Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-02
UscIxEiSS,S LETTERS.
in Interesting collection now in nc,


Mr.. j. w. BoutJn, the New York book
seller, has Just obtained from Europe
some valuable autographs, the most in
tcrcstjng being an extensive collection of
letters by and to Charles Dickens, very
few Of which have ever seen the light.
The collection was made by Friedrich Ouv-
ry, who was the solicitor and intimate
friend Of the novelist for many years. 1t
is contained III two large, morocco bound
quarlo volumes, arrapgcd and indexed.
The first volume contains letters written
by Dickens, the second volume letters to
him. In the first there are IN autograph
pieces. dating from 1892 to 1870. Jr the
second there are 1l9.
The autographs Of Dickens include n
formal and unlricrdly note to the pub
Usher Bentley ; the rough draft in ink,
partly in pencil. of business letter to
Chapman 4 Hall, and letter to NIacronc,
the Publisher Of the fist book, the
"Skctches." Following these business
paper are oiehty-six letters and notes from
Dickens to Thomas Milton. Milton was
an old schoolfollow who had become one
of Dickcns's most intimate companions
when they were both lawyers clerks i'll
London, and was aftcrward for twenty
five or thirty years Dickens's legal man
OF business. lie is referred to several
times i'll FOrstcrs biography, but it ap-
pears from pnpcr among these auto
graphs that he quarreled with Forster,
and it is perhaps for this reason that he
makes less frequent appearance in the
Life" than might have been expected.
Nine of the letters addressed to him were
printed in the volumes of correspondence
edited by Miss Dickens and Miss Ho-
In ha 1nt
Ouyry had the assistance of Miss Ho.
garth, and letter from her is inserted in
the collection, in which she explains how
she was able to fix the dates approximate.
ly from the addresses. The letters tc
"Dear Tom" begin about 1882. At this
time Milton was clerk in the law office
Of Mr.. Molloy, in Liucolns Iun, ant
Dickens was n reporter for the True Su
newspaper, living with his father in Ben
timex street. The identity of the eldel
Dickens with Mr.. wilkins Micawber il
notorious, and the first note to Mittor
deals with the paternal embarrassments
1t is marked "nbout 1882 or 1888"
''On waking this morning l was inform
cd that my father had Just been arreste
by Shaw n Maxwell, the quondam win
people. viii you have the goodness til
moment you receive this to go over t
Sloman's, in Curs.tor street, and sec hil
for me, and ascertain whether auythiu
can be done? / must work this morning
but tell him, please, L shall be with hir
about six.
81 fear it is IN awkward business an,
really have no idea Of the extent of h
other embarrassmcnts.
81 have not yet been taken, but Il
doubt that VIII be the next act in this dc
nestle tragedy"
Naturally he had his share of the fam
ly troubles, as the following note to "Dei
Tom" shows:
81 am prevented from coming out til
morning by most absurd accident whio
Twill explain when / see you, and whit
certainly would never have happened
any one but myself. l am therefore obi
cd to write and say for goodness sake n
till Saturday, when lIartland shall fait
hard mp, and the smallest contributi,
will be thankfully received"
Here are still more lively suggestio
of Mr.. Micawber, and it would seem as
the son had already some appreciation
the humorous sile of the CLONES
tragedy y
"Ihey are all in great tribulation hel
My father went out yesterday accompi
led by Alfred to endoavor to get sol
money, as Burr refused to wait beyo
asst evening. lie sent the boy home
say he had been unsuccessful, and i
not made his appearance all night or f
warded message of any kind. o
that at present his absence does not g
me any great uneasiness, knowing h
apt he is to get out of the wny when al
thing goes wrong
~ have IN order in my pocket from