Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/177

 n s.v. FEB. -24, i9i-2.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3/ t, 1013.

CONTENTS. No. 113.

NOTES : Charles Dickens, 141 Statues and Memorials in the British Isles Lord Lister, the Founder of Modern Surgery Henry Mayhew Centenary, 145 Thomas Atkins The Monosceros-stone The Top-Hat in Sculpture "King Richard of Scotland" " Poker-work" in the Eighteenth Century, 146 Relic Bureau Suggested Inscriptions in Churches and Churchyards, 147.

QUERIES : ' Ballad of Lord Bateman 'Devon Memorials of the Revolution of 1688-90, 147 Janies Wright "The Pangam" Joseph Richardson, Eighteenth - Century Bookseller Roman Empresses Edmond Halley, Surgeon R.N., 148 ' The Brides of Mavis Enderby 'Yorkshire Whiteheads Walter Bisset Locwella Abbey De Buyter : Van Tromp Toasts and Good Stories Antonio d'Araujo Bishop Tanner of St. Asaph, 149 Spurrier- gate Lugubrious Playinjr-Card Matthew Fern, Jacobite " Piccadilly gates "Hales Family Robert Knight, Earl of Catherlousch Charter of Henry II. Harveys in Aberdeenshire, 150.

REPLIES : Exchequer Tallies Lord Wharton's Bequest of Bibles, 151 Revolution Society, 152 Duchesse de Bouillon Statue of the Piper in the Plague of London, 153 Alexander the Great and Paradise Authors of Quota- tions Wanted, 154 Royal Artillery, Ninth Battalion- Latter Lammas, 155 Capt. Freeny Money - box St. Agnes: Folk-lore Bernard Gilpin's Will " Caulker," a Dram of Spirits " Sambowd " Thiers's 'Traite" des Superstitions,' 156 Beaupuis Jane Austen's ' Per- suasion ' ' The Sacrifice of Isaac ' Knives as Presents Lady Elizabeth Stuart, 157 Fleetwood of Missenden Diseases from Plants Letters to Lord Orrery ' Paris Illustre,' 158.

NOTES ON BOOKS: 'The Thunderweapon in Religion and Folk-lore' Wit and Character of the North Riding.

Booksellers' Catalogues.

Notices to Correspondents.

JSofes.

CHARLES DICKENS.

FEBRUARY ITS, 1812 JUNE 9TH, 1870. (See ante, pp. 81, 101, 121.)

THE " brief mistake " Dickens made in attempting to edit a daily paper was now remedied, and he " joyfully " returned to his old pursuits ; but, feeling that he could not " shut out the paper sufficiently to write well in London," he determined to write his new book in Switzerland, and " forget everything else if he could." Before going, lie, in an outbreak of momentary discontent, communicated with a member of the Government as to the chances there might be of his appointment, upon due qualification, to the paid magistracy of London ; but the reply was not favourable. Dickens left England on the 31st of May, 1845, and on the eve of his departure took part in the founding of the General Theatrical Fund, of which he remained a trustee until his death.

It was in July, 1846, while at Lausanne, that he wrote for Ms children an abstract in plain language of the narrative of the Four Gospels. Many have expressed a desire that this should be published, but Forster states that

" nothing would have shocked him so much as any suggestion of the kind. The little piece was of a peculiarly private character, written for his children, and exclusively and strictly for their use only."

The same month saw the beginning of ' Dombey,' which he at once thought " very strong with great capacity in its leading idea." He read the first number to his little circle, among whom " old Mrs. Marcet, who is devilish 'cute, guessed directly (but I didn't tell her she was right) that Paul would die." He also wrote his Christmas story ' The Battle of Life,' which went through many vicissitudes and at one time was abandoned, as he felt very doubtful about it, and frequently asked Forster for suggestions ; he

" really did not know what this story is worth I am so floored : wanting sleep, and never having had my head free from it for this month past."

After a short visit to London in December, he went to Paris to spend Christmas with his wife and family. He wrote to Forster to wish him '* many merry Christmases, many happy new years, unbroken friendship, great accumulation of cheerful recollections, affection on earth, and Heaven at last." The first man he met at Paris was "Bruffum" (Lord Brougham), "in his check trousers, and without the proper number of buttons on his shirt." His visit was rendered enjoyable by the kindness he received. He supped with Dumas and Eugene Sue ; met Lamartine and Scribe ; called on the sick and ailing Chateaubriand, whom he thought like Basil Montagu ; and spent an evening with Victor Hugo, whom Louis Philippe had just ennobled; but Forster records that the man's nature was written noble :

" Rather under the middle size, of compact, close-buttoned-up figure, with ample dark hair falling loosely over his close-shaven face, I never saw upon any features so keenly intellectual such a soft and sweet gentility, and certainly never heard the French language spoken with tho picturesque distinctness given to it by Victor Hugo."

At the commencement of 1847 we find Dickens depressed again, still in Paris, working " very slowly " on Part V. of ' Dombey,' when a review appeared in the " good old Times " of ' The Battle of Life,' which was " again at issue with the