The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-26
NO. Cos.
FAMILY DIFFICULTY OF MR. DICKENS.

The following letters are in circulation among
the friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Dickens. They
speak for themselves:
LIVESTOCK HOUSE, TAvIsrocK SQUARE,
London, ". E., May 26, 1853.
Ny DEAR ARTHUR You have not only my
fall permission to show this, but beg you &c
show it to any one who wishes to do me right
doing me wrong. Faithfully, &C., CD.
To Arthur Smith, Esq.
TAvIsroCK House, TAvIsrocK SQUARE,
London, ". E., May rs, 1853.
Mrs. Dickens and have lived unhappily TO-
gether for many years. Hardly any one who
his known US intimately can fail to have known
that we are, in all respects of character and
temperament, wonderfully unsuited to each
other. | suppose that no two people, not
vicious in themselves, ever we're Joined togeth-
or. who had greater officially in understand.
ing one another, or who had less in common.
An attached woman servant, (more friend to us
both than q servant who lived with MS sixteen
years, and is now married, and who WIS, and
still is, in Mrs. Dickens's confidence and in
mine. who had the closest familiar experience
Of this unhappiness, in London, in the country,
in France, in Italy, wherever we hav % been,
yesr after year, month after month, week after
week. day after day, will bear testimony to this
Nothing has, On many occasions, stood be-
tween US and separation, but Mrs. Dickens's
sister, Georgine Hoearth. From the age of Is,
she mas devoted herself to our house and chill
dren. She has been playmate, nurse, instruct
ress, friend, protectress, adviser, and compsn.
ion In The manly consideration towards Mrs.
Dickens, which l owe to my wife, / will merely
remark of her, that the peculiarly of her char.
scter has thrown all the children ON some one
else. do not know cannot by any stretch
Of fancy imagine-whst would have become OF
Them but for this aunt, who has grown up with
them, to whom they are devoted, and who has
sacrificed the best part of her youth and life to
them.
She has demonstrated, reasoned, suffered, and
toiled and came again, to prevent separation
between Mrs Dickens and me. Mrs. Dickens
has often expressed to her her sense of her af
fectionate care and devotion in the house
never more strongly than within these last
twelve months.
For some years past, Mrs. Dickens has been
in the habit Of representing to me that it would
be better for her to go away, and live apart
that her alwsys-increasiDg arrangement made
mental disorder, under which she sometimes
lsbors-more, that she felt herself unfit for the
life she had to lead as a wife, and that she
would be far better away. / have uniformly
replied, that we must bear our misfortune, and
Ugh: the fight out to the end that the children
we're the first consideration, and that feared
they must bind US together in appearance"
At length, within these three weeks it was
suggested to me by Forster, that, even for their
sakes. it would surely be better to reconstruct
and rearrange their unhappy home. l en-
powered him to treat with Mrs. Dickens, as the
friend Of both of US for one-sRd-twenty years.
Mrs Dickens wished to add, on her part, Mark
Lemon, and did 80. On Saturday, last Lemon
wrote to Forster that Mrs. Dickens " gratefully
and thankfully accepted the terms proposed
to her.
Of the peeuniary part of them, will only
cay that l believe they are as generous as
il Mira. Dickens were lady of distinction, and
] man of fortune. The remaining part OF
them are easily described-m eldest son to
live with Mrs. Dickens, and take care of her my
eldest girl to keep my house-both my girls, and
all my children but the eldestson, to live with me,
in the continued companionship of their aunt
Georgine, for whom they have all the tenderest
affection that have ever seen amongst young
people, and who has a higher claim las have
often declared, for many years) upon my affec.
ton, respect, and gratitude, than anybody in
this world.
hope that no one who may become &C
qusinted with what l write here can possibly
be SO cruel and uni ust as to put any miscon
struction on our separation, 80 far. My elder
children all understand it perfectly, and all &C
cept it ss inevitable. There is not shadow
of doubt or concealment among us-my eldes,
son and | are one, as to 1t all.
Two wicked persons, who should have spoken
very differently of me, in consideration o.
earned respect and gratitude, have las l an
told, and indeed to my personal knowledge
coupled with this separation the name of {
young lady for whom | have q great attach
ment and regard. l will not repeat her name
honor it too much. Upon my soul and honor
there is Lot on this earth q more virtuous and
spotless creature than that young lady.
know her to be innocent and pure, and as goot
as my own dear daughters. Further, / an
quite sure that Mrs. Dickens, having received
this assurance from me, must now believe il
in the respect / know her to have for me, ant
in the perfect confidence l know her in he
better moments to repose in my truthfulness.
On this head, again, there is not shadow o
doubt or concealment between my children ant
me- All is open and plain among us, as though
we were brothers and sisters. They are perfect
y certain that | would not deceive them, an,
the confidence among US is without fear.
C. D.
We learn from a correspondent that tn
fashionable notion of suicide has found it's wa
into the fashionable circles of at least one sum
mer resort. At one of these, known to tn
pleasure seeking world as Deal" quite an ex
citing scene occurred few days since, tinginj
with something more han the wonted life thos
who bask in the happy, genial pleasures of thi
famous but quiet retreat. The house at Dea
stands some four hundred and fifty yards fror
The sea- between which there is a walk som
seven feet wide, which serves as the thorough
fare. Near the beach, to prevent the wal
from being filled with sand by passing wagons
Two upright pieces of timber are erected, abou
eight feet in height, with cross-pieces near th
top. An interesting young Philadelphia lady
having fallen desperately in love with gentle
man, whose attentions we're monopolized by
couple of New York ladies-albeit, he was
faithful and devoted attendant until their arr
Val-resolved to make it the last time sh
should be so gayly deceived.
At the hour for bathing, two ladies and gent
were on their way to the beach, when, horror
stricken, they beheld dangling from the cross
beam (which, since the occurrence, has bee
named the Lovers Swing " the form of
lady In her bathing dress. She was at ono
recognised BY the party as the lady in love-.
The gentlemen quickly lowered the lady by th
rope BY which she was suspended, and carrie
her to the arbcr on the beach, when it was dil
covered that her pulse was actively beating. B
the application of some water to her face, an
rubbing her wrists, she speedily revived, and i
iess than half an hour she was seen dashin
soout IN the surf-none more full of life an
spirits than she.
oince the above occurrence, which has bee
TIE current topic of conversation among h