BIB_ID
419946
Accession number
MA 1352.31
Creator
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Display Date
London, England, 1843 July 26.
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1951.
Description
1 item (3 pages) ; 18.4 x 11.4 cm + envelope
Notes
Envelope with seal and Dickens' signature to "Miss Coutts / Stratton Street."
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 / Twenty Sixth July 1843."
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 / Twenty Sixth July 1843."
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
Concerning the death of Mr. Elton and his desire to raise money to help his children; saying "I don't know whether you have seen an advertisement in the papers of this morning, signed by me and having reference to the family of Mr. Elton the actor, who was drowned in the Pegasus. I consented last night to act as Chairman of a Committee for the assistance of his children; and I assure you that their condition is melancholy and desolate beyond all painting. He was a struggling man through his whole existence - always very poor, and never extravagant. His wife died mad, Three Years ago, and he was left a Widower with seven children - who were expecting his knock at the door, when a friend arrived with the terrible news of his Death. If in the great extent of your Charities, you have a niche left to fill up, I believe in my heart this is as sad a case as could possibly be put into it. If you have not, I know you will not mind saying so to me;" adding that she need not answer his letter as he will call on her in the afternoon; adding "I called on Sunday last, to enquire after Miss Meredith; but seeing your carriage at the door, I left my card. - By the way - lingering at the street corner, was a very strange looking fellow, watching your house intently. I hope it was not Mr. Dunn."
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