The Charles Dickens Letters Project

Period: 
1861-1870
Theme(s): 
The Old Curiosity Shop
Barnaby Rudge
charity
friends
illustrations
politics

To CLARISSA CATTERMOLE,1 13 SEPTEMBER 1868

MS Seymour Adelman Letters and Documents Collection, Special Collections Department, Bryn Mawr College Library.

GAD’S HILL PLACE, | HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT

Sunday Thirteenth September, 1868

My Dear Mrs. Cattermole.

I cannot undertake to make any explanation to Forster, or to convey anything to him that you have not yourself written. The course to take in reference to seeking a pension2 is to memorialize Mr. D’Israeli, the Prime Minister.3 It is the only course I know of. The Memorial need set forth no more than is in the “Appeal”.4 It should be signed by the best known Painters, and, so signed, I think would attract attention. I doubt Quin’s5 being of any use in the matter, and it came to my knowledge but yesterday that Lytton6 is not on such terms with the Government that he will ask any favors of them. He had, in another case,7 just refused to do so.

Faithfully Yours

CD.

  • 1. Née Clarissa Hester Elderton (1812-92), wife of the painter and illustrator, George Cattermole (1800-68; Dictionary of National Biography): see Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 576 n. 2.
  • 2. Cattermole, the co-illustrator of The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge, had died, 24 July, “Very, very poor. Family quite unprovided for; debt and distress” (To Wills, 26 July 68, Pilgrim Letters 12, pp. 158-9), and CD was assisting his family.
  • 3. Disraeli had been Prime Minister since Feb. The Memorial was presented to Disraeli shortly before his resignation (Dec 68); it was presented again, to Gladstone, early in 1869 (To W. P. Frith, [19] Jan 69; Pilgrim Letters 12, p. 277): nothing came of it.
  • 4. While doubting the usefulness of an appeal, even before Cattermole’s death (To Mrs Cattermole, 2 July 68 in Pilgrim Letters 12, pp. 144-5), CD drafted an Appeal (see Appx E) and opened an account at Coutts, which he controlled (To W. P. Frith, 16 Nov 68, Pilgrim Letters 12, p. 221). CD sent Mrs Cattermole a cheque for just over £542 in Apr 69, the entire sum collected (Pilgrim Letters 12, pp. 332-3 & nn).
  • 5. Dr F. H. F. Quin (1799-1878; Dictionary of National Biography), homoeopathic physician. Presumably Mrs Cattermole had suggested his medical testimony would reinforce her case.
  • 6. Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Bart, later 1st Baron Lytton (1803-73; Dictionary of National Biography), writer and politician.
  • 7. Not traced.