t the Church is going to be ruined, and
that both have become so used to being ruined, that they will go on
perfectly well.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: Miss Dickens.]

OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND," NO. 26, WELLINGTON STREET,
STRAND, LONDON, W.C.,
_Saturday, Sept. 26th, 1868._

MY DEAREST MAMIE,

I will add a line to this at the Athenaeum, after seeing Plorn off, to
tell you how he went away.

ATHENAEUM, _Quarter to Six._

I can honestly report that he went away, poor dear fellow, as well as
could possibly be expected. He was pale, and had been crying, and (Harry
said) had broken down in the railway carriage after leaving Higham
station; but only for a short time.

Just before the train started he cried a good deal, but not painfully.
(Tell dear Georgy that I bought him his cigars.) These are hard, hard
things, but they might have to be done without means or influence, and
then they would be far harder. God bless him!

PARLIAMENT. REPLY TO A PROPOSAL MADE THROUGH
ALEXANDER RUSSEL, OF "THE SCOTSMAN," THAT HE
SHOULD ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE PUT FORWARD AS A
CANDIDATE FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF EDINBURGH.

[Sidenote: Mr. F. D. Finlay.]

GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT,
_Sunday, Oct. 4th, 1868._

MY DEAR FINLAY,

I am much obliged to you in all friendship and sincerity for your
letter. I have a great respect for your father-in-law and his paper, and
I am much attached to the Edinburgh people. You may suppose, therefore,
that if my mind were not fully made up on the parliamentary question, I
should waver now.

But my conviction that I am more useful and more happy as I am than I
could ever be in Parliament is not to be shaken. I considered it some
weeks ago, when I had a stirring proposal from the Birmingham people,
and I then set it up on a rock for ever and a day.

Do tell Mr. Russel that I truly feel this mark of confidence, and that I
hope to acknowledge it in person in Edinburgh before Christmas. There is
no man in Scotland from whom I should consider his suggestion a greater
honour.

Ever yours.

[Sidenote: M. Charles Fechter.]

* * * * *

Poor Plor