TC-JF, [23 July]. MS: FC. Hitherto unpbd. Dated by the departure for Addiscombe, “into Surrey for a week,” JWC leaving on 23 July and TC the next day; see TC to MAC, 29 July. John Forster (1812–76; DNB), historian, biographer, and literary ed. of the Examiner, friend of the Carlyles since the late 1830s.

1. Henry Tufnell (1805–54; DNB), politician; B.A., Christ Church, Oxford, 1829; liberal M.P. for Devonport, 1840–54; treasury lord, 1835–41; sec. to the treasury, 1846–50.

2. John Christie had presumably applied to Lord Morpeth and then to Tufnell, “the new Minister of Destiny,” for employment. Arthur Helps (1813–75; DNB), later historian and clerk to the privy council, had been sec. to Lord Morpeth, 1839 (see 12:101).

3. To visit the Barings—William Bingham (1799–1864, DNB) and Lady Harriet, b. Montagu (1805–57; DNB) Baring, friends of the Carlyles, especially of TC—at their country villa, Addiscombe, Croydon, Surrey, 10 mi. S of London (see 11:40).

4. No doubt Frances Maria Kelly (1790–1882; DNB), celebrated actress, now retired, whose Royalty Theatre, Soho Sq., was used by Dickens's and Forster's amateur players. Thalia was one of the muses, generally considered the patron of comedy.