BIB_ID
420901
Accession number
MA 1352.174
Creator
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Display Date
Bonchurch, England, 1849 August 30.
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1951.
Description
1 item (4 pages) ; 17.8 x 11.1 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 "Bonchurch Thirtieth August 1849."
Envelope with seal, postage stamp, postmark and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts / Holly Lodge / Highgate / London."
Written from "Bonchurch Thirtieth August 1849."
Envelope with seal, postage stamp, postmark and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts / Holly Lodge / Highgate / London."
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
Discussing the decision to send Charley to Eton; saying "...I have no doubt it will be best for Charley to go first to Eton, and then (for the professional conclusion of his education) to King's College. I know Dr. Hawtrey, who is head master at Eton. I also know (and so does Mr. King) Mr. Evans the water-color painter, who is drawing Master at Eton; who is in great repute among the other masters, and very popular with the boys. He has, for some years, been one of the Masters who receive boys in their houses; and I have no doubt that Charley will be happier and better watched in his house, than he could be at any Dame's. I should be quite at easy about him, if he could be placed there:" referring to the use of two names given to him by his parents: "my possession of those names is a secret which I had thought Tortures would never extract from me. The superscription of your letter (though delicate and kind, as all you do is - being limited to the initials) greatly shocked me, and is supposed to have affected the Postman; who looked haggard this morning;" referring to the "matter of that unfortunate young chartist" and saying "...while I feel for many working men who are Chartists and mean no ill by it, I have no sympathy for the Amateur Members of that body. But I have no doubt that in this instance the money will do good. I hope Isabella Gordon is justifying the clemency that has been shewn her;" thanking her for her "excellent advice."
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