Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-18
Dickens Separation from His wiz

Early In llie--just after the publication OF
PickWick-Mr. Dickens married the daughter
OF Mr.. George Hogarth, the author and cri.
tic. tie separated from her in 1855 and as
the event called forth great deal Of ill natured
comment. the following letter was written for
the purpose of being shown 10 the public =
MY DEAR---:: Mrs. Dickens and | have
lived unhappiIy together tor many years.
Hardly any oGe who has known US Intimately
can fail to have known that We are, in all res
poets OF character and temperament, wonder
fully ucsuited to each other. I suppose that
no two people, not vicious in themselves, ever
were joined together who had greater, difficulty
ID understanding one another, or who had less
10 eommoo An attached woman servant,
lmore freud to both of US than servant
who lived with US sixteen years, and is now
married, and who~w and still is, in Mrs.
Dickens confidence and mine. who had the
closest familiar experience of this unhappiness
In London, in the country, 10 France, 10 Italy,
Wherever re have been, year alter year,
month after month, week after week, day
after day, will bear testimony to this. -"
Nothing has, on many occ asions, stood be-
tween US aud a separation, but Mrs Dickens
sister, Georeine Hogarth. From the age of Is
she was devoted herself to our house and chill
tren. She has been their playmate, nurse, in
structress. friend, protectress, advisor and com.
panlo9:. ln the manly consideration toward |
Mrs. Dickens which l owe 10 my wife, will |
merely remark OF her that the popularity of her
character has thrown all the care of the chill. |
dren on some one ese I do not know-I can. |
pot by any stretch of fancy imagine-what
would have become OF them but ior this aunt
who has grown up with them, to whom they
are devoted, and who has sacrificed the best |
part OF her youth and lie to them.
She has demonstrated, reasoned, suffered,
and tolled, and come seain to prevent a separa-
ton between Mrs. Dickens and me- Mrs.
Dickens has often expressed to her Eer sense
OF her affectionate care and devotion in the
house-never more; strongly than IN the last
twelve months. -.-. .....,..-...
For some years past Mrs. Dickens has been
in the habit of representing to me that 1t would
be better for her to 20 away and live apart
that her always increasing estrangement mace
a mental disorder under which she sometimes |
labors; more, that she felt herself unit tor the
life she had to lead as my wife, and that she |
would be far better away. have uniformly
replied that she must bear our misfortune anu
fight the fight out to the end that the children
were the first consideration, and that 1 feared
they must bind us together in appearance.
At length, within these three weeks, 1t was
SUGGESTED to me by Forster, that even Tor their
sakes it would surely be better to reconstruct
and rearrange the unhappy home. empow'
cred him to treat with Mrs. dickens as the
friend of both of US for one and twenty years.
Mrs. Dickens wished to add, 90 her part,
Marx Lemon, and did 30. On Saturday last
Lemon wrote to Forster that Mrs. dickens
gratefully and thankfully accepted the terms
nroposed to her. OF the pecuuisry part OF:
them I will only say that [ believe they are as
generous as if Mrs. Dickens were a lady OF
distinction and a man of fortune. -, j
The remsining parts of them are easlly
described-my eldest boy to live with prs
Dickens, and to take care OF her my etasSI a1i
girl to keep my house both my girls ana al
nv children but the eldest son to live with me
in continued companionship of their aunt
Georeiue, for whom they have all the tenderestr
sffections that have ever seen among young
people, and who has higher claim las !: have;
often declared for many years. upon my s1leo'
ton, respect and gratitude than any oody 10
this world. .
I hope that no one who my become ac-
uuainted with what [ write here can possibly
be so cruel and unjust as to put any mlscon,
structiou on our separation so Tar. My elder
children all understand 1t perfectly, ana all
accept it as inevitable.
There is not shadow Of doubt or coDccai-
ment among us, My eldest son and are one
as to it all. -,
Two wicked persons, who should have spoken
very different of me in consideration of earned
respect and gratitude, have las | am told, and
indeed to my personal knowedge,) coupled
with this separation the name OF young iaoy
Tor whom l have a great attaohment ana re. :.
gard. I will not repent the name-l honor IL
TOO much. Upon my soul and honor there Is
mt upon this earth more virtuous and spot
iess creature than that young lady. l kno"
her to be Innocent and pure, and as good as my
own daughters. =, n..,lo
Further, am sure that Mrs. Dickens having
received this assurance from me, must now now
be]eve it, in the respect1 know her to have
for me, and in the perfect confidence Kno"
her. in her better moments, 10 repose 10 ~S
truthtulness. ..,o 81
doubt or concealment between my children anS an,
me. Allis open and plain among us, as thougt
GA wero brothers and sisters. They are per
tectlv certain that l would not deceive them
and The confidence among usis without t lear
liberal REWARD will be paid fol