The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-23 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

Yesterday John Walker, a man about 45 years of age, was
charged with having attempted to obtain money from Mr.
Charles Dickens (Boz), Devonshire-terrace, New-road, by
means of false and fraudulent representations. The prisoner
seemed in great distress of mind, and, in the course of the in-
quiry, he frequently shed tears.
Mr. Dickens, on being sworn, deposed that he had received
a number of letters sibmed " John Walker," the first of
which set forth that the writer was suffering from want, and
that he should be thankful for any assistance ; the said com-
munication bore the address, 9, Upper Crown-street, West-
minster. and in order to satisfy himself of the truth of the ap-
plicant's statement, he sent his brother to make inquiries, the
result of which was, that he (Mr. Dickens) forwarded by his
servant to the prisoner a sovereign and a suit of clothes.
After this he received another letterin the same handwriting,
stating that the applicant was in arrear thirteen weeks' rent,
at 4s. per week, and that unless the demand was immediately
satisfied, lie and his family would be turned into the street.
Upon this appeal he (Mr. Dickens), who had never seen the
writer, sent him cash to enable him to pay the landlord, and
soon afterwards he received an acknowledgment.
Mr. RAWLINSON—Are either of the letters you have
alluded to here ? Mr. Dickens—They are not, Sir, I cannot
find them, but there are a number of others in the same hand-
writing, which have been addressed to me, and they are
here, in the possession of Mr. Knyvett, of the Mendicity
Society.
Mr. Knyvett, who is Secretary of the Institution referred
to, produced them, and they were read in regular order, with
regard to this dates, by the lliagistrate.
" No. 9, Upper Crown-street, Westminster,
March 30, 1844.
" Sir,—How can I return you thanks to your silent yet
truly emphatic reply to my request? Words are but a poor
conveyance of my feelings and the extent of my gratitude.
Allow me to acknowledge the receipt of the sum of 21. 125.,
by the hands of your servant, ;yesterday evening, with which
I immediately discharged my rent, and by so doing, through
your kindness, removed a rock that must have crushed me
to pieces. Can I possibly do anything in return, such as
copying? I shall be most happy, if but to show you in a
I trifling way how truly thankful am to you. Pray do not
hesitate trying me. With my wife's most grateful thanks as
well, I remain, Sir, your ever obliged and obedient servant,
" To Chas. Dickens, Esq. " JOHN WALKER."
The second letter was dated from 5, Mitre-street, Webber-
street, Lambeth, May 3, 1644. It was a lengthy epistle,
commencing with an expression of gratitude for the kind as-
sistance afforded him, and through which he was enabled to
remove to his present abode, a small house, at the rental of
two guineas per month. He had let off a portion of the
dwelling, and he had no doubt of being able ultimately to
get on, if he could obtain 54, as many things were required
to ba purchased, viz., a water-butt, &c. He concluded by
assuring Mr. Dickens that if he would be security to a loan
society for the sum alluded to, he should be truly grateful ;
or if he (Mr. Dickens) would be kind enough to advance the
amount, he should be punctually repaid at the rate of 1/. per
month, If he could not in this Instance be befriended, he
must sink again.
Mr. Dickens said that upon the receipt of the letter just
read, he sent a reply, to the effect that he could not assist the
writer any further.
A third letter ran thus :
" Pray de nRt be angry with me fbr again writing to
ygo, but had patience to listen to me for another moment.
Last night I thought my wife would have died—overcome
with fatigue and anxiety, she miscarried, her pains were
dreadful, and I thought every moment would have been her
last. If you are a married man you can sympathiae with me
—if you are not, your inagln4t;or4 roust picture to you a
night of Rrroy.. 44ge; lu addition to this, with what
4Wness I read your note, and its effect on my poor wife,
from whom I could not conceal it, it being delivered in her
presence in the bed-room, by one of my boys. Although I
know you must be overwhelmed with applications from the
needy and miserable like myself, and you have given me a
denial, my peculiar situation compels me to break through
all common bounds, and ask you, or rather implore you,once again to be my friend. Will you send me a couple of
sovereigns for a short time, and I promise most faithfully,
sacredly, I will return them to you. I shall be eternally
grateful -to you, and 80 will my poor vflfsf,. C 9,41 T.og set
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