The letter is part of a collection, MA 1352, which consists of letters from Charles Dickens to the Baroness, to her companion Hannah (Meredith) Brown, or the latter's husband, William Brown; with ten letters written by Catherine Dickens to Angela Burdett Coutts and 73 letters written by others to Miss Coutts or to Dickens in his capacity as her unofficial almoner. See the collection-level record for more information.
Written on mourning stationery from "Sherborne. Dorset. July 23, / 1853."
Miss Coutts agreed to pay for the education of Mrs. Warner's daughter and Macready agreed to pay for the education of her son. Mrs. Warner, an actress, was ill and dying.
Apologizing for the lack of formality of his reply to her letter "...but under the feelings it has excited in me, I really cannot restrict myself to that cold formality, which is ordinarily considered the language of respect. I would wish you to believe, how deeply I have been affected by your goodness, and how truly I honor that genuine benevolence, so ready in you to anticipate affliction's prayer. But in your own consciousness you have your own recompence, and that, which is due to the most faithful stewardship of the Almighty's earthly blessings must be yours. I shall by this same post convey to Mrs. Warner the consolation of your letter, and I can well judge, what must be her emotions of gratitude to you, and also to our excellent friend, Mr. Charles Dickens for his kind mediation in her favour. There are three or four answers, for which I am waiting, before I make up the arrangements for the completion of the girl's education; but in the meantime she will return to school, and, in due course, I will, with your permission, forward you the account of what has been, and is proposed to be done. I shall probably hear either from yourself, or through Mr. Dickens, of your final decision in regard to the boy : in the meantime, regretting that I can but so imperfectly express the sentiments of grateful respect, with which I am penetrated by your goodness, I remain, dear Madam, your's most faithfully."