Tavistock House, March 17th, 1854.
My dear Knight,
I have read the article with much interest. It is most conscientiously done, and presents a great mass of curious information condensed into a surprisingly small space.
I have made a slight note or two here and there, with a soft pencil, so that a touch of indiarubber will make all blank again.
And I earnestly entreat your attention to the point (I have been working upon it, weeks past, in "Hard Times") which I have jocosely suggested on the last page but one. The English are, so far as I know, the hardest-worked people on whom the sun shines. Be content if, in their wretched intervals of pleasure, they read for amusement and do no worse. They are born at the oar, and they live and die at it. Good God, what would we have of them!
Affectionately yours always.
Mr. W. H. Wills.
Office of "Household Words,"
No. 16, Wellington Street, North Strand,
Wednesday, April 12th, 1854.
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I know all the walks for many and many miles round about Malvern, and delightful walks they are. I suppose you are already getting very stout, very red, very jovial (in a physical point of view) altogether.