Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-25
DICKENS
The Original Of that Character
Living In New York.

A correspondent writing from New
York to the Springfield Republican,
says: The man who sat Tor the por-
trait of"Wilkins Micawber" is living
in this city, and a very interesting old
gentleman he is. His name is Thomas
Powell, and he was born in London
way back in 1907. He early developed
strong literary tastes, and became a
frequent contributor to the magazines
and reviews. At twenty-nine he pub
lished his first book, a volume of
poems, and this heads a long list of
works, which occupies about half a
column in "Allibones Dictionary of
Authors" He soon became the COM
panion Of the chief literary lights of
that day, and he was associated with
Wadsworth, Leigh Hunt and R. H..
Horne in the preparation Of "Chaucer
Modernized, which appeared in 1912.
During the same year he published
THE Wife's Revenge a tragedy;
1.-THE Shepherds Well" a drama, aud
1.-THE Blind Wife," a romantic drama,
which last went through FIVE editions.
after much other literary work in
London, he came to this country in
l849, and added to the fast lengthen-
ing list.of his published volumes THE
Living Authors Of England and
"The Living Authors of America"
These he followed by a romance called
the "Ambassador 81 Daughter''and 9th
er books. Meanwhile, Mr.. Powell was
engaged in newspaper work. During
1850 and 1851 he was editor of the
Figaro, aud the next two years he was
associated with John Brougham in
conducting the Lantern.
He was also for q while connected
with the Daily News, and afterward
was editor Of the Hudson County
Democrat. When Frank Leslie
started his publications he picked out
MI. Powell to help him, and he has
been connected with the establish
ment now for many years. he used
to write a good deal under the name
of Pierce Pungent," and some readers
of the Republican may remember
proverbs attributed to that worthy. l
believe that a full score of books have
appeared from his pen, while the fugi.
tive tales he has written and his con-
tributions Of one sort and another to
newspapers and magazines would make
a good sized library, if gathered and
collected between covers. Two of his
plays have been acted in Europe and
one in this country, and he also wrote
years ago for a minstrel troupe, bur-
lesques on "Lucretia Borgia" and the
Bohemian Girl" which proved very
successful.
1t is quite safe to say that there is
not another man in this country, if
indeed there be in England, who en-
joyed a wider acquaintance with the
famous Englishmen of the last gen.
Grafton. He was the boon companion
Of Dickens; he knew Disraeli when
nothing seemed more unlikely than
that the young jew would some day
be Premier; he worked with Wads-
worth, Hunt and Horne; he has many
personal "reminiscences of Carlyle,
Thackeray, George Henry Lewis and
l don't know how many other notable
men. He has a wonderfully retentive
memory, and his recollection of
famous people he has known are full
of interest.
Mr.. Powell is now seventy-fve, but
he is a we'll preserved old gentleman.
| hear that he goes around to the
Leslie establishment every day, and
still makes regular contributions to
some Of the publications. In short,
Mr.. "Micawber" is enjoying a com.
Portable old age.