The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-06-18
Death of Charles Dickens.

On Friday afternoon, the 10th inst, the
Atlantic telegraph announced the startling
intelligence of the sudden death of the
great novelist, Charles Dickens, who died
of paralysis on Thursday evening last. No
previous intelligence had been received here
of his illness. Mr.. Dickens was at his resi-
dence at Gadshill, near Rochester, i'll Kent,
and whilst at dinner on Wednesday, he was
seized with fit of paralysis. DR.. Steele,
who was for many years the family physi-
clan of Mr.. Dickens, was Immediately called
in and remained until nearly midnight
The condition of the patient becoming
worse and worse, it was deemed advisable
to summon physicians from London. Tel
egrams were promptly despatched, and on
Thursday morning several London physi-
clans arrived at Gadshill. A consultation
was held and the case at once pronounced
hopeless. The patient sank gradually, and
died at Is minutes past six on Thursday
evening. Mr.. Dickens had been i'll for sew
eral days, but not seriously; lie had even
visited Rochester and other points during
the present week. The news of his sudden
death spread rapidly throughout England,
and created the most profound regret.
Mr.. Dickens was born at Portsmouth,
England, February 18th, 1912, and he has
consequently died in the fifty ninth year of
his age. lie was originally intended by his
father for the legal profession, and was
placed in an attorneys office for that pur-
pose, but soon manifesting taste for liter
allure, which he seems to have inherited
from his father, became a newspaper critic
and reporter upon the London journals
and gradually developed, under the nom de
plume of "Boz," through a series of
sketches displaying remarkable humor and
observation, into a literary celebrity. Then
came the :. Pickwick Papers," in monthly
numbers, illustrated by comic draughtsmen
the humorous situations and descriptions
of the text. Before this work was finished
it had attained a degree of popularity to
which nothing in English literature since
"
furnish parallel. This was about 1887,
and from that time up to 1S40-41, other
works fully sustaining his rapidly acquired
reputation as novelist appeared, as coli
yer Twist" showing not SO abundant a
humor, but deeper tragic power, "Life
and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,"
cold Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby
Rudge.'' He made his aforementioned
first visit to America in 1912, reaching Bos-
ton in January, and sailing for England on
the Sd of June following, after having made
a considerable tour southwark into Viz
ginia, beginning his land journey in that
State upon the old stage road, sometimes
called the corduroy road" then leading
from Acquia Creek to Fredericksburg
He afterwards made tour in the West,
and upon his return to England published
the results of his observations in the coun-
try, in his "American Notes for General
Circulation a work which brought down
side of the water, in return for his rather
freely expressed and sometimes exaggerated
views of our life and manners-a thing, by
the way, which might naturally be expected
of so brilliant and inveterate writer OF
fiction.
In 1913 he wrote his genial and popular
Christmas Carol, and in 1914 published in
monthly numbers the "Life and Adven-
lures of Martin Chuzzlewit." Towards
the close of the same year he went to Italy
with his family and resided there for some
time. On the 1st of July, 1915, he assumed
the editorship, in London, Of "The Daily
News" but did not continue in it long
"DOmbey and Son." came out in monthly
numbers during 1S47 and 194S, which was
followed by ''David Copperfield,' likewise
in monthly numbers, and concluded in 1850.
In this year he commenced the editorshlp
of ''Household Words" In 1853 "Bleak
House was finished, and in 1856 and 1857
Little Dorrit.'' Among his later works
were "Great Expectations, ''Tale of Two
Cities,' and "Our Mutual Friend" Dick
ems was also the author OF editor of the
"Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi,' published
in 1886. Various short stories have ap-
peared bearing his name, his authorship Of
which, however, in some cases, may he
doubted. His last work, edwin brood, y
in monthly numbers, was in course of pub.
LEGATION at the time Of his DEATH Whether
it had been completed, so that its publica-
ton can be continued, we are not appraised,
though it is probable that, if not in a per
feet shape, there is at least such draft Of
it among his papers as will enable literary
friend to arrange it for the press, a service
which it will be remembered he rendered to
the illustrious author, Thackaray, who III
like manner left unfinished at his death a
story which was appearing monthly. In