Ever faithfully.
P.S.—Kindest regards from all.
Mr. John Watkins.
Gad's Hill Place, Higham by Rochester, Kent,
Saturday Night, Sept. 28th, 1861.
Dear Mr. Watkins,
In reply to your kind letter I must explain that I have not yet brought down any of your large photographs of myself, and therefore cannot report upon their effect here. I think the "cartes" are all liked.
A general howl of horror greeted the appearance of No. 18, and a riotous attempt was made to throw it out of window. I calmed the popular fury by promising that it should never again be beheld within these walls. I think I mentioned to you when you showed it to me, that I felt persuaded it would not be liked. It has a grim and wasted aspect, and perhaps might be made useful as a portrait of the Ancient Mariner.
I feel that I owe you an apology for being (innocently) a difficult subject. When I once excused myself to Ary Scheffer while sitting to him, he received the apology as strictly his due, and said with a vexed air: "At this moment, mon cher Dickens, you look more like an energetic Dutch admiral than anything else;" for which I apologised again.
In the hope that the pains you have bestowed upon me will not be thrown away, but that your success will prove of some use to you, believe me,
Faithfully yours.