Page 115.  I venture to think that you should state that Wilde at the end of his story of ‘Mr. W.H.’ definitely says that the theory is all nonsense.  It always appeared to me a semi-satire of Shakespearean commentary.  I remember Wilde saying to me after it was published that his next Shakespearean book would be a discussion as to whether the commentators on Hamlet were mad or only pretending to be.  I think you take Wilde’s phantasy too seriously but I am not disputing whether you are right or wrong in your opinion of it; but it strikes me as a little solemn when on Page 116 you say that the ’whole theory is completely mistaken’; but you are quite right when you say that it did Wilde a great deal of harm. [Ross does not seem to realise that if the theory were merely fantastic the public might be excused for condemning Oscar for playing with such a subject.  As a matter of fact I remember Oscar defending the theory to me years later with all earnestness:  that’s why I stated my opinion of it.  F.H.]

Page 142 Line 19.  What Wilde said in front of the curtain was:  “I have enjoyed this evening immensely.”

[I seem to remember that Wilde said this; my note was written after a dinner a day or two later when Oscar acted the whole scene over again and probably elaborated his effect.  I give the elaboration as most characteristic.  F.H.]

Vol.  II.  Page 357 Line 3.  Major Nelson was the name of the Governor at Reading prison.  He was one of the most charming men I ever came across.  I think he was a little hurt by the “Ballad of Reading Gaol,” which he fancied rather reflected on him though Major Isaacson was the Governor at the time the soldier was executed.  Isaacson was a perfect monster.  Wilde sent Nelson copies of his books, “The Ideal Husband” and “The Importance of Being Earnest,” which were published as you remember after the release, and Nelson acknowledged them in a most delightful way.  He is dead now.

[Major Isaacson was the governor who boasted to me that he was knocking the nonsense out of Wilde; he seemed to me almost inhuman.  My report got him relieved and Nelson appointed in his stead.  Nelson was an ideal governor.  F.H.]

Page 387.  In the First Edition of the “Ballad of Reading Gaol” issued by Methuen I have given the original draft of the poem which was in my hands in September 1897, long before Wilde rejoined Douglas.  I will send you a copy of it if you like, but it is much more likely to reach you if you order it through Putnam’s in New York as they are Methuen’s agents.  I would like you to see it because it fortifies your opinion about Douglas’ ridiculous contention; though I could explode the whole thing by Wilde’s letters to myself from Berneval.  Certain verses were indeed added at Naples.  I do not know what you will think, but to me they prove the mental decline due to the atmosphere and life that Wilde was leading at the time.  Let us be just and say that perhaps Douglas assisted more than he was conscious of in their composition.  To me they are terribly poor stuff, but then, unlike yourself, I am a heretic about the Ballad.