a man of very large fortune, instead of a man of moderate savings, always supporting a very expensive public position.’  Nor have I ever been such a fool as to charge the absence of international copyright upon individuals.  Nor have I ever been so ungenerous as to disguise or suppress the fact that I have received handsome sums for advance sheets.  When I was in the States, I said what I had to say on the question, and there an end.  I am absolutely certain that I have never since expressed myself, even with soreness, on the subject.  Reverting to the preposterous fabrication of the London correspondent, the statement that I ever talked about ’these fellows’ who republished my books, or pretended to know (what I don’t know at this instant) who made how much out of them, or ever talked of their sending me ‘conscience money,’ is as grossly and completely false as the statement that I ever said anything to the effect that I could not be expected to have an interest in the American people.  And nothing can by any possibility be falser than that.  Again and again in these pages (All the Year Round) I have expressed my interest in them.  You will see it in the ’Child’s History of England.’  You will see it in the last Preface to ‘American Notes.’  Every American who has ever spoken with me in London, Paris, or where not, knows whether I have frankly said, ’You could have no better introduction to me than your country.’  And for years and years when I have been asked about reading in America, my invariable reply has been, ’I have so many friends there, and constantly receive so many earnest letters from personally unknown readers there, that, but for domestic reasons, I would go to-morrow.’  I think I must, in the confidential intercourse between you and me, have written you to this effect more than once.

“The statement of the London correspondent from beginning to end is false.  It is false in the letter and false in the spirit.  He may have been misinformed, and the statement may not have originated with him.  With whomsoever it originated, it never originated with me, and consequently is false.  More than enough about it.

“As I hope to see you so soon, my dear Fields, and as I am busily at work on the Christmas number, I will not make this a longer letter than I can help.  I thank you most heartily for your proffered hospitality, and need not tell you that if I went to any friend’s house in America, I would go to yours.  But the readings are very hard work, and I think I cannot do better than observe the rule on that side of the Atlantic which I observe on this,—­of never, under such circumstances, going to a friend’s house, but always staying at a hotel.  I am able to observe it here, by being consistent and never breaking it.  If I am equally consistent there, I can (I hope) offend no one.

    “Dolby sends his love to you and all his friends (as I do), and is
    girding up his loins vigorously.