“Madame Pasty.”  Procter had some lines on Madame Pasta.

“My Specimens.”  Lamb’s Dramatic Specimens, which very likely suggested to Procter the idea of “Dramatic Fragments.”

Under the date November 30, 1832, an unsigned letter endorsed “From Charles Lamb to Professor Wilson” is printed in Mrs. Gordon’s "Christopher North:”  A Memoir of John Wilson.  Although in its first paragraph it might be Lamb’s, there is evidence to the contrary in the remainder, and I have no doubt that the endorsement was a mistake.  It is therefore not printed here.]

LETTER 552

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[Dated by Forster at end:  Dec., 1832.]

This is my notion.  Wait till you are able to throw away a round sum (say L1500) upon a speculation, and then —­don’t do it.  For all your loving encouragem’ts—­till this final damp came in the shape of your letter, thanks—­for Books also—­greet the Fosters and Proctors—­and come singly or conjunctively as soon as you can.  Johnson and Fare’s sheets have been wash’d—­unless you prefer Danby’s last bed—­at the Horseshoe.

[I assume Lamb’s advice to refer to Moxon’s intention of founding a paper called The Reflector, which Forster was to edit.  All trace of this periodical has vanished, but it existed in December, 1832, for three numbers, and was then withdrawn.  Lamb contributed to it.

Johnson and Fare had just murdered—­on December l9—­a Mr. Danby, at Enfield.  They had met him in the Crown and Horseshoes (see note to next Letter).

Mr. W.C.  Hazlitt prints a note to Moxon in his Bohn edition in which Lamb advises the withdrawal of The Reflector at once.  This would be December, 1832.]

LETTER 553

CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN FORSTER

To Messrs. Bradbury & Evans, 14 Bouverie Street, Fleet Street.  For the Editor of the Reflector from C. Lamb.

[P.M.  Dec. 23, 1832.]

I am very sorry the poor Reflector is abortive.  Twas a child of good promise for its weeks.  But if the chances are so much against it, withdraw immediately.  It is idle up hill waste of money to spend another stamp on it.

[Around the seal of this note are the words in Lamb’s hand:  “Obiit Edwardus Reflector Armiger, 31 Dec., 1832.  Natus tres hebdomidas.  Pax animae ejus.”

The newspaper stamp at that time was fourpence (less 25 per cent.).

Here should come a letter from Lamb to Louisa Badams (nee Holcroft), dated December 31, 1832, not available for this edition, in which, after some plain speaking about the Westwoods, Lamb refers to the murder of Mr. Danby at Enfield by Fare and two other men on the night of December 19, and says that he had been in their company at the inn a little before, and the next morning was asked to give his evidence.  Canon Ainger says that Lamb’s story is a hoax, but it reads reasonably enough and might as easily have happened as not.]