Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-08-11
Charles Dickens.

this popular author, contained IN recent Iettel ~
the New York National Democrat from London is
pronounced utterly without foundation by those who
should have good means of information. Certainly
the extraordinary success of Mr. Dickens, as shown
by the immense sales of his works. and of one OF the
most popular periodicals published in England.
would seem almost to preclude the possibility OF
bankruptcy unless the author like Sir Walter Scott,
has become entangled with the operations OF publish
ing houses. OF this there is no evidence, and we
suppose Mr.. d s income cannot be less than ten or
fifteen thousand pounds year 1t is said to have
been much for eight or len years past, while his
expenditures cannot reach third OF the sum- Inc
story 10 The contrary it occurred 10 u.s. originated
with penny aliner in London, who is either en-
vious of MIR. Dickens's fame and fortune, or, what
quite probable, who has been disappointed IN
obtaining occasional loans from that gentleman:
A communication ini reference to the New York
letter, from the pen of Prof. FELTON, of Cambridge.
appears in of the papers, exposing The absurdty
of the writer's statements and rebukng his i'll man
ners in making the private and domestic AFFAIRS OF
Mr.. Dickens the subject of public comment. we
subjoin portion of the communication =
> 1t would be impossible to condense in the same
space greater number of vulgar and atrocious false
hoods than that letter contains 1t is there charged
that Mr.. Dickens has given leg baif 10 his credi-
tors being deeply involved in debt; in other words.
that he has fled TO escape the penalty of his debts
The solitary fact which the writer POUNDS this in
furious falsehood is that Mr.. Dickens has gone with
his family to Boulogne, TO pass the summer months,
as has been his custom for years past His object is
10 enjoy quiet and the sea bathing, and 10 give his
children the opportunity of practice in speaking
French while at the time he is SO near Lon
don that he often is necessary to
attend TO his business.
He is accused of having committed the incredible
of selling one of his children to Miss Bur-
dett Couts, an antIquated wealthy lady, to whom he
made appeal for money, &C., &c, Miss Burdett
Coutts, as the public well know, is an English lady
of the most estimable character, well OF great
wealth She is one of the best friends of Mr. Dick
ems and very efficient co-operator in the works of
charity an0 benefcencc, which, more even than his
literary achievements have endeared his name to
good men everywhere. 1t is understood that she
offered long ago. a mark of her friendship to Mr.:
Dickens to assume the expenses of the College and
University education of his oldest son.
And thus act of friendship, creditabe alike to
both parties, is made the subject of vulgar insult 10
a most excellent lady, whose good deeds. if not her
SEX should have shielded her from unmanly an
outrage; and of coarse viluperation against one
whose genius and character make him worthy OF
this distinguished regard. The young man, who
resembles his father in every genial and manly quail
ty, is now, or was recently, studying in Lepslc,
Germany, and preparing himself for the mercantile
profession He is Oh ject of interest and deep af
fection to all who know him in that rity, well as
his fathers numerous friends at home 1t hnted
by this scrbbler, that Mr. Dickens once applied to
Lord Jeffrey for pecuniary aid, and that in return
Lord jeffrey read him homily on the necessity of
retrenchment which Dickens, having neglected. fell
into the embarrassments which have led to this
catastrophe Here is another falsehOod easy TO be
refuted, that cannot help wondering at the shame
less audacity of the author.
1t is matter of decacy to touch upon the private
affairs of q gentleman But | will venture to
say word or two with regard to those of Mr.. Dick
ems whose domestic life has been ruthessly lnva-
ded by this slander. Ever since the commencement
OF the Pickwick Papers. Mr.. Dickens has received
large income and that income has been generously,
but not cXtavagantly, devoted 50 far was necessa
ry, the comfort and happiness of those dependent
on him The noble manner in which he has dis
charged his duties and more than his duties towards
bound him, is known to all who know him and them
garded by the circle of relatives and friends by whom
he is surrounded, should forever silence the tongue
of the sanderer Mr. Dickens lives in style of
and far within his means. His industry is scarcely
ty and circulation of his works quite surpass any
Uncle Tom. He receives his friends with genial hos
pitaiity, but without ostentation He enjoys life in
a rational manner, running into none of the excesses
of fashion parade, which might tempt weaker
man placed in his circumstances in great city like
London.
have reason to believe that the profits of the new
and revised edition of his works, which has an enor-
nous sale. wholly untouched by his expenses
If so, then few literary well off in their
pecuniary circumstances as Charles Dickens