Volume Iii Part 23 (1/2)

DEVONs.h.i.+RE TERRACE, _Friday Evening, Oct. 17th, 1845._

MY DEAR MACREADY,

You once--only once--gave the world a.s.surance of a waistcoat. You wore it, sir, I think, in ”Money.” It was a remarkable and precious waistcoat, wherein certain broad stripes of blue or purple disported themselves as by a combination of extraordinary circ.u.mstances, too happy to occur again. I have seen it on your manly chest in private life. I saw it, sir, I think, the other day in the cold light of morning--with feelings easier to be imagined than described. Mr. Macready, sir, are you a father? If so, lend me that waistcoat for five minutes. I am bidden to a wedding (where fathers are made), and my artist cannot, I find (how should he?), imagine such a waistcoat. Let me show it to him as a sample of my tastes and wishes; and--ha, ha, ha, ha!--eclipse the bridegroom!

I will send a trusty messenger at half-past nine precisely, in the morning. He is sworn to secrecy. He durst not for his life betray us, or swells in ambuscade would have the waistcoat at the cost of his heart's blood.

Thine, THE UNWAISTCOATED ONE.

[Sidenote: Viscount Morpeth.]

DEVONs.h.i.+RE TERRACE, _Nov. 28th, 1845._

MY DEAR LORD MORPETH,

I have delayed writing to you until now, hoping I might have been able to tell you of our dramatic plans, and of the day on which we purpose playing. But as these matters are still in abeyance, I will give you that precious information when I come into the receipt of it myself. And let me heartily a.s.sure you, that I had at least as much pleasure in seeing you the other day as you can possibly have had in seeing me; and that I shall consider all opportunities of becoming better known to you among the most fortunate and desirable occasions of my life. And that I am with your conviction about the probability of our liking each other, and, as Lord Lyndhurst might say, with ”something more.”

Ever faithfully yours.

FOOTNOTE:

[5] This alludes to a theatrical story of a second-rate actor, who described himself as a ”chained lion,” in a theatre where he had to play inferior parts to Mr. Macready.

1846.

NARRATIVE.

In the spring of this year Charles d.i.c.kens gave up the editors.h.i.+p of, and finally, all connection with _The Daily News_, and went again abroad with his family; the house in Devons.h.i.+re Terrace being let for twelve months. He made his summer residence at Lausanne, taking a villa (Rosemont) there, from May till November. Here he wrote ”The Battle of Life,” and the first number of ”Dombey and Son.” In November he removed to Paris, where he took a house in the Rue de Courcelles for the winter, and where he lived and was at work upon ”Dombey” until March, 1847.

Among the English residents that summer at Lausanne he made many friends.h.i.+ps, in proof of which he dedicated the Christmas book written there to his ”English friends in Lausanne.” The especially intimate friends.h.i.+ps which he formed were with M. de Cerjat, who was always a resident of Lausanne with his family; Mr. Haldimand, whose name is identified with the place, and with the Hon. Richard and Mrs. Watson, of Rockingham Castle. He maintained a constant correspondence with them, and to Mr. and Mrs. Watson he afterwards dedicated his own favourite of all his books, ”David Copperfield.” M. de Cerjat, from the time of Charles d.i.c.kens leaving Lausanne, began a custom, which he kept up almost without an interval to the time of his own death, of writing him a long letter every Christmas, to which he returned answers, which will be given in this and the following years.

In this year we have the commencement of his a.s.sociation and correspondence with Mr. W. H. Wills. Their connection began in the short term of his editors.h.i.+p of _The Daily News_, when he at once fully appreciated Mr. Wills's invaluable business qualities. And when, some time later, he started his own periodical, ”Household Words,” he thought himself very fortunate in being able to secure Mr. Wills's co-operation as editor of that journal, and afterwards of ”All the Year Round,” with which ”Household Words” was incorporated. They worked together on terms of the most perfect mutual understanding, confidence, and affectionate regard, until Mr. Wills's health made it necessary for him to retire from the work in 1868. Besides his first notes to Mr. Wills in this year, we have our first letters to his dear friends, the Rev. James White, Walter Savage Landor, and Miss Marion Ely, the niece of Lady Talfourd.

[Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.]

DEVONs.h.i.+RE TERRACE, _February 18th, 1846._

MY DEAR MR. WILLS,

Do look at the enclosed from Mrs. What's-her-name. For a surprising audacity it is remarkable even to me, who am positively bullied, and all but beaten, by these people. I wish you would do me the favour to write to her (in your own name and from your own address), stating that you answered her letter as you did, because if I were the wealthiest n.o.bleman in England I could not keep pace with one-twentieth part of the demands upon me, and because you saw no internal evidence in her application to induce you to single it out for any especial notice.

That the tone of this letter renders you exceedingly glad you did so; and that you decline, from me, holding any correspondence with her.

Something to that effect, after what flourish your nature will.

Faithfully yours always.