Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/369

 ii s. v. APRIL 20, i9i2.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

301

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL ZO,

CONTENTS. No. 121.

NOTES : Charles TMokens. 301 British Memorials of the Peninsular Campaign. 302 Boswell at Utrecht, 304 Waller : Uncollacted Verses Inscrintions at St. John's, Westminster, 305 Oeorgiana, Duchess of Bedford Car- lyle's 'French Revolution' in French 1 'The Common- wealth Mercury.' 306 " The funeral bak'd meats " Manx Hut Villages. 307.


 * Kant's Quotations from English Authors

" In pomario qniddam "Children burnt at a Passion Play, 307 Alexander Family " Jimmy " Gordon : "Hemsman" Jonathan Rogers, M.D. Vicars of Buck- fastleigh Translations from Polish Poets "Died Unmarried " Blakesley : Buchanan : Walter Latin Guide to Westminster Abbey Coats of Arms granted after Ivry, 308 St. Sepulchre's Registers 'Rule, Britannia' Lieut. -General Charles Churchill Whorlow

Rothschild an-1 Buxfcon Sheoherds" Rings " Comte de Babktin " Mrs Henry Wood's Novels Biographical Information Wanted " Burial Porch," 309 Spenser White Planch^ -Nicholas Wright John Mann, 310.

REPLIES : The Jenninsrs Cae, 310-Colkitto and Galasp, 311 The Fitzwilliam Family, 312 Author of Quotation Wanted French Grammars before 1750 Whittington and his Cat, 313 Londres : Londinium Duration of Families. 314 Pitt's 'Letter on Superstition' Coleridge and Anna Barbauld Casanova and the English Resident at Venice ' Sartor Resartus ' Sir Philip Francis's De- scendants Organists and Longevity, 315 Thomas Crom- well Fulsby, Lincolnshire " Pays bleu " William Burke. M.P. Frith's ' Road to Ruin,' 316 Sir C. Asgill

"Quid est fides?" Losses by Fire St. Laluwy Henry Mayhew, 317 Shepherd's Market Che v^t's Populariza- tion of M'isic Women Doctors Owen Salusbury-Brere- ton Phases of Culture Military Executions, 318.

NOTES ON BOOKS :- 'The Story of a Printing House'

'The Romance of Words' 'L'Interme'diaire.' Booksellers' Catalogues. The Revision of the Vulgate.

CHARLES DICKENS. FEBRUARY ITS, 1812 JUNE QTH, 1870.

{See ante, pp. 81, 101, 121, 141, 161, 182, 203, 223, 243, 232, 284.)

DICKENS' s public readings during his later years formed an important part of his life. His daughter Mamie relates that

"into their performance and preparation he threw the best energy o f his heart and soul, practising and rehearsing at all times and places. The meadow n-?ir our home was a favourite place, and people passin r through the lane, not knowing who ne was, or what doing, must have thought him a roadman from his reoiting and gesticulation."

The great success of his readings caused him to receive tempting offers to revisit America. Both his daughter and Miss Hogarth realized how much fatigue he suffered from these, which, together with his other work, was sapping his strength, ,nd they earnestly opposed his even con- sidering the matter. However, he was bent on going, if a favourable result were shown

to be likely, and he sent Dolby to spy out the land. Dolby returned to England with his report in September, 1867, and before leaving Boston agreed with Messrs. Ticknor & Fields to cable Dickens's decision: Yes or No. Dolby on his arrival at Liverpool telegraphed for instructions, whereupon Dickens, with his ever thoughtful considera- tion, though he was extremely anxious to receive the report, replied :

" Welcome back, old boy ! Do not trouble about me, but so home to Ross first and see your wife and family, and come to me to Gad's at your convenience."

However, Mrs. Dolby was on her way to London to meet her husband, so Dolby sent a second telegram, to which the reply came :

" Come on to Gad's this afternoon with your wife, and take a quiet day or two's rest, when we can discuss matters leisurely."

On their arrival they found " the kindest women in the world, Miss Dickens and Miss Hogarth, standing under the porch to .give a welcome to the traveller." Dolby's report showed that the net profit on eighty readings would probably be 15,500?.

Forster, in his affection and anxiety, was angry at the idea of Dickens, in his state of health, venturing on such an undertaking, and vehemently protested ; but finally was driven to exclaim : "I see it is of no use for me to say anything further on the sub- ject, for by your faces it is plain you have made up your minds." The decision having been finally taken, Dolby says, " the objections to the American tour were heard no more : but when Mr. Forster was leaving Ross [Dolby's home] he gave me strict injunction to take care of Mr. Dickens, which would have been really comic, but for the earnestness with which it was delivered."

At first there was some talk of Mamie going with her father, but it was found that so much time must be devoted to business that little or none could be given to sight- seeing, and the idea was abandoned. On Saturday, the 2nd of November, 1867, Dickens was entertained at a farewell banquet in the Freemasons' Hall, at which Lord Lytton presided. The demonstration was so affectionate and so overpowering that Dickens was quite overcome, and on the Sunday morning, in reply to a letter from Wills," he wrote from All the Year Round office: "When I got up to speak, but for taking a desperate hold of myself, I should have lost my sight and voice, and sat down again."

Dickens was " not in very brilliant sp ; rits at the prospect before him," as Sir Henry Thompson had dropped some hints that