THACKERAY

saying that yesterday's papers just come in have shocked me and grieved me beyond telling - is that poor widow in want? If so, and you hear of any prospect for expressing sympathy or offering relief - or think of setting any such plan afoot do remember me and that I think most kindly and affectionately of our dear old friend... I write to you because I want to speak to some one about it - don't trouble yourself to answer unless you hear there's money wanted - I have some of mine and some of Higgins's - God help us: suppose the lot were mine and my young ones sitting at home fatherless. In such a case fellows like you would help them and it must be a certainty that poor Eliot can have left little behind him: wont it be well that some scheme should be set a going to make a little purse for the orphans? Isn't Mrs Eliot in some way connected to Lord John Russell? That's a pity on account of the pension, but one must be got for the widow and children of this kind gentle soul this good man this gifted charming writer. And the other thing should be done, and you and Milnes and I should put our names down - but you two first and especially - I daresay you have thought of it yourself, and are twice as good a man of business as I am, and I only write because as you say yourself one's impulse is to write on these occasions and to relieve myself by speaking to a friend about a dear old comrade gone to his account... with a postcript in his upright hand saying that he came to town on Saturday, and wanted to come to day but that my host here made such a pt that I could not say no any more..., 3 sides 8vo., Erlestoke, Westbury, Thursday, no date