The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

(From the Observer.)

About fourteen months ago the writer of these lines, cc.
Cording to appointment, met Mr. Dickens, who was then
engaged on his last tour of provincial readings at Leeds.
After the business of the evening was over they supped
together at the Queen's Hotel, and the writer noticed that
his friend looked jaded and worn, end had to •oertnin eztent
lost that marvellous elasticity of spirits, which was hi. great
characteristic Ile was suffering too, from an Inflammation
of the ball of the too', which had previously occasioned him
some annoyance, and the origin and cause of which could
never be rightly settled by his medical attendants, although
amongst those whom he had conaultsd about it were Sir
Henry Thompson and Professor Syme. Ha relieved himself
of his boot immediately on gaining the room, and while he
remained sat with his foot swathed in lotion bandage., but
he was evidently fatigued and depressed, and retired early.
The next morning at breakfast his ordinary cheerfulness had
returned, and he rallied the writer, who was about to visit
Sheffield In the rain which was then pouring down, about his
probable chances of pleasure, remarking Unit "ii was just
the kind of day in which the loveliness of the locality would
be seen to the highest advantage."

On the Thursday in the next week Mr Dickens was to
read at Preston, but still feeling ill had summoned his friend
and usual medical attendant, Mr. Frank Beard of Welbeck-
Street, to meet him there. On Mr. Beard's snivel be at
once saw the gravity of the can, and instantly ordered Mr.
Dickens then and there to Five up ell bodily and mental
exertion for the time. In vain it was urged that an elms,
mous number of tickets had been sold for that evening'.
reading. Mr. Beard would hear of no excuse, but carried
off sir D.ckens with him to London by the five o'clock
train. lita precautions lbws seasonably taken seemed to
have due effect. Mr. Dickens retired to his residence at
Gad'e-hill, and, implicitly obeying the orders of hie phy-
sicians, appeared soon to regain his normal state of
physipal health and strength Indeed, a very few weeks
afterwards, replying to an inquiry made by • friend as to
his condition, be wrote, "Alter all that has been said, I feel
almost like an Imposter; lam no miconscionably well."
As hi now well-known, he resumed hie readings in the
winter at St James's-hall, and on the 15th March hut took
farewell of the public in a manly and touching speech.
Whicu will be well-remembered by all, end the delivery of
which wee mused by en emotion which he seldom per-
mitted himself to show. in rode; to avuld the necessity
of frequent journeying to and fru during these readings, he
for sib months rented the town house of his old friend, Mr.
Milner Cribkon, in Hyde Park-place, whith be continued to
occupy until &helmet of last mouth. There, in his bedroom
on the first floor, with /ha roar of Oxford-street beneath
him—he was always singularly unsasceptible 0 the nuisance
of noise—with the open windows commanding a splendid
view over the park, much of What is accomplished of
" dwin Drood" was written.
- - • • • •• • • • •• .

0 Wu during this period that, In obedience to her
Majesty's comm ad he attended at Buckingham Pi 11814), sail
bad &lengthened pdrionai Datorview with the Queen, in the
course of which her lialesty exioresse.i to him her warm
Interest In and admiration of his works, and on parish, pre-
smite° him. copy of her own bock, "Our Life In the High.
lamia," with an autograph inscription, "Victoria it. to
Charles Diekeei," on the flyleaf, at the same time making
a charmingly mo.leat and graceful remark as to the relative
positions occupied In the world if letters by tue donor and
the recipient of the book. Daring this period too be was
presented to the Prince of Wales at a lame, entertained his
friends frequently and most hospitably, as was his wont,
went perhaps rather more than was usual with him into
society, and dined at the annual banquet of the Royal
Academy, where he delivered a splendid eulogy on his dead
friend, Daniel Mullin But evidence was not wanting that
lie eras stall to a certain extent out of health. He had promised
to dine at the annuali dianer of the General Theatrical Fund,
an Institution in which he toak tho greatest Interest, and
was to have spoken to one of the toasts, but al tha last mo-
ment he telegraphed that he was too 111 to attend. Two days
I•ter he sent a short note to one of his Intimates, postponing
a lifGe expacHtion which had been arranged, and stating that
the old enemy to has :Opt was again causing him annoyance.
Unquestionably, too, he Lae vary rouch aged in appearance
during the two previous yeart ; the thoughl‘traven lines In
Ws face were deeper; the board And hair were more petaled ;
the OompLaslon ruddier, but not so healthy in hue He
walked, too. imam. Le N actively; latterly, Indeed, drelrElnil
ope leg rather wearily behind hifat. But be maintained the
bluff, frank. hearty Presence, and the deep, cheery voice;
his hand, pavan to his friend, had all its afl'ectionate griP,
and the splendid beauty of the dark eyes remained rindimmed
to the last. How that last coma ;bunt is now well knorrn.
To the present writer he once told • teethe, anecdote of
his reporting days. The late Earl of Derby, then Lord
4tanley. had on some Important occasion made • grand
spoor,,;. the Home of Commons. This speech, of Immerse
length, it Wu faund necessary to compress, but so admirably
had Its pith and marrow :Alen given lathe Morning Chronicle
that Loral Stanley sent to the Mace reyni4ting that the gentle-
Javan, who had reported It would wait upon him at BR midence
in Garlic:l-house-terrace, that he might then and there take
down the speec4 in its entirety from his lordship's Ups, Lord
Stanley being desirous o: having a perfect transcript of It.
Tha reporter was Charles Dickens. Ile attended, took down
the speech, and received Lord Stanley'a compliments on his
wok MN', tear. after, Vr theeree. dining for the il,tt