BIB_ID
309452
Accession number
MA 1352.421
Creator
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Display Date
London, England, 1855 May 11.
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1951.
Description
1 item (3 pages) ; 18 x 11.1 cm + envelope
Notes
Signed with initials.
Written from "Tavistock House."
Envelope addressed to: "Miss Burdett Coutts."
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 70 letters written by others to Miss Coutts or to Dickens in his capacity as her unofficial almoner; and a few others. See the collection-level record for more information.
Written from "Tavistock House."
Envelope addressed to: "Miss Burdett Coutts."
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 70 letters written by others to Miss Coutts or to Dickens in his capacity as her unofficial almoner; and a few others. See the collection-level record for more information.
Provenance
The letters formed part of the Burdett-Coutts sale (Sotheby, 17 May 1922); they were purchased for Oliver W. Barrett in whose collection they remained until it was sold by his son (Parke-Bernet, 31 October 1951).
Summary
Acknowledging receipt of £20 for the Lowe sisters; writing "I am truly touched by your note, because I deeply feel at all times your interest and friendship -- can scarcely feel anything more;" writing at length about the attacks by supporters of the government on Austen Henry Layard, who had criticized the Whig oligarchy; explaining his position: "I am a Reformer heart and soul. I have nothing to gain -- everything to lose (for public quiet is my bread) -- but I am in desperate earnest, because I know it is a desperate case. You will believe that I have no sympathy with any mis-statement of fact, or hesitation in withdrawing it;" saying that he may appear impetuous, but that he reaches his conclusions via "a broad highway [...] and I have trod it slowly and patiently;" writing further about how much he values her letters.
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