The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-11 00:00:00

DEATH OF MR. CHARLES DICKENS

The sudden and unlooked for news of the death of one
of the most popular and best known of living authors has
everywhere occasioned a feeling of poignant regret.
Charles Dickens died at six o'clock on Thursday evening,
at his residence, Gadshill, Kent, having been stricken
with paralysis on the previous day, and never having
rallied from the shock. He had just sat down to dinner
on Wednesday, with his sister-in-law, Miss Hogarth, who,
observing an unusual appearance in his face, became
alarmed, and said she feared he was ill, proposing in the
same breath to telegraph for medical assistance. Mr.
Dickens replied, "No, no, no ; I have got the toothache,
and shall be better presently." He then asked that the
window might be shut ; and almost immediately he lapsed
into unconsciousness, from which state he never recovered
till the moment of his death. Meanwhile Mr. Frank
Beard, of 44, Welbeck-street, Mr. Dickens's regular
medical adviser, was telegraphed for, and arrived at
Gadshill in the course of Wednesday evening. He saw
at once that the case was hopeless ; but, for his own
satisfaction, as well as for that of the relatives, he sum-
moned the assistance of Dr. Russell Reynolds, who could
only concur in Mr. Beard's belief that nothing less than a
miracle could save the life of their patient. For the last
two or three days Mr. Dickens, though not apparently
out of his usual health and spirits, had complained of a
difficulty in doing his work, saying that it did not come
spontaneously to him, as it used to come. Mr. Charles
Dickens the younger was telegraphed for on Wednesday
evening, but the message did not reach London till Thurs-
day morning. He started instantly for his father's resi-
dence, and was present at the death-bed, with his two
sisters, Miss Hogarth, and the medical attendants. It is
a significant fact that when, last year, Mr. Dickens was
suddenly seized with illness at Preston, his doctor warned
him not to read, at the peril of his life, and brought him
almost by force to town.

Charles Dickens was born at Portsmouth in February,
1812. He was the son of Mr. John Dickens, of the Navy
Pay Department, and much of his early life was spent
in seaport towns—a fact which will not surprise the
readers of " David Copperfield." His father afterwards
obtained employment in London as a reporter for the
daily papers, and the family settled in town. At first
it was intended that young Charles should be placed in a
solicitor's office, but happily his father early recognised his
literary ability, and allowed him to follow his own
profession. He began his career as a reporter on the
True Sun:, and subsequently joined the staff of the
Morning Chronicle. Every one must remember his speech
at the Newspaper Press Fund dinner, in which he
boasted of belonging to the Fourth Estate, and described
his early experiences as a reporter in his own graphic
style. His connection with the Morning Chronicle, then
under Mr. John Black's editorship, was the means of first
introducing Charles Dickens to that public which was
afterwards to prize his works so highly, and in its columns
the world-famous sketches of " Boz " first appeared,
under the title of " Sketches of English Life and Cha-
racter." They were collected and reprinted in 1836, and
at once attracted notice. It is interesting to know that
the pseudonym of " Boz " was given by him in childhood
to a baby brother.
Among the many who recognised the graphic power
displayed in the sketches, were Messrs. Chapman and
Hall, then publishers in the Strand. They asked the
author to write for them a story in monthly
parts, and as the reward of their discernment
they received the " Pickwick Papers." It is needless
to say that these papers immediately attained an immense
circulation. A well-substantiated anecdote illustrates the
enormous and unexpected success of the work. It was a
question between Messrs. Chapman and Hall and their
binder, Mr. Bone, whether a greater or less number than
seven hundred copies should be stitched in wrappers.
Instead of hundreds, it soon b.ecame necessary to provide
for the sale of thousands ; and the green covers of " Pick-
wick " were seen all over the country. The melancholy.
suicide of Seymour, the caricaturist who illustrated the
earlier numbers, caused a crisis in the publication,
and set the publishers on an eager quest after
a competent artist. Thackeray has humorously narrated
how he, an obscure man at the time, and rather seeking
to make himself a place in art than in literature, called on
the young author in Furnival's Inn, and submitted for
approval sketches which were not approved. The artists
engaged to take Seymour's place was first Mr. Buss, and
then Mr. Hablot Knight Browne, who, as " Phiz," con-
tinued for so many years to delight Mr. Dickens and his
readers. Naturally, the success of " Pickwick '
caused .the author to be eagerly sought after by the
London publishers, and in 1837 Charles Dickens
accepted the editorship of Bentley's Miscellany. In the
second number he began the "Life of Oliver Twist," in
which he shewed his artistic power in stronger and darker
colours. In this work again Mr. Dickens was fortunate
in his illustrator, securing the pencil of George
Cruikshank. "Oliver Twist" lets the reader
into the secrets of life as it was, and, per-
haps, still is, to be found too often in workhouses
and in the " slums " of London. When finished
it was republished as a novel in three volumes,
and in that shape too enjoyed an extensive sale.
"Nicholas Nickleby " followed, introducing the immortal
Mr. and Mrs. Squeers, poor Smike, John Cheeryble, and
a host of other familiar names. In this, as in many other
of his works, Mr. Dickens had a definite object, intending
to expose in detail the cruelties which were practised upon
orphans and other neglected children at small and cheap
schools, where the sum charged for the board of hungry
and growing lads, with everything included, ranged from
£l6 to £2O a year. Mr. Dickens tells us, in the preface to
this book, as it stands, republished in the collective edition
of his works, that it was the result of a personal visit of
inspection paid by himself to some nameless " Dothe-
boys'-hall" amid the wolds of Yorkshire ; and the reader
who has carefully studied it will with difficulty be per-
suaded that Mr. Squeers and Mr. John Browdie are not
taken from living examples. The work was published in
1839. In 1840 " Master Humphrey's Clock " was com-
menced, and in the second tale, " Barnaby Rudge," he
has given the best and most graphic account extant of
that remarkable episode of English history—the Gordon
Riots of 1780. About the same time appeared the life of
"Joseph Grimaldi" In 1841 Mr. Dickens visited
America, and on his return published his " Ameri-
can Notes," and in 1844 appeared a new serial
tale, " Martin Chuzzlewit," in which he intro-
duced further sketches of American character.
From this time his literary labour was almost incessant,
and in 1846 he took a prominent part in establishing the
Daily News, of which he was the first editor. After a
few months of editorship, however, he returned to his old
literary labours, more congenial to his tastes and genius.
On Christmas, 1843, had appeared what may be termed
the gem of his writings, " The Christmas Carol,"
genial and evergreen as the holly itself, and
it was followed with varying success by other
Christmas stories, " The Chimes," " The Cricket on the
Hearth," " The Battle of Life," and the " Haunted
Man." The last of this series appeared at Christmas,
1848.

Besides these Mr. Dickens has published "Dealings
with the Firm of Dombey and Son," the " History of
David Copperfield," " Bleak House," " Little Dorrit,"
"A Tale of Two Cities," ," Our Mutual Friend," the
" Uncommercial Traveller," " Great Expectations,"
and, last of all, the " Mystery of Edwin Drood,"
of which only three numbers have appeared.
In 1850 Mr. Dickens projected a cheap weekly
periodical which he called Household Words, and
which was published by Messrs. Bradbury and
Evans ; but, difficulties having arisen between author and
publisher, it was discontinued in 1859, and Mr. Dickens
commenced in its stead its successor, All the Year Round,
which he continued to conduct to the last. True to his
order, Charles Dickens was an ardent advocate of all
literary institutions intended for the relief of less fortu-
nate or less gifted authors. He was one of the
founders of the Guild of Literature and Art,
and a vigorous supporter of the Newspaper Press Fund.
As an amateur actor his success was remarkable and ex-
ceptional, while his excellence as a public reader is fami-
liar to all who were fortunate enough to hear him. In the
United States, on the occasion of his second visit a year
or two since, the enthusiasm he excited was extraordinary,
even for the excitable Americans, and fabulous sums were
paid for the chance of seeing and hearing a man of whom
Anglo-Saxons were so proud. In connection with
this subject we may quote the words which
he addressed to his last audience in the St.
James's Hall, in concluding his public readings,
which the premonitory symptoms of his last fatal attack
had warned him to discontinue :

"Ladies and Gentlemen,—lt would be worse than idle,
it would be hypocritical and unfeeling, if I were to,dis-
guise that I close this episode in my life with feelings of
very considerable pain. For some fifteen years, in this
hall and in many kindred places, I have had the honour
of presenting my own cherished ideas before you for your
recognition, and., in closely observing your reception pf