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me to wear spectacles even
then. On the outside of the
book as it originally came
out, was, as you probably have
seen, a portrait of a youth
of that description, & I sup-
pose there may have been
some resemblance to me
therein - for I know many
of my friends & acquaintances,
& others, - as I then thought
unkindly attached the name
to me - or me to the name.
Now, I believe the rudiments
of the story came out first
as a Xmas No of the Illus-
trated London News, or some
similar Paper before I entered into
residence - in 1851. At any
rate, the 1st edition must