manner in which I am stopped in the streets by working men, who want to
shake hands with me, and tell me they know my books. I never go out but
this happens. Down at the docks just now, a cooper with a fearful
stutter presented himself in this way. His modesty, combined with a
conviction that if he were in earnest I would see it and wouldn't repel
him, made up as true a piece of natural politeness as I ever saw.
[Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.]
IMPERIAL HOTEL, BLACKPOOL, _Wednesday, April 21st, 1869._
I send you this hasty line to let you know that I have come to this
sea-beach hotel (charming) for a day's rest. I am much better than I was
on Sunday, but shall want careful looking to, to get through the
readings. My weakness and deadness are all _on the left side_, and if I
don't look at anything I try to touch with my left hand, I don't know
where it is. I am in (secret) consultation with Frank Beard; he
recognises, in the exact description I have given him, indisputable
evidences of overwork, which he would wish to treat immediately. So I
have said: "Go in and win."
I have had a delicious walk by the sea to-day, and I sleep soundly, and
have picked up amazingly in appetite. My foot is greatly better too, and
I wear my own boot.
[Sidenote: Miss Dickens.]
PRESTON, _Thursday Evening, April 22nd, 1869._
_Don't be in the least alarmed._ Beard has come down, and instantly
echoes my impression (perfectly unknown to him), that the readings must
be _stopped_. I have had symptoms that must not be disregarded. I go to
Liverpool to-night with him (to get away from here), and proceed to the
office to-morrow.
[Sidenote: The Lord John Russell.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT,
_Wednesday, May 26th, 1869._
MY DEAR LORD RUSSELL,
I have delayed answering your kind letter, in order that you might get
home before I wrote. I am happy to report myself quite well again, and I
shall be charmed to come to Pembroke Lodge on any day that may be most
convenient to Lady Russell and yourself after the middle of June.
You gratify me beyond expression by your reference to the Liverpool
dinner. I made the allusion to you with all my heart at least, and it
was most magnificently received.
I beg to send my kind regard to Lady Russell, with many thanks for her
remembrance, and am ever,
My dear Lord Russell, faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND,"
_Thursday, June 24th, 1869._
MY DEAR WILLS,
At a great meeting[30] compounded of your late "Chief," Charley, Morley,
Grieve, and Telbin, your letter was read to-day, and a very sincere
record of regret and thanks was placed on the books of the great
institution.
Many thanks for the suggestion about the condition of churches. I am so
aweary of church questions of all sorts that I am not quite clear as to
tackling this. But I am turning it in my mind. I am afraid of two
things: firstly, that the thing would not be picturesquely done;
secondly, that a general cucumber-coolness would pervade the mind of our
circulation.
Nothing new here but a speaking-pipe, a post-box, and a mouldy smell
from some forgotten crypt--an extra mouldy smell, mouldier than of yore.
Lillie sniffs, projects one eye into nineteen hundred and ninety-nine,
and does no more.
I have been to Chadwick's, to look at a new kind of cottage he has built
(very ingenious and cheap).
We were all much disappointed last Saturday afternoon by a neighbouring
fire being only at a carpenter's, and not at Drury Lane Theatre.
Ellen's[31] child having an eye nearly poked out by a young friend, and
being asked whether the young friend was not very sorry afterwards,
replied: "No. _She_ wasn't. _I_ was."
London execrable.
Ever affectionately yours.
P.S.--Love to Mrs. Wills.
[Sidenote: Mr. Shirley Brooks.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT,
_Tuesday, July 12th, 1869._
MY DEAR BROOKS,
I have appended my sign manual to the memorial, which I think is very
discreetly drawn up. I have a strong feeling of sympathy with poor Mrs.
Cunningham, for I remember the pretty house she managed charmingly. She
has always done her duty well, and has had hard trials. But I greatly
doubt the success of the memorial, I am sorry to add.
It was hotter here yesterday on this Kentish chalk than I have felt it
anywhere for many a day. Now it is overcast and raining hard, much to
the satisfaction of great farmers like myself.
I am glad to infer from your companionship with the Cocked Hats, that
there is no such thing as gout within several miles of you. May it keep
its distance.
Ever, my dear Brooks, faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. C. Macready.]
GAD'S HILL, _Tuesday, July 20th, 1869._
MY DEAREST MACREADY,
I have received your letter here to-day, and deeply feel with you and
for you the affliction of poor dear Katie's loss. I was not unprepared
for the sad news, but it comes in such a rush of old remembrances and
withered joys that strikes to the heart.
God bless you! Love and youth are still beside you, and in that thought
I take comfort for my dear old friend.
I am happy to report myself perfectly well and flourishing. We are just
now announcing the resumption and conclusion of the broken series of
farewell readings in a London course of twelve, beginning early in the
new year.
Scarcely a day has gone by this summer in which we have not talked of
you and yours. Georgina, Mary, and I continually speak of you. In the
spirit we certainly are even more together than we used to be in the
body in the old times. I don't know whether you have heard that Harry
has taken the second scholarship (fifty pounds a year) at Trinity Hall,
Cambridge. The bigwigs expect him to do a good deal there.
Wills having given up in consequence of broken health (he has been my
sub-editor for twenty years), I have taken Charley into "All the Year
Round." He is a very good man of business, and evinces considerable
aptitude in sub-editing work.
This place is immensely improved since you were here, and really is now
very pretty indeed. We are sorry that there is no present prospect of
your coming to see it; but I like to know of your being at the sea, and
having to do--_from the beach_, as Mrs. Keeley used to say in "The
Prisoner of War"--with the winds and the waves and all their freshening
influences.
I dined at Greenwich a few days ago with Delane. He asked me about you
with much interest. He looks as if he had never seen a printing-office,
and had never been out of bed after midnight.
Great excitement caused here by your capital news of Butty. I suppose
Willy has at least a dozen children by this time.
Our loves to the noble boy and to dear Mrs. Macready.
Ever, my dearest Macready,
Your attached and affectionate.
[Sidenote: Mr. Edmund Ollier.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT,
_Tuesday, Aug. 3rd, 1869._
MY DEAR MR. OLLIER,
I am very sensible of the feeling of the Committee towards me; and I
receive their invitation (conveyed through you) as a most acceptable
mark of their consideration.
But I have a very strong objection to speech-making beside graves. I do
not expect or wish my feeling in this wise to guide other men; still, it
is so serious with me, and the idea of ever being the subject of such a
ceremony myself is so repugnant to my soul, that I must decline to
officiate.
Faithfully yours always.
[Sidenote: Miss Dickens.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND," NO. 26, WELLINGTON STREET,
STRAND, LONDON, W.C.,
_Tuesday, Aug. 3rd, 1869._
MY DEAREST MAMIE,
I send you the second chapter of the remarkable story. The printer is
late with it, and I have not had time to read it, and as I altered it
considerably here and there, I have no doubt there are some verbal
mistakes in it. However, they will probably express themselves.
But I offer a prize of six pairs of gloves--between you, and your aunt,
and Ellen Stone, as competitors--to whomsoever will tell me what idea in
this second part is mine. I don't mean an idea in language, in the
turning of a sentence, in any little description of an action, or a
gesture, or what not in a small way, but an idea, distinctly affecting
the whole story _as I found it_. You are all to assume that I found it
in the main as you read it, with one exception. If I had written it, I
should have made the woman love the man at last. And I should have
shadowed that possibility out, by the child's bringing them a little
more together on that holiday Sunday.
But I didn't write it. So, finding that it wanted something, I put that
something in. What was it?
Love to Ellen Stone.
[Sidenote: Mr. Arthur Ryland.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT,
_Friday, Aug. 13th, 1869._
MY DEAR MR. RYLAND,
Many thanks for your letter.
I have very strong opinions on the subject of speechification, and hold
that there is, everywhere, a vast amount too much of it. A sense of
absurdity would be so strong upon me, if I got up at Birmingham to make
a flourish on the advantages of education in the abstract for all sorts
and conditions of men, that I should inevitably check myself and present
a surprising incarnation of the soul of wit. But if I could interest
myself in the practical usefulness of the particular institution; in the
ways of life of the students; in their examples of perseverance and
determination to get on; in their numbers, their favourite studies, the
number of hours they must daily give to the work that must be done for a
livelihood, before they can devote themselves to the acquisition of new
knowledge, and so forth, then I could interest others. This is the kind
of information I want. Mere holding forth "I utterly detest, abominate,
and abjure."
I fear I shall not be in London next week. But if you will kindly send
me here, at your leisure, the roughest notes of such points as I have
indicated, I shall be heartily obliged to you, and will take care of
their falling into shape and order in my mind. Meantime I "make a note
of" Monday, 27th September, and of writing to you touching your kind
offer of hospitality, three weeks before that date.
I beg to send my kind regard to Mrs. and Miss Ryland, and am always,
Very faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. Frederic Ouvry.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT,
_Sunday, Aug. 22nd, 1869._
MY DEAR OUVRY,
I will expect a call from you at the office, on Thursday, at your own
most convenient hour. I admit the soft impeachment concerning Mrs. Gamp:
I likes my payments to be made reg'lar, and I likewise likes my
publisher to draw it mild.
Ever yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. Arthur Ryland.]
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT,
_Monday, Sept. 6th, 1869._
MY DEAR MR. RYLAND,
I am sorry to find--I had a foreshadowing of it some weeks ago--that I
shall not be able to profit by your kind offer of hospitality when I
come to Birmingham for _our_ Institution. I must come down in time for a
quiet dinner at the hotel with my "Readings" secretary, Mr. Dolby, and
must away next morning. Besides having a great deal in hand just now
(the title of a new book among other things), I shall have visitors from
abroad here at the time, and am severely claimed by my daughter, who
indeed is disloyal to Birmingham in the matter of my going away at all.
Pray represent me to Mrs. Ryland as the innocent victim of
circumstances, and as sacrificing pleasure to the work I have to do, and
to the training under which alone I can do it without feeling it.
You will see from the enclosed that I am in full force, and going to
finish my readings, please God, after Christmas. I am in the hope of
receiving your promised notes in due course, and continue in the
irreverent condition in which I last reported myself on the subject of
speech-making. Now that men not only make the nights of the session
hideous by what the Americans call "orating" in Parliament, but trouble
the peace of the vacation by saying over again what they said there
(with the addition of what they _didn't_ say there, and never will have
the courage to say there), I feel indeed that silence, like gold across
the Atlantic, is a rarity at a premium.
Faithfully yours always.
[Sidenote: Mr. William Charles Kent.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND,"
_Thursday, Oct. 7th, 1869._
MY DEAR KENT,
I felt that you would be deeply disappointed. I thought it better not to
make the first sign while you were depressed, but my mind has been
constantly with you. And not mine alone. You cannot think with what
affection and sympathy you have been made the subject of our family
dinner talk at Gad's Hill these last three days. Nothing could exceed
the interest of my daughters and my sister-in-law, or the earnestness of
their feeling about it. I have been really touched by its warm and
genuine expression.
Cheer up, my dear fellow; cheer up, for God's sake. That is, for the
sake of all that is good in you and around you.
Ever your affectionate Friend.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. C. Macready.]
GAD'S HILL, _Monday, Oct. 18th, 1869._
MY DEAREST MACREADY,
I duly received your letter nearly a fortnight ago, with the greatest
interest and pleasure. Above all things I am delighted with the prospect
of seeing you here next summer; a prospect which has been received with
nine times nine and one more by the whole house. You will hardly know
the place again, it is so changed. You are not expected to admire, but
there _is_ a conservatory building at this moment--be still, my soul!
This leaves me in the preliminary agonies of a new book, which I hope to
begin publishing (in twelve numbers, not twenty) next March. The coming
readings being all in London, and being, after the first fortnight, only
once a week, will divert my attention very little, I hope.
Harry has just gone up to Cambridge again, and I hope will get a
fellowship in good time.
Wills is much gratified by your remembrance, and sends you his warm
regard. He wishes me to represent that he is very little to be pitied.
That he suffers no pain, scarcely inconvenience, even, so long as he is
idle. That he likes idleness exceedingly. He has bought a country place
by Welwyn in Hertfordshire, near Lytton's, and takes possession
presently.
My boy Sydney is now a second lieutenant, the youngest in the Service, I
believe. He has the highest testimonials as an officer.
You may be quite sure there will be no international racing in American
waters. Oxford knows better, or I am mistaken. The Harvard crew were a
very good set of fellows, and very modest.
Ryland of Birmingham doesn't look a day older, and was full of interest
in you, and asked me to remind you of him. By-the-bye, at Elkington's I
saw a pair of immense tea-urns from a railway station (Stafford), sent
there to be repaired. They were honeycombed within in all directions,
and had been supplying the passengers, under the active agency of hot
water, with decomposed lead, copper, and a few other deadly poisons, for
heaven knows how many years!
I must leave off in a hurry to catch the post, after a hard day's work.
Ever, my dearest Macready,
Your most affectionate and attached.
FOOTNOTES:
[28] Herr Joseph Joachim, the renowned violinist.
[29] His sister-in-law, Mrs. Augustus Dickens, always a welcome visitor
at Gad's Hill.
[30] Of the Guild of Literature and Art.
[31] The housekeeper at the office.
1870.
NARRATIVE.
Charles Dickens passed his last Christmas and New Year's Day at Gad's
Hill, with a party of family and friends, in the usual way, except that
he was suffering again from an attack of the foot trouble, particularly
on Christmas Day, when he was quite disabled by it and unable to walk at
all--able only to join the party in the evening by keeping his room all
day. However, he was better in a day or two, and early in January he
went to London, where he had taken the house of his friends, Mr. and
Mrs. Milner Gibson, for the season.
His series of "Farewell Readings" at St. James's Hall began in January,
and ended on the 16th March. He was writing "Edwin Drood" also, and was,
of course, constantly occupied with "All the Year Round" work. In the
beginning of January, he fulfilled his promise of paying a second visit
to Birmingham and making a speech, of which he writes in his last letter
to Mr. Macready.
For his last reading he gave the "Christmas Carol" and "The Trial" from
"Pickwick," and at the end of the evening he addressed a few farewell
words to his audience. It was a memorable and splendid occasion. He was
very deeply affected by the loving enthusiasm of his greeting, and it
was a real sorrow to him to give up for ever the personal associations
with thousands of the readers of his books. But when the pain, mingled
with pleasure, of this last reading was over, he felt greatly the relief
of having undisturbed time for his own quieter pursuits, and looked
forward to writing the last numbers of "Edwin Drood" at Gad's Hill,
where he was to return in June.
The last public appearance of any kind that he made was at the Royal
Academy dinner in May. He was at the time far from well, but he made a
great effort to be present and to speak, from his strong desire to pay a
tribute to the memory of his dear old friend Mr. Maclise, who died in
April.
Her Majesty having expressed a wish, conveyed through Mr. Helps
(afterwards Sir Arthur Helps), to have a personal interview with Charles
Dickens, he accompanied Mr. Helps to Buckingham Palace one afternoon in
March. He was most graciously and kindly received by her Majesty, and
came away with a hope that the visit had been mutually agreeable. The
Queen presented him with a copy of her "Journal in the Highlands," with
an autograph inscription. And he had afterwards the pleasure of
requesting her acceptance of a set of his books. He attended a levee
held by the Prince of Wales in April, and the last time he dined out in
London was at a party given by Lord Houghton for the King of the
Belgians and the Prince of Wales, who had both expressed a desire to
meet Charles Dickens. All through the season he had been suffering, at
intervals, from the swollen foot, and on this occasion it was so bad,
that up to the last moment it was very doubtful whether he could fulfil
his engagement.
We have very few letters for this year, and none of any very particular
interest, but we give them all, as they are _the last_.
Mr. S. L. Fildes was his "new illustrator," to whom he alludes in a note
to Mr. Frith; we also give a short note to Mr. Fildes himself.
The correspondence of Charles Dickens with Mrs. Dallas Glyn, the
celebrated actress, for whom he had a great friendship, is so much on
the subject of her own business, that we have only been able to select
two notes of any public interest.
In explanation of _the last letter_, we give an extract from a letter
addressed to _The Daily News_ by Mr. J. M. Makeham, soon after the death
of Charles Dickens, as follows: "That the public may exactly understand
the circumstances under which Charles Dickens's letter to me was
written, I am bound to explain that it is in reply to a letter which I
addressed to him in reference to a passage in the tenth chapter of
"Edwin Drood," respecting which I ventured to suggest that he had,
perhaps, forgotten that the figure of speech alluded to by him, in a way
which, to my certain knowledge, was distasteful to some of his admirers,
was drawn from a passage of Holy Writ which is greatly reverenced by a
large number of his countrymen as a prophetic description of the
sufferings of our Saviour."
The MS. of the little "History of the New Testament" is now in the
possession of his eldest daughter. She has (together with her aunt)
received many earnest entreaties, both from friends and strangers, that
this history might be allowed to be published, for the benefit of other
children.
These many petitions have his daughter's fullest sympathy. But she knows
that her father wrote this history ONLY for his own children, that it
was his particular wish that it never should be published, and she
therefore holds this wish as sacred and irrevocable.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.]
5, HYDE PARK PLACE, LONDON, W., _Sunday, Jan. 23rd, 1870._
MY DEAR WILLS,
In the note I had from you about Nancy and Sikes, you seem to refer to
some other note you had written me. Therefore I think it well merely to
mention that I have received no other note.
I do not wonder at your not being up to the undertaking (even if you had
had no cough) under the wearing circumstances. It was a very curious
scene. The actors and actresses (most of the latter looking very pretty)
mustered in extraordinary force, and were a fine audience. I set myself
to carrying out of themselves and their observation, those who were bent
on watching how the effects were got; and I believe I succeeded. Coming
back to it again, however, I feel it was madness ever to do it so
continuously. My ordinary pulse is seventy-two, and it runs up under
this effort to one hundred and twelve. Besides which, it takes me ten or
twelve minutes to get my wind back at all; I being, in the meantime,
like the man who lost the fight--in fact, his express image. Frank Beard
was in attendance to make divers experiments to report to Watson; and
although, as you know, he stopped it instantly when he found me at
Preston, he was very much astonished by the effects of the reading on
the reader.
So I hope you may be able to come and hear it before it is silent for
ever. It is done again on the evenings of the 1st February, 15th
February, and 8th March. I hope, now I have got over the mornings, that
I may be able to work on my book. But up to this time the great
preparation required in getting the subjects up again, and the twice a
week besides, have almost exclusively occupied me.
I have something the matter with my right thumb, and can't (as you see)
write plainly. I sent a word to poor Robert Chambers,[32] and I send my
love to Mrs. Wills.
Ever, my dear Wills, affectionately yours.
[Sidenote: Mrs. Dallas.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND,"
_Wednesday, Jan. 16th, 1870._
MY DEAR MRS. DALLAS,
It is perfectly delightful to me to get your fervent and sympathetic
note this morning. A thousand thanks for it. I will take care that two
places on the front row, by my daughter, are reserved for your occasion
next time. I cannot see you in too good a seat, or too often.
Believe me, ever very faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. S. L. Fildes.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND,"
_Wednesday, Jan. 16th, 1870._
DEAR SIR,
I beg to thank you for the highly meritorious and interesting specimens
of your art that you have had the kindness to send me. I return them
herewith, after having examined them with the greatest pleasure.
I am naturally curious to see your drawing from "David Copperfield," in
order that I may compare it with my own idea. In the meanwhile, I can
honestly assure you that I entertain the greatest admiration for your
remarkable powers.
Faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. Henry Fielding Dickens.]
5, HYDE PARK PLACE, W., _Thursday, Feb. 17th, 1870._
MY DEAR HARRY,
I am extremely glad to hear that you have made a good start at the
Union. Take any amount of pains about it; open your mouth well and
roundly, speak to the last person visible, and give yourself time.
Loves from all.
Ever affectionately.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. C. Macready.]
_Wednesday, March 2nd, 1870._
MY DEAREST MACREADY,
This is to wish you and yours all happiness and prosperity at the
well-remembered anniversary to-morrow. You may be sure that loves and
happy returns will not be forgotten at _our_ table.
I have been getting on very well with my book, and we are having immense
audiences at St. James's Hall. Mary has been celebrating the first
glimpses of spring by having the measles. She got over the disorder very
easily, but a weakness remains behind. Katie is blooming. Georgina is in
perfect order, and all send you their very best loves. It gave me true
pleasure to have your sympathy with me in the second little speech at
Birmingham. I was determined that my Radicalism should not be called in
question. The electric wires are not very exact in their reporting, but
at all events the sense was there. Ryland, as usual, made all sorts of
enquiries about you.
With love to dear Mrs. Macready and the noble boy my particular friend,
and a hearty embrace to you,
I am ever, my dearest Macready,
Your most affectionate.
[Sidenote: Mr. ----.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND,"
_Wednesday, March 9th, 1870._
MY DEAR ----,