dible that nothing would have
justified farther allusion to it but the knowledge of my friend's old
and true regard for Mr. Cruikshank, of which evidence will shortly
appear, and my own respect for an original genius well able to subsist
of itself without taking what belongs to others.

[Illustration: My dear Cruikshank,

I returned suddenly to town yesterday afternoon to look at the latter
["last" crossed out] pages of Oliver Twist before it was delivered to
the booksellers, when I saw the majority of the plates in the last
volume for the first time.

With reference to the last one, Rose Maylie and Oliver. Without entering
into the question of great haste or [word crossed out] any other cause
which may have led to its being what it is. I am quite sure there can be
little difference of opinion between us with [word crossed out] respect
to the result--may]

[Illustration: I ask you whether you will object
to designing [word crossed out] this plate
afresh and doing so ~at once~ in order that as
few impressions as possible of the present one
may go forth?

I feel confident [words crossed out] you know me
too well to feel hurt by this enquiry, and with
that confidence in you I have lost no time in
preparing it.][137]

Resuming the _Dombey_ letters I find him on the 30th of August in better
heart about his illustrator. "I shall gladly acquiesce in whatever more
changes or omissions you propose. Browne seems to be getting on well. . . .
He will have a good subject in Paul's christening. Mr. Chick is like
D, if you'll mention that when you think of it. The little chapter of
Miss Tox and the Major, which you alas! (but quite wisely) rejected from
the first number, I have altered for the last of the second. I have not
quite finished the middle chapter yet--having, I should say, three good
days' work to do at it; but I hope it will be all a worthy successor to
number one. I will send it as soon as finished." Then, a little later:
"Browne is certainly interesting himself, and taking pains. I think the
cover very good: perhaps with a little too much in it, but that is an
ungrateful objection." The second week of September brought me the
finished MS. of number two; and his letter of the 3rd of October,
noticing objections taken to it, gives additional touches to this
picture of him while at work. The matter that engages him is one of his
masterpieces. There is n