/To the Editor of the "Nosni-Cuxa Danity News"
Sm—The present writer does not recollect having ever come across any mention of @ connecting link between the great novelist and Shanghai, fand the facts of the case may there: fore be of interest to some of your readers.
Tam at present re-reading "The Virginians," and. my copy' belongs to the Biographical Edition of 13 volumes (1908), and each volume includes a memoir, in the form of introduction, "by Thackeray's daughter, Anne Ritchie.
In the introduction to "The Virginians," Telerence is made to a Volume of reminiscences (haud Immemor") published after 'Thack-croy's death by the Hon. W. B. Reed, some time American Minister to China, and to the last a warm and faithful friend, in which there is a notice of "The Virginians," dated Shanghai. The date. itself' is not iven, but some indication can. be ined from what comes later. Fol-
Towing the notice of "The Virginians," Reed goes on 10 say that on his apointment to China, Thackeray was among the first to congratulate him, the same time begging him, as he Seemed to take for granted that Reed's route to the East would be what by an old misnomer was called Overland, to stop with him in London.
Reed states that it was not till his return in the spring of "39 that they met again. From Malta he wrote to ask. Thackeray, "having due regard to economy and the odour of Oficial Station" which still hung. vug found me," to get him suitable lodge ings in London.
"Maurigy's Hotel, 1 Regent. Street, "Waterloo Place, April 2, 1889.
~My dear Reed,—This is the best
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.