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 "Devonshire Terrace."
Returning the copy of The Old Curiosity Shop "...with the something inserted. I meant so much in asking you to accept the book, that I forgot to say anything. pray forgive me. I have not seen Rachel yet, being unwilling to be forced to believe that anybody or anything could impart an interest to Racine. I mean to wait for Mary Stuart; - I am told she is a wonder, and am prepared to think so. If anybody should entreat you to go to the Polytechnic Institution and have a Photographic likeness done - don't be prevailed upon, on any terms. The Sun is a great fellow in his way, but portrait painting is not his line. I speak from experience, having suffered dreadfully."