2 1 S RISEN B V FEKSE VERANCE. 



it Vi just possible that he might have been asked to accept 

 a place in her Privy Council. It was noticed that about 

 this time he appeared rather more in society than usual, 

 although continuing to complain that he was unwell. His 

 last public appearances were in April, and his last public 

 speech was a graceful tribute, at the Academy dinner, to 

 his friend Daniel Maclise. 



On the 7th of May he read the fifth number of Edwin 

 Drood to John Forster. About this time he dined with 

 Mr. Motley, the American minister, met Mr. Disraeli at 

 Lord Stanhope's, and also appeared at breakfast with Mr. Glad- 

 stone. He had an invitation for the 1 7th of the month to 

 attend the Queen's ball, but this he was unable to do owing 

 to disablement. On the i6th he wrote to Mr. Forster: 'I 

 am sorry to report that, in the old preposterous endeavour 

 to dine at preposterous hours and preposterous places, I 

 have been pulled up with a sharp attack in my foot. And 

 serve me right. I hope to get the better of it soon, but I 

 fear I must not think of dining with you on Friday. I 

 have cancelled everything in the dining way for this week, 

 and that is a very small precaution after the horrible pain I 

 have had and the remedies I have taken.' He declined 

 to attend the General Theatrical Fund dinner, when the 

 Prince of Wales was to preside, but he dined with Lord 

 Houghton a week later. On the 30th May he quitted 

 London for Gad's Hill, where he confined his attention 

 closely to his novel Edwin Drood, which was in progress. 

 He was observed now to have a very wearied appearance. 

 On Monday, 6th June, he was out with his dogs for the 

 last time, when he walked into Rochester. On the follow- 

 ing day he drove out- The Sth of June was spent in writing 



