I will put some notes about each at the end of my letter. What I now want to ask you is whether you could do me a few illustrations of the vignette kind for "Jackanapes," so that it might come out at Christmas. Christmas ought to mean October! so it would of course be very delightful if you could have completed them in September—and as soon as might be. But do not worry your brain about dates. I would rather give it up than let you feel the fetters of Time, which, when they drag one at one's work, makes the labour double. But if you will begin them, and see if they come pretty readily to your fingers, I shall only too well understand it if after all you can't finish in time for this season!
In short I won't press you for all my wishes!—but I do feel rather disposed to struggle for a good place amongst the hosts of authors who are besetting you; and as I am not physically or mentally well constituted for surviving amongst the fittest, if there is much shoving (!) I want to place my plea on record.
So will you try?—
It was very kind of you and your wife to have us to see your sketches. I hope you are taking in ozone in the country.
Yours ever,
J.H.E.
[Notes.]
Respectfully suggested scenes to choose from.