Cordially yours.
Rev. W. Brookfield.
Gad's Hill Place, Higham by Rochester, Kent,
May 24th, 1863.
My dear Brookfield,
I am most truly obliged to you for your kind and ready help.
When I am in town next week, I will call upon the Bishop of Natal, more to thank him than with the hope of profiting by that gentleman of whom he writes, as the limitation to "little boys" seems to stop the way. I want to find someone with whom this particular boy could remain; if there were a mutual interest and liking, that would be a great point gained.
Why did the kings in the fairy tales want children? I suppose in the weakness of the royal intellect.
Concerning "Nickleby," I am so much of your mind (comparing it with "Copperfield"), that it was a long time before I could take a pleasure in reading it. But I got better, as I found the audience always taking to it. I have been trying, alone by myself, the "Oliver Twist" murder, but have got something so horrible out of it that I am afraid to try it in public.
Ever faithfully yours.
M. de Cerjat.