BIB_ID
420128
Accession number
MA 1352.49
Creator
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Display Date
London, England, 1845 December 1.
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1951.
Description
1 item (6 pages) ; 18.1 x 11.2 cm + envelope
Notes
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 / First December 1845."
Written from "Devonshire Terrace / First December 1845."
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
Apologizing for the delay in replying to her letter but explaining that he wished to talk with Mrs. Dickens about Charley's education before he replied; commenting on Charley's constitution as it might affect where he will attend school; saying that if "...he were at school at a distance from home, I should have real cause for anxiety; and as you leave the choice to me, I would solely on this account, prefer King's College, if you think well of it too. I have taken a long time to think of this, because I feel that such a kindness as yours should be thought of and deliberated upon. And I have come to the conclusion that this is the best course for him;" relating news of Bertha White's restored health; saying he has just finished his "...little Christmas Book, which I hope will please you. It is very quiet and domestic;" reporting that "Mrs. Overs succeeded the other day in getting one of her children into the Orphan School. It is a great thing for her;" telling her that he will travel to Liverpool and then to Paris, that Mrs. Dickens and the children send their love and that he has "...a very touching letter from Miss White in which she expresses her gratitude to an unknown person, with as much sincerity and earnestness as ever I saw expressed in words, in my life."
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