BIB_ID
421286
Accession number
MA 1352.282
Creator
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Display Date
Derby, England, 1852 August 25.
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1951.
Description
1 item (3 pages) ; 17.9 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 "Derby, Wednesday Twenty Fifth August / 1852."
Envelope with two postage stamps, postmarks and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts / Stratton Street / Piccadilly / London."
Written from "Derby, Wednesday Twenty Fifth August / 1852."
Envelope with two postage stamps, postmarks and Dickens' signature to "Miss Burdett Coutts / Stratton Street / Piccadilly / 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
Acknowledging receipt of her letter and saying he will write to the Chaplain of the Petworth House of Correction to inquire about a possible girl for Shepherd's Bush; expressing his concern at hearing "...so poor an account of Mrs. Brown, whose condition must be almost as distressing to you, I fear, as to herself. But the glimpse of hope in your postscript, gives me some encouragement;" relating his visit to Ada Lovelace; saying "The night before I left town (last Saturday) I had a note from Lord Lovelace to tell me that Lady Lovelace was dying, and that the death of the child in Dombey had been so much in her thoughts and had soothed her so, that she wished to see me once more if I could be found. I went, and sat with her alone for some time. It was very solemn and sad, but her fortitude was quite surprising; and her Conviction that all the agony she has suffered (which has been very great) had some good design in the goodness of God, impressed me very much. She wished to live till next Saturday, to see one of her boys who is absent. I fear she may not have that natural hope realized;" reporting on a comedy: "The comedy you don't approve of, goes very well now. I have reduced it into three acts. I wish you could see my farce. It is very droll and pleasant, and puts all the people into such good humour that they cannot express it sufficiently. In case you should have any occasion to write to me while I am away, I send you the official travelling list."
Catalog link
Department