In the spring Charles Dickens took a short holiday again, with his wife
and sister-in-law, at Brighton, from whence he wrote to Mr. Wills, on
"Household Words" business. The first number of this journal appeared on
the 30th March.
This autumn he succeeded, for the first time, in getting possession of
the "Fort House," Broadstairs, on which he had always set his
affections. He was hard at work on the closing numbers of "David
Copperfield" during all the summer and autumn. The family moved to
Broadstairs in July, but as a third daughter was born in August, they
were not joined by Mrs. Dickens until the end of September. "David
Copperfield" was finished in October.
The beginning of his correspondence with Mrs. Gaskell is in his asking
her to contribute to "Household Words," which she did from the first
number, and very frequently afterwards both to "Household Words" and
"All the Year Round."
The letter to Mr. David Roberts, R.A., is one thanking him for a
remembrance of his (Mr. Roberts's) travels in the East--a picture of a
"Simoom in the Desert," which was one of Charles Dickens's most highly
prized possessions.
A letter to Mr. Sheridan Knowles contains allusions which we have no
means of explaining, but we publish it, as it is characteristic, and
addressed to a literary celebrity. Its being inscribed to "Daddy"
Knowles illustrates a habit of Charles Dickens--as does a letter later
in this year to Mr. Stone, beginning, "My dear P."--of giving nicknames
to the friends with whom he was on the most affectionate and intimate
terms. Mr. Stone--especially included in this category--was the subject
of many such names; "Pump," or "Pumpion," being one by which he was
frequently addressed--a joke as good-humouredly and gladly received as
it was kindly and pleasantly intended.
There were no public amateur theatricals this year; but in November, the
greater part of the amateur company played for three nights at Knebworth
Park, as the guests of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton (afterwards Lord
Lytton), who entertained all his county neighbours to witness the
performances. The play was "Every Man in his Humour," and farces, varied
each night.
This year we have our first letter to Miss Mary Boyle, a cousin of Mrs.
Watson, well known as an amateur actress and an accomplished lady. Miss
Boyle was to have acted with the amateur company at Knebworth, but was
prevented by domestic affliction. Early in the following year there was
a private play at Rockingham Castle, when Miss Boyle acted with Charles
Dickens, the play being "Used Up," in which Mrs. Dickens also acted; and
the farce, "Animal Magnetism," in which Miss Boyle and Miss Hogarth
played. The letters to Mrs. Watson in this year refer chiefly to the
preparations for the play in her house.
The accident mentioned in the letter addressed to Mr. Henry Bicknell
(son-in-law of Mr. David Roberts, R.A., and a much-esteemed friend of
Charles Dickens) was an accident which happened to Mrs. Dickens, while
rehearsing at a theatre. She fell through a trap-door, spraining her
ankle so badly as to be incapacitated from taking her part in the
theatricals at Knebworth.
[Sidenote: Mr. David Roberts, R.A.]