worst is not seen yet. Everything is becoming absorbed in the
Presidential impeachment, helped by the next Presidential election.
Connecticut is particularly excited. The night after I read at Hartford
this last week, there were two political meetings in the town; meetings
of two parties; and the hotel was full of speakers coming in from
outlying places. So at Newhaven: the moment I had finished, carpenters
came in to prepare for next night's politics. So at Buffalo. So
everywhere very soon."

In the same tone he wrote his last letter to his sister-in-law from
Boston. "My notion of the farewells is pretty certain now to turn out
right. We had L300 English here last night. To-day is a Fast Day, and
to-night we shall probably take much less. Then it is likely that we
shall pull up again, and strike a good reasonable average; but it is not
at all probable that we shall do anything enormous. Every pulpit in
Massachusetts will resound with violent politics to-day and to-night."
That was on the second of April, and a postscript was added. "Friday
afternoon the 3rd. Catarrh worse than ever! and we don't know (at four
o'clock) whether I can read to-night or must stop. Otherwise, all well."

Dickens's last letter from America was written to his daughter Mary from
Boston on the 9th of April, the day before his sixth and last farewell
night. "I not only read last Friday when I was doubtful of being able to
do so, but read as I never did before, and astonished the audience quite
as much as myself. You never saw or heard such a scene of excitement.
Longfellow and all the Cambridge men have urged me to give in. I have
been very near doing so, but feel stronger to-day. I cannot tell whether
the catarrh may have done me any lasting injury in the lungs or other
breathing organs, until I shall have rested and got home. I hope and
believe not. Consider the weather! There have been two snow storms since
I wrote last, and to-day the town is blotted out in a ceaseless whirl of
snow and wind. Dolby is as tender as a woman, and as watchful as a
doctor. He never leaves me during the reading, now, but sits at the side
of the platform, and keeps his eye upon me all the time. Ditto George
the gasman, steadiest and most reliable man I ever employed. I have
_Dombey_ to do to-night, and must go through it carefully; so here ends
my report. The personal affection of the people in this place is
charming to the last. Did I tell you that the New York Pre