctly
remember a Closet, from which came some guilty Personage. It is not only
the Murder itself that impressed me, but the Scene it was enacted in; the
ancient half-Spanish City of Rodez, with its River Aveyron, its lonely
Boulevards, its great Cathedral, under which the Deed was done in the
'Rue des Hebdomadiers.' I suppose you don't see, or read, our present
Whitechapel Murder--a nasty thing, not at all to my liking. The Name of
the Murderer--as no one doubts he is, whatever the Lawyers may
disprove--is the same as that famous Man of Taste who wrote on the Fine
Arts in the London Magazine under the name of Janus Weathercock, {90a}
and poisoned Wife, Wife's Mother and Sister after insuring their Lives.
De Quincey (who was one of the Magazine) has one of his Essays about this
wretch.

Here is another half-sheet filled, after all: I am afraid rather
troublesome to read. In three or four days we shall have another
Atlantic, and I am ever yours

E. F.G.

XXXV.

WOODBRIDGE: _Decr._ 29/75.

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

You will say I am a very good Creature indeed, for beginning to answer
your Letter the very day it reaches me. But so it happens that this same
day also comes a Letter from Laurence the Painter, who tells me something
of poor Minnie's Death, {90b} which answers to the Query in your Letter.
Laurence sends me Mrs. Brookfield's Note to him: from which I quote to
you--no!--I will make bold to send you her Letter itself! Laurence says
he is generally averse to showing others a Letter meant for himself (the
little Gentleman that he is!), but he ventures in this case, knowing me
to be an old friend of the Family. And so I venture to post it over the
Atlantic to you who take a sincere Interest in them also. I wonder if I
am doing wrong?