t I had not dragged you
on to Dieppe with me. What a pleasant time we should have spent there!

You shall not be jealous of Mr. Payne. Remember he did Charles and I
good service without grudge or grumbling. Say to him how much I regret
that we owe him unreturnable obligations; for I still have my old fear
that we shall never see him again. I received great pleasure from seeing
his two successful pieces. My love to your boy Kenney, my boy James, and
all my dear girls, and also to Rose; I hope she still drinks wine with
you. Thank Lou-Lou for her little bit of letter. I am in a fearful
hurry, or I would write to her. Tell my friend the Poetess that I expect
some French verses from her shortly. I have shewn Betsy's and Sophy's
letters to all who came near me, and they have been very much admired.
Dear Fanny brought me the bag. Good soul you are to think of me! Manning
has promised to make Fanny a visit this morning, happy girl! Miss James
I often see, I think never without talking of you. Oh the dear long
dreary Boulevards! how I do wish to be just now stepping out of a Cuckoo
into them!

Farewel, old tried friend, may we meet again! Would you could bring your
house with all its noisy inmates, and plant it, garden, gables and all,
in the midst of Covent Garden.

Yours ever most affectionately,

M. LAMB.

My best respects to your good neighbours.

[Harwood was Harwood Holcroft.

"Louisa," etc. Mrs. Kenney's children by her first marriage were Louisa,
Ellen, Betsy and Sophia. By her second, with Kenney, the others. Charles
was named Charles Lamb Kenney.

"Payne's two successful pieces"--"Ali Pacha" and "The Soldier's
Daughter."

Fanny was Fanny Holcroft, Mrs. Kenney's stepdaughter.

Miss Kelly has added to this letter a few words of affection to Mrs.
Kenney from "the real old original Fanny Kelly."

Charles Lamb also contributed to this letter a few lines to James
Kenney, expressing his readiness to meet Moore the poet. He adds that he
made a hit at him as Little in the _London Magazine_, which though no
reason for not meeting him was a reason for not volunteering a visit to
him. The reference is to the sonnet to Barry Cornwall in the _London
Magazine_ for September, 1820, beginning--

Let hate, or grosser heats, their foulness mask
Neath riddling Junius, or in L----e's name.

The second line was altered in Lamb's _Album Verses_, 1830, to--

Under the vizor of a borrowe