BIB_ID
420940
Accession number
MA 1352.182
Creator
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Display Date
London, England, 1851 January 1.
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 "Devonshire Terrace / First January 1850." Dickens has given the year of writing as 1850. However, the published letter, cited below, states that Dickens misdated this letter and the year of writing is 1851, "...before the visit to Rockingham Castle on 9 Jan."
Envelope with seal and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts."
Written from "Devonshire Terrace / First January 1850." Dickens has given the year of writing as 1850. However, the published letter, cited below, states that Dickens misdated this letter and the year of writing is 1851, "...before the visit to Rockingham Castle on 9 Jan."
Envelope with seal and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts."
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
Expressing his delight with a note she enclosed which appears to concern an inmate who successfully emigrated; reporting on details of his visit to the Home; referring to an incident involving the theft of a bonnet by an inmate and his conversation with Mrs. Morson about it; enclosing Charley's documents and saying Charley will go with them to Rockingham for "ten days or so. After which, his Mama will avail herself of your kindness, and write to ask for the box at Drury Lane. I have sent your Copperfield to Stratton Street."
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