Henry Irving letter to Mrs. Wilkins, 1856 August 18

              Romford Essex 18th August 1856    My dear Mrs Wilkins   I have left the office I was in at Newgate Street, with I am happy to say the well wishes of my employers who wished me to remain, & my fellow companions, & am staying with some kind friends at Romford, a village near London, quite free from the smoke & dirt. The change has done & will do me, a great deal of good. The country air & country ale (which I was recommended to take in London, for it is pure,) begins to make me look quite ruddy & robust. It is very convenient being able to get to town by tram in 1/2 an hour & I now & then am obliged to do so.    It would certainly for many reasons have afforded me more pleasure to explore Warminster, & dirty Bristol, but I could not leave home for a sufficient time. My Mother would have very much liked to visit you, but, (always something) we have those dear gentlemen bricklayers, painters, & plasterers in the house, who prevent her leaving. My father too at such a time who be in quite a fog without his """"rib""""--however I am sure when    [change in text direction]    I have a difficult task before me, & if I succeed it will be the most fortunate day of my life when I entered it--if I do not (never say fail) there is another field before me elsewhere. I have youth & hope & relying on a higher power for assistance from temptation & surrounding evils, I hope you & all may never be mistaken in,    My dear Mrs Wilkins,   Sincerely yours,  J. H. Brodribb