Volume Ii Part 32 (1/2)

GAD'S HILL, _Sunday, Dec. 20th, 1863._

MY DEAR WILLS,

I am clear that you took my cold. Why didn't you do the thing completely, and take it away from me? for it hangs by me still.

Will you tell Mrs. Linton that in looking over her admirable account (_most_ admirable) of Mrs. Gordon's book, I have taken out the references to Lockhart, not because I in the least doubt their justice, but because I knew him and he liked me; and because one bright day in Rome, I walked about with him for some hours when he was dying fast, and all the old faults had faded out of him, and the now ghost of the handsome man I had first known when Scott's daughter was at the head of his house, had little more to do with this world than she in her grave, or Scott in his, or small Hugh Littlejohn in his. Lockhart had been anxious to see me all the previous day (when I was away on the Campagna), and as we walked about I knew very well that _he_ knew very well why. He talked of getting better, but I never saw him again. This makes me stay Mrs. Linton's hand, gentle as it is.

Mrs. Lirriper is indeed a most brilliant old lady. G.o.d bless her.

I am glad to hear of your being ”haunted,” and hope to increase your stock of such ghosts pretty liberally.

Ever faithfully.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] Alluding to a translation of a play by M. Maquet, which M. Fechter was then preparing for his theatre.

[9] Now Mrs. Dallas Glyn.

[10] Formerly Miss Talfourd.

[11] His travelling journal.

[12] Answer to letter from Jewish lady, remonstrating with him on injustice to the Jews, shown in the character of f.a.gin, and asking for subscription for the benefit of the Jewish poor.

1864.

NARRATIVE.

Charles d.i.c.kens was, as usual, at Gad's Hill, with a family and friendly party, at the opening of this year, and had been much shocked and distressed by the news of the sudden death of Mr. Thackeray, brought to him by friends arriving from London on the Christmas Eve of 1863, the day on which the sad event happened. He writes of it, in the first letter of the year, to Mr. Wilkie Collins, who was pa.s.sing the winter in Italy. He tells him, also, of his having got well to work upon a new serial story, the first number of which (”Our Mutual Friend”) was published on the 1st of May.

The year began very sadly for Charles d.i.c.kens. On the 7th of February (his own birthday) he received the mournful announcement of the death of his second son, Walter Landor (a lieutenant in the 42nd Royal Highlanders), who had died quite suddenly at Calcutta, on the last night of the year of 1863, at the age of twenty-three. His third son, Francis Jeffrey, had started for India at the end of January.

His annual letter to M. de Cerjat contains an allusion to ”another generation beginning to peep above the table”--the children of his son Charles, who had been married three years before, to Miss Bessie Evans.

In the middle of February he removed to a house in London (57, Gloucester Place, Hyde Park), where he made a stay of the usual duration, up to the middle of June, all the time being hard at work upon ”Our Mutual Friend” and ”All the Year Round.” Mr. Marcus Stone was the ill.u.s.trator of the new monthly work, and we give a specimen of one of many letters which he wrote to him about his ”subjects.”

His old friend, Mr. Charles Knight, with whom for many years Charles d.i.c.kens had dined on his birthday, was staying, this spring, in the Isle of Wight. To him he writes of the death of Walter, and of another sad death which happened at this time, and which affected him almost as much. Clara, the last surviving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. White, who had been happily married to Mr. Gordon, of Cluny, not more than two years, had just died at Bonchurch. Her father, as will be seen by the touching allusion to him in this letter, had died a short time after this daughter's marriage.

A letter to Mr. Edmund Ollier has reference to certain additions which Charles d.i.c.kens wished him to make to an article (by Mr. Ollier) on Working Men's Clubs, published in ”All the Year Round.”

We are glad to have one letter to the Lord Chief Baron, Sir Frederick Pollock, which shows the great friends.h.i.+p and regard Charles d.i.c.kens had for him, and his admiration of his qualities in his judicial capacity.

We give a pleasant letter to Mrs. Storrar, for whom, and for her husband, Dr. Storrar, Charles d.i.c.kens had affectionate regard, because we are glad to have their names in our book. The letter speaks for itself and needs no explanation.

The latter part of the year was uneventful. Hard at work, he pa.s.sed the summer and autumn at Gad's Hill, taking holidays by receiving visitors at home (among them, this year, Sir J. Emerson Tennent, his wife and daughter, who were kindly urgent for his paying them a return visit in Ireland) and occasional ”runs” into France. The last letters we give are his annual one to M. de Cerjat, and a graceful little New Year's note to his dear old friend ”Barry Cornwall.”

The Christmas number was ”Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy,” the first and last part written by himself, as in the case of the previous year's ”Mrs.