BIB_ID
421150
Accession number
MA 1352.255
Creator
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Display Date
London, England, 1852 March 7.
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1951.
Description
1 item (4 pages) ; 17.8 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 "Tavistock House / Sunday Evening / Seventh March 1852."
Envelope with postage stamp, postmark and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts / Stratton Street / Piccadilly." Written above the address, in an unknown hand, "Almina Holgate / The Home / 1852."
Written from "Tavistock House / Sunday Evening / Seventh March 1852."
Envelope with postage stamp, postmark and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts / Stratton Street / Piccadilly." Written above the address, in an unknown hand, "Almina Holgate / The Home / 1852."
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
Reporting on his visit with Almina Holgate at Mr. Hardwick's Court; saying "She is of exceedingly respectable appearance, and is a good Milliner, and Dress Maker. You would have no suspicion of her history from seeing her. It appears that she has no idea of abandoning her child. The poor people who take care of it for her are so persuaded of that, that they have not the least objection to retain it if she goes to Australia; knowing very well (she says) that she will surely remit money for its support from her earnings...She is to present herself to him again, on Tuesday Afternoon. How would you wish me to proceed? It seems to be a good case; and if you should think it well to send her out, without passing her through the Home, it occurs to me that it would not be a bad experience for Mrs. Morson if she were to see the girl (as she might do here) and manage the details along with her - throwing the girl upon herself to help herself, but taking care that all you might desire to be done, was thoroughly and faithfully done;" asking if he should call on her on Tuesday before he goes to the Court; adding "Bleak House will probably hold me until the afternoon."
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