Mr. W. H. Wills.
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, Sunday, Dec. 15th, 1861.
My dear Wills,
I sent you a telegram to-day, and I write before the answer has come to hand.
I have been very doubtful what to do here. We have a great let for to-morrow night. The Mayor recommends closing to-morrow, and going on on Tuesday and Wednesday, so does the town clerk, so do the agents. But I have a misgiving that they hardly understand what the public general sympathy with the Queen will be. Further, I feel personally that the Queen has always been very considerate and gracious to me, and I would on no account do anything that might seem unfeeling or disrespectful. I shall attach great weight, in this state of indecision, to your telegram.
A capital audience at Preston. Not a capacious room, but full. Great appreciation.
The scene at Manchester last night was really magnificent. I had had the platform carried forward to our "Frozen Deep" point, and my table and screen built in with a proscenium and room scenery. When I went in (there was a very fine hall), they applauded in the most tremendous manner; and the extent to which they were taken aback and taken by storm by "Copperfield" was really a thing to see.
The post closes early here on a Sunday, and I shall close this also without further reference to "a message from the" W. H. W. being probably on the road.
Radley is ill, and supposed to be fast declining, poor fellow. The house is crammed, the assizes on, and troops perpetually embarking for Canada, and their officers passing through the hotel.