Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-30

From the hitherto unpublished letters of
Dickens, contained in Fosters biography just
published, we quote the following, giving an
account of the then young novelist's first visit
to New England. His account of the same tour
i'll his American Notes is already familiar:
eve left Boston on the 9th (of February and
went away with the governor to stay till Mon
day mt his house in Worcester. He married a
sister of Bancrolrs, and another sister of Ban
crofts went down with u.s. The village of Wor-
cester is one of the prettiest in New England.
On Monday morning at 8 O'Clock started
again by railroad and went on TO Springfield,
where a deputation Of two were waiting, and
everything in readiness that the utmost attention
could suggest Owing TO the mildness OF the
weather the Connecticut river was open
0idelicet not frozen, and they had steamboat
ready to carry us on TO Hartford; thus saving a
land Journey of % miles, but on such roads ct
this time of year that it takes nearly twelve
hours TO accomplish! The boat was very small,
the river full of floating blocks of ice, Snd the
depth where we went Go avoid the ice and the
curTenD not more than few inches. After two
hours and a half of this queer travelling, we got
to Hartford. There was quite an English
inn; except In respect to the bedrooms. which
are always uncomfortable; and the best com
mittee OF management that has yet presented
itself. They kept us more quiet and were more
consderate and thoughtful, even TO their own
exclusion, than any have yet had TO deal with.
Rates face being horribly bad | determined to
give her a rest here; and accordingly wrote TO
get rid OF my engagement at New Haven on that
plea. We remained in this town until the 11Ih;
holding formal levee every day for two hours,
and receiving on each from two hundred TO three
hundred people. AT five O'Clock on the after
noon of the 18th, we set off (still by raroad) for
New Haven, which we reached about O'clock
The moment we had had tea we were forced to
open another levee for the students and pro-
tessors of the college 1.-THE largest in the Statesl
and the townspeople. suppose we shook hands,
before going to bed, with considerably more than
five hundred people; and | stood, as a matter
of course, the whole time
"Now, the deputaton of two had come on
with us from Hartford; and at New Haven there
was another committee; and the immen sc
fatigue and worry OF all this no words can eXag-
gerate We had been in the morning over iais
and deaf and dumb asylums; had stopped on
the journey at place called Wallngiord, where
a whole town had turned out to see me, and to
crafty whose curiosity the train stopped eX-
pressly; had had day of great excitement and
eXeruon on Thursday (thiS being Friday y and
were ineXpressiby worn out And when at last
we got TO bed and were going 10 fall asleep,
the choristers of the college turned out in a
body, under the window, and serenaded usi We
had had, by the by, another serenade at Hart
ford, from a Mr.. Adams, Ia nephew of John
Quincy Adansl and German friend. They
were beautiful singers and when they began, in
the dead of the night, in a long, musical, echo
ing passage outside our chamber door, singing,
in low voices TO guitars, about home and about
friends and other topics that they knew would
interest us, we were more moved than can tell
yon. In the midst ofmy sentimentaity, though.
a thought occurred TO me which made me laugh
so immoderately that was obliged to cover my
face with the bedclothes. Good heavens |
said to Kate, what monstrously ridiculous
and commonplace appearance my boots
must have, outside the doorp / never
was so impressed with the sense of
the absurdlty OF boots in all my life. The
New Haven serenade was not so good; though
there were great many voices, and a 'reg'lar'
band. IL hadn t the heart of the other Before
it was six hours old, we were dressing with
might and main, and making ready for our de.
parture; it being drive of twenty minutes to
the steamboat, and the hour of sailing nine
O'Clock. After hasty breakfast we started off
and after another levee on the deck (actualy on
the deck,) and three times three Tor Dickens,
moved toward New York. "
should have told you, in its proper place,
that both at Hartford and New Haven regular
bank was subscribed, by these committees, for
all my expenses. No bill was to be got at the
bar, and everything was paid for. But as
would on no account suffer this TO be DONE |
stouty and positively refused to bulge an inch
until Mr. q. should have received the bills from
the landlords own bands, and paid them to the
last larthln9. Finding it impossible TO move
me, they suffered me most unwillingly, 10 carry
the point.
PERSONAL.
Dana, the author of that Two Years,belore the
Mast, Ia book which had praised much to him,
thinking it like De Foe), "iS a very nice fellow
indeed; and in appearance not at all the man
you would expect. He is short mild looking,
and has a care-worn face. His father is exactly
like George Cruikshank after a nights jollity-
only shorter. The professors at the Cambridge
university, Longfellow, FELTON,, Jared Sparks,
are noble fellows. So is Kenyon's friend, Tick
nor. Bancroft is famous man; a straightfOr-
ward, manly, earnest heart; and talks much of
you, which is great comfort. DIR. Charming
will tell you more of after have breakfasted
alone with him next Wednesday. Sumner is of
great service to me. The president of the sem
ate here presdes at my dinner on Tuesday"
81 was delighted to find on board the boat at
New Haven, Mr.. FELTON, whom had known
in Boston, He is the Greek professor at Cam
bridge, and was going on to the ball and din
ner. Like most men of his class whom have
seen, he is most delightful Authenticated
hearty, genial, Jolly; quite an Englishman of
the best sort We drank all the porter on board
ate all the cold pork and cheese, and were very
merry indeed
The Chicago Evening Post of Dec 30 said
| there was at the post Office on that day the
| largest mail that has ever arrived in that city
| for distribution aud exchange. The rooms were
so crowded with the plethora, that at least forty
| tons of mail bags were piled up outside, higher
| and broader than the OLeary barn. The ex-
| cessiye accumulation was owing partially to the
| sudden opening of obstructed roads, but largely
10 the fact that all the mails, in every direction,
| have stTikingly increased in bulk since the fire.
| The inflammation of Oct has been much al
layed but the post office still continues to show
| febrile symptoms. The new two-story brick
| building 40X40 feet, being erected in the rear