The sun., 1881-11-27
Letters Of Charles Dick ems.

Letters Of Charles dickens.
Tho compilation OF the letters Of Charles
Dickens. undertaken by his sister in-aw and
his eldest daughter WAS reprinted in this coun
try by the Messrs. Scribner. and attracted
great deal OF attention from tho light it threw
on tho authors character and method Of literary
work. The collection is now supplemented by
a third volume. comprising q large number Of
Interesting letters. somo OF which are ad--
dressed to members OF the novelist's own fam
lily, and others to EBgishmen or Americans OF
more or less eminence in literature. They are
marked with the qualities noticeable In all his
correspondence. the gay incisivo style. the
CHEEKY humor, and high spirits characteristic
of the man. Some of the material published In
this volume has been printed before. but 1t Is
now arranged in chronological order. and the
whole book constitutes n series OF consecutive
glimpses OF the authors life.
Writing from Fullcrs Hotel. Washington. to
Prof. Feiton in 1si2. Dickens observes that
"thors arc very interesting mon In this place
highly interesting OF eourse-but II IL not n
comfortable place. is it2 II spittls could wait
nt table. we should be noby attended. but as
that property has not been i'm parted 10 it. in the
present state OF mechanical science. wo are
rather lonely aud orphaniks in respect OF
being looked arter.'" In the same letter he
writes: What do you think Of this incendiary
card being left at my door last night? Gen. G.
sends con pliments to Mr.. Dickens. and called
with two literary ladies. As tho two L. LIS are
ambitious OF tho honor OF aspersonal intro
ducten TO MIR. D.. Gen. G. requests tho honor OF
nm appointment for Tomorrow I draw veil
over my sufTerings. They arc ea,red." As
Dickens was tho eve OF leaving America
he closes with warn invitation to
Mr.. FELTON, to visit him in London. Come to
Englardl Como to Englundl Our oysters are
small. know; they are said BY Americans to
be eoppery; but our hearts are OF the largest
sizs. We are thought to excel in shritnps. to be
far from despicable In point OF lo5s.crs. and In
periwinkles are considered to challenge the
universe" He writes to Fslton again from
Montreal. whore he was about tn appear in pri-
va.e theatrcals: WHAT would l give to see ysu
in the front row OF the ceatre box your spacta-
cles cleaning. not unlike those OF my dear
frieDi Pickwick. your fare radiant with IA
broad a grin rs n staid professor may indulge
in. and your very coat. wast,oat. and shoulders
expressive OF what wo should take together
when the performances WAS ovsr." After his
return to England Dickens published the
American Notes" and tolls FELTON, that
The American book has been most
complets and thorough going success. Four
large eiitions have now boon sold anil
paid for. and 1t has won golden opn-
ions rom all sorts OF mon. except orr friend
in Fraser. who IL a miserable creature. n dis
appointed man Ia grtat poverty-to whom l
have ever bsen most kin AMI c)nsiLerata-aud
another friend in B'ack g0oI. Thoy havo done
10 harm. and have fallen short OF their marx.
which. OF course. was to annoy me. Now | am
perfectly free from any diseased curiosity in
such respects and whenever hear OF q notice
of this kind | never road ii. whereby / al
.,t,.a shns 7 fla
victory. With regard to your slave owners.
they may cry until they ara "a black IN tie
face as their own slaves. that Dickens lies.
Dickens docs not write for their satisiac-
ton. ani Dickens will not ex plain for their
comfort" Apropos Of tho rsviow OF "Amer-
can Notes " in the EidsLu'gh. Dickens writes
TO Mr. Mlcvey Napier that no fel. deeply
aG-reved bY the allegation that he had gone to
America as y missionary IN tho cause OF intcr-
national copyright =" l am At loss 10 divine
who the author of tho article is. l know he
real in some cut-throat American paper this
and other inoastrous statements which could
at any time have converted into eicksning
praise by tho payment OF some fifty dollars. I
know that he Is perfectly aware that his stato-
msnt in tho ReCielo in corroboration OF these
lies would he disseminated through the whole
OF the United States an that nay contradiction
will never be heard Of" As a matter of fact the
Ei!.bmgt withdrew the charge. and it was as o
reiuted hy Nr. FELTON, in the North American.
In lSii Dickons went TO Italy. but his letters
from that country. two Of which arc printed in
this volume. are quite wanting in tho avprc-
ciativs tone which might have been eX pected
from a man OF lis Imagination. For example
he climbs 10 the ,opmost seat OF the Roman Am
phitheatrc in Verona. and no remark is sue-
sested 10 him except that the aroma has exactly
tho appearance OF an immonse straw hat.
About one-lltth OF the letter is taken up with
com plants OF the extortion to which travellers
in Italy wore then. ut all events. subiee:ei.
" Pray tell Count d'Orsay." he says. that tho
travelling purse he gave me- has been OF
immense service. 1t has been constantly
opened. All Italy seems 10 yearn to
put its hand in II. think OF hanging it. whsa
come back to England. on a nail. as a trophy.
and OF gashing the brim Ike the bla ie OF al old
sword. and saying to my son and heir.
they do upon the stage. You see this notch.
boy2 Five hundred francs were laid low on
that day Tor post horses. Where this gap is. u
waiter CHARGED your father trebls the cor
rect anlouBt-and got it. This end. worn into
teeth like the rasped edge OF an Old G.c. is sa-
crod 10 the custom houses. boy. the passports.
and the shabby soldiers at town gates. who put
open hand and dirty coat cun into the
coach windows OF all Forestieri. Take IL.
=
another letter to Lady plessinCton. written
from Gonoa. his curt and COMMONPLACE re-
mark on Rome is that he Anis it next to impos-
sible to exaggerats the interest OF that city He
adds that Naples disappointed me greatly
The weather was bad during a great part Of my
stay there. But II had not had mud should
have had dust. and though had had sun
must still have had the lazzaroni | did not
expect to see handsome city. but l ex-
peetsd something better than that long dull
limo of saualid houses which stretches from
the Chiaia to the quarter OF tho Porta Oapuana:
and while ! Was quite prepared for miserable
populaoe had some dim belief that there we're
bright rays among them. aud dancing logs and
shining. sun-browned faces. Whereas. the
honest truth 10 that. connected with Naples it.
self. have not one solitary recollection"
Among many lettsrs addressed TO the late
Lord Lytton Is one In which Dickens thanks his
brother author for q COPY Of King Arthur"