Sir,
Permit me to say, in reply to your letter, that you do not understand the intention (I daresay the fault is mine) of that passage in the "Pickwick Papers" which has given you offence. The design of "the Shepherd" and of this and every other allusion to him is, to show how sacred things are degraded, vulgarised, and rendered absurd when persons who are utterly incompetent to teach the commonest things take upon themselves to expound such mysteries, and how, in making mere cant phrases of divine words, these persons miss the spirit in which they had their origin. I have seen a great deal of this sort of thing in many parts of England, and I never knew it lead to charity or good deeds.
Whether the great Creator of the world and the creature of his hands, moulded in his own image, be quite so opposite in character as you believe, is a question which it would profit us little to discuss. I like the frankness and candour of your letter, and thank you for it. That every man who seeks heaven must be born again, in good thoughts of his Maker, I sincerely believe. That it is expedient for every hound to say so in a certain snuffling form of words, to which he attaches no good meaning, I do not believe. I take it there is no difference between us.
Faithfully yours.
Mr. Douglas Jerrold.
Devonshire Terrace, June 13th, 1843.
My dear Jerrold,
Yes, you have anticipated my occupation. Chuzzlewit be d——d. High comedy and five hundred pounds are the only matters I can think of. I call it "The One Thing Needful; or, A Part is Better than the Whole." Here are the characters:
| Old Febrile | Mr. Farren. |
| Young Febrile (his Son) | Mr. Howe. |
| Jack Hessians (his Friend) | Mr. W. Lacy. |
| Chalks (a Landlord) | Mr. Gough. |
| Hon. Harry Staggers | Mr. Mellon. |
| Sir Thomas Tip | Mr. Buckstone. |
| Swig | Mr. Webster. |
| The Duke of Leeds | Mr. Coutts. |
| Sir Smivin Growler | Mr. Macready. |
Servants, Gamblers, Visitors, etc. | |
| Mrs. Febrile | Mrs. Gallot. |
| Lady Tip | Mrs. Humby. |
| Mrs. Sour | Mrs. W. Clifford. |
| Fanny | Miss A. Smith. |