To LORD JEFFREY, [?EARLY NOVEMBER 1841]

² Jeffrey had written from East India College, Hertford, on 4 Nov: "My Very Dear Dickens—Tho' my own health has been for many months, in a miserable, and, for a good part of the time, almost a hopeless state, I have been more moved than I can tell you, by hearing (very lately) of the severe and painful malady with which You have been afflicted—At my time of life, and with the many warnings which late years have furnished of my fragility, no intimation of mortality ought to give a great shock, either to myself, or my friends—My life's work is substantially concluded—and my course, of enjoyment or suffering—of error or innocence, pretty fairly over—But for You … to be struck down, or even for a time disabled by pain and infirmity, does strike me as a cruel, and almost unnatural dispensation—and I must tell you that I feel it the more, from having been in the habit, during my languid and suffering hours, of cheering my weary vigils, by images and recollections of your beaming and happy eye, boundless activity, and unspoiled domestic enjoyment. I trust however that the cloud has now passed finally away from that bright prospect— … But I cannot help most earnestly exhorting you to expose yourself to no shadow of risk, while you are in any degree tender or weak …—Your notice of a projected Regina [?Royal Progress] to America—came upon me by surprise, on opening a No. of Barnaby … and even yet, I have not got over the kind of shock I received from it— … If it will not be much trouble to you, do let me have a line saying how you now are" (MS Huntington). In Jeffrey's next letter, dated 4 Berkeley Street, Friday 26 [clearly Nov 41], he wrote: "A thousand thanks for your kind, cheerful, and sweet tempered letter—I have been here, in your neighbourhood, for a week. But my Doctors insist that I shall (substantially) see no visitors, but themselves—or at all events, only such as will engage to take all the talk to themselves— and leave me to enact the part of Audience only … As I must see you, you know, I hope you will not object to these conditions—which are anything but disagreeable to me—since I am always best pleased to play the hearer— when it pleases you—(on compulsion or otherwise) to be the Speaker. … With kindest remembrances to Mrs. Dickens, who must have been sadly shocked by this sudden catastrophe of her brother— and all kinds of blessings and good wishes to you | Ever very Faithfully Yours" (MS Huntington).