In this year, Charles Dickens was still writing "Bleak House," and went
to Brighton for a short time in the spring. In May he had an attack of
illness, a return of an old trouble of an inflammatory pain in the
side, which was short but very severe while it lasted. Immediately on
his recovery, early in June, a departure from London for the summer was
resolved upon. He had decided upon trying Boulogne this year for his
holiday sojourn, and as soon as he was strong enough to travel, he, his
wife, and sister-in-law went there in advance of the family, taking up
their quarters at the Hotel des Bains, to find a house, which was
speedily done. The pretty little Villa des Moulineaux, and its excellent
landlord, at once took his fancy, and in that house, and in another on
the same ground, also belonging to M. Beaucourt, he passed three very
happy summers. And he became as much attached to "Our French Watering
Place" as to "Our English" one. Having written a sketch of Broadstairs
under that name in "Household Words," he did the same of Boulogne under
the former title.
During the summer, besides his other work, he was employed in dictating
"The Child's History of England," which he published in "Household
Words," and which was the only book he ever wrote by dictation. But, as
at Broadstairs and other seaside homes, he had always plenty of
relaxation and enjoyment in the visits of his friends. In September he
finished "Bleak House," and in October he started with Mr. Wilkie
Collins and Mr. Egg from Boulogne, on an excursion through parts of
Switzerland and Italy; his wife and family going home at the same time,
and he himself returning to Tavistock House early in December. His
eldest son, Charles, had left Eton some time before this, and had gone
for the completion of his education to Leipsic. He was to leave Germany
at the end of the year, therefore it was arranged that he should meet
the travellers in Paris on their homeward journey, and they all returned
together.
Just before Christmas he went to Birmingham in fulfilment of an offer
which he had made at the dinner given to him at Birmingham on the 6th of
January (of which he writes to Mr. Macready in the first letter that
follows here), to give two readings from his own books for the benefit
of the New Midland Institute. They were his first public readings. He
read "The Christmas Carol" on one evening, and "The Cricket on the
Hearth" on the next, before enormous audiences. The success was so
great, and the sum of money realised for the institute so large, that he
consented to give a second reading of "The Christmas Carol," remaining
another night in Birmingham for the purpose, on the condition that seats
were reserved, at prices within their means, for the working men. And to
his great satisfaction they formed a large proportion, and were among
the most enthusiastic and appreciative of his audience. He was
accompanied by his wife and sister-in-law, and on this occasion a
breakfast was given to him after his last reading, at which a silver
flower-basket, duly inscribed, was very gracefully presented to _Mrs._
Charles Dickens.
The letters in this year require little explanation. Those to his wife
and sister-in-law and Mr. Wills give a little history of his Italian
journey. At Naples he found his excellent friend Sir James Emerson
Tennent, with his wife and daughter, with whom he joined company in the
ascent of Vesuvius.
The two letters to M. Regnier, the distinguished actor of the Theatre
Francais--with whom Charles Dickens had formed a sincere friendship
during his first residence in Paris--on the subject of a projected
benefit to Miss Kelly, need no further explanation.
Mr. John Delane, editor of _The Times_, and always a highly-esteemed
friend of Charles Dickens, had given him an introduction to a school at
Boulogne, kept by two English gentlemen, one a clergyman and the other a
former Eton master, the Rev. W. Bewsher and Mr. Gibson. He had at
various times four boys at this school, and very frequently afterwards
he expressed his gratitude to Mr. Delane for having given him the
introduction, which turned out so satisfactory in every respect.
The letter of grateful acknowledgment from Mr. Poole and Charles
Dickens to Lord Russell was for the pension for which the old dramatic
author was indebted to that nobleman, and which enabled him to live
comfortably until the end of his life.
A note to Mr. Marcus Stone was sent with a copy of "The Child's History
of England." The sketch referred to was one of "Jo'," in "Bleak House,"
which showed great feeling and artistic promise, since fully fulfilled
by the young painter, but very remarkable in a boy so young as he was at
that time. The letter to Mr. Stanfield, in seafaring language, is a
specimen of a playful way in which he frequently addressed that dear
friend.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.]
"A curiosity from _him_. No date. No signature."--W. H. H.