on of this sets me up again. On second thoughts I
think it will.

Always, my dear Macready,
Your faithful Friend.

[Sidenote: Mr. George Cattermole.]

BROADSTAIRS, _Sunday, September 12th, 1841._

MY DEAR GEORGE,

Here is a business letter, written in a scramble just before post time,
whereby I dispose of loves to cousin in a line.

Firstly. Will you design, upon a block of wood, Lord George Gordon,
alone and very solitary, in his prison in the Tower? The chamber as
ancient as you please, and after your own fancy; the time, evening; the
season, summer.

Secondly. Will you ditto upon a ditto, a sword duel between Mr. Haredale
and Mr. Chester, in a grove of trees? No one close by. Mr. Haredale has
just pierced his adversary, who has fallen, dying, on the grass. He
(that is, Chester) tries to staunch the wound in his breast with his
handkerchief; has his snuffbox on the earth beside him, and looks at Mr.
Haredale (who stands with his sword in his hand, looking down on him)
with most supercilious hatred, but polite to the last. Mr. Haredale is
more sorry than triumphant.

Thirdly. Will you conceive and execute, after your own fashion, a
frontispiece for "Barnaby"?

Fourthly. Will you also devise a subject representing "Master Humphrey's
Clock" as stopped; his chair by the fireside, empty; his crutch against
the wall; his slippers on the cold hearth; his hat upon the chair-back;
the MSS. of "Barnaby" and "The Curiosity Shop" heaped upon the table;
and the flowers you introduced in the first subject of all withered and
dead? Master Humphrey being supposed to be no more.

I have a fifthly, sixthly, seventhly, and eighthly; for I sorely want
you, as I approach the close of the tale, but I won't frighten you, so
we'll take breath.

Always, my dear Cattermole,
Heartily yours.

P.S.--I have been waiting until I got to subjects of this nature,
thinking you would like them best.

[Sidenote: Mr. George Cattermole.]

BROADSTAIRS, _September 21st, 1841._

MY DEAR GEORGE,

Will you, before you go on with the other subjects I gave you, do one of
Hugh, bareheaded, bound, tied on a horse, and escorted by horse-soldiers
to jail? If you can add an indication of old Fleet Market, and bodies of