Letter from Charles Dickens, London, to Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1852 November 19 : autograph manuscript signed.

Reporting, at length, on two girls recently discharged from the Home, the cause of their dismissal and the departure of one girl; commenting on the efficacy of soup kitchens: "I cannot by any means find out the truth about Kelly's soup-kitchen, because it is not in action but it was certainly found that the Soup Kitchen and Hospice in Leicester Square had an effect directly the reverse of that which he predicts, and assembled the sturdy vagrants from all quarters;" discussing the Duke of Wellington's funeral and possible coverage of it in Household Words: "I think, on looking back to the previous numbers, that there is nothing to be done, as to the Duke's Memory, beyond a general account of the Funeral Ceremony - unless there be anything that you would like to add about his character. If you will send me anything, of course I will take care to append it in the right place. I came home yesterday in time to write an article for the next No. of Household Words - which I had kept open for the purpose, and which is now at press, of necessity - objecting to the whole State Funeral, and shewing why. I will send you a proof - tomorrow night, I hope - thinking you may like to read it. The Military part of the show, was very fine. If it had been an ordinary Funeral of a great commander, it might have been impressive. I suppose for forms in ugliness, horrible combinations of color, hideous motion, and general failure, there never was such a work achieved as the Car;" expressing his satisfaction that "...Mrs. Brown keeps well. I have been so busy, leading up to the great turning idea of the Bleak House story, that I have lived this last week or ten days in a perpetual scald and boil."