The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-08-05

part of letter published by Charles Dickens, in
the London Chronicle of July Ia, and may be con-
| dered the opening of his budget on America -
81, DEvoNsHiRE.TERRAcE, YoRK.oArr,,
"REGENTs-rAnK, 7th July 1912. (
You may perhaps be aware tAat during my stay in
America lost no opportunity of endeavorng to aw aiken
The public mind to sense Of the unjust and inquitous
stae OF me law in that country in reference to the
wholesale piracy Of British works.
For myself have resolved that will never from this
e enter into any negotiation with any person for the
transmission across the Atlantic of early proofs any
ming may write; and that will forego all profit deriva-
ne nom such source do not venture to urge this
me Oh proceeding upon you but would beg to suggest
ana 70 lay great stress upon the necessity Of observing
oner course OF sction to which cannot emphacay
call your attention.
The persons who exert themselves to mislead the
american public on the question: put down its discus
on ardto suppress and dstort the truth in reference to
III every possible way are as you may easily suppose
those who have strong interest in the existing stem OF
piracy and plumber; inasmuch as long continues
oil other men, while they would find it very difficult TO
earn bread by the exercise Of their These the
editors and propreors Of newspapers almost exclusively
They are for the part men of very low attanments
and OF more than indifferent reputation, and have fire.
quently them the sheet in which they boast
OF the RAPID sale Of many thousand copies of English
reprint coarsely and insolenty attaching the author OF
that very book and heaping scurrty and Islander upon
| his head
al would therefore entreat you in the name Of the no.
norabe pursuit with which you intimately
10 hold correspondence with these
and never to negotiate with them for the sale Of early
proofs OF any work which you have controls but to
treat on all occasions with some respectable American
publishing house, and with such establishment only.
Our common interest in this subject and my advocacy
of it, handed every occasion that has presented
itself during my absence from Europe form my excuse
Tor addressing you. And am faithfully yours.
CHARLES DICKENS
This is quite funny letter Dickens came here
as sort of literary traveller agent, or bagman to
regulate the American market for the sale of his
wares and those In his line, the birmingham,
Manchester, or London agents come over TO get
orders tor cutlery corderoys and doulas. He was
taken hold of by number of highly respectable
asses-very gentlemanly blockheads- and treated
as if he was prince royal instead of an improved
police reporter, trying to make good bargain and
decent living. Others, such as those who got up
the grand Park Ball, wanted to help the theatre
with Boz's popularity, and make money by showing
him off as they would a wild animal. John Duer,
Charles King, VIM l.. Stone, and other vain silly
pompous, absurd men, gave him magnificent din
ner at the City Hotel, merely to show themselves
of, and make little parade. In the mean time
Boz returns home, thinks the whole joke-that
his toades are big boobies-and makes the first use
of his pen in pronouncing half the republic cpl
rates." ''punderers,' Cheats" "rogues" and
"men of very low attainments.'
We like this-it is RICH is merited-and if Boz
will only publish book on America in the same
vein, he deserves leather medal and high post in
the government of Coney Island. But the truth
should be told. The people in this country who
fawned on Dickens are the most contemplate crea-
lures in it, They are without mind-without indie
pendence without hberaty- taste-with-
out real talent. They are principally composed of
those egregious blockheads, who after travelling in
Europe, and picking up d few worn out and bad
habits there, attempt to set up an aristocracy-to
wear moustaches-to be exclusive in society-and
to monopollze all merit and reputation here. They
are impudent pretenders, and are neither European,
American, aristocratic, democratic, christian or
norman. The real sensible, practical people OF this
land, read Dickens and think him very good police
reporter of the and customs of low society
in England. As to Dickens himself, he is a good
deal of bag of wind, and has seen his best and
brightest days