The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To PATRICK ALLAN-FRASER,1 3 MAY 1858

MS Hospitalfield Arts Centre.

Address: Patrick Allan Fraser Esquire, Hospitalfield, Arbroath.

Tavistock House

Monday Third May 1858

My Dear Sir

I have heard from Mr Ouvry2 the Guild Solicitor, who is now (I believe) in communication with your Solicitor. It seems that our Act of Parliament3 does not give us the power of holding your most generous gift,4 and that if no better way of putting us in possession of it can be struck out, we must apply to Parliament to alter our Act to meet the specific case. I dare say you will shortly hear from your legal adviser if you have not already done so.

I am always my Dear Sir

Most faithfully Yours

CHARLES DICKENS

Allan Fraser Esquire

• 1. Patrick Allan-Fraser (1813-1890; Dictionary of National Biography), artist and architect. Born Patrick Allan, son of an Arbroath stocking weaver; successively, house painter and artist; assumed additional name of Fraser 1851, after marrying in 1843 heiress of nearby estate of Hospitalfield. Devoted himself to managing his wife's estate and collecting works of art. Under his Will formed a Trust (1) to maintain Hospitalfield as an Art College for young students, and (2) to assist aged and infirm professional men, including specifically 'painters, sculptors or literary men'.
• 2. Frederic Ouvry (1814-81), CD's solicitor from 1856.
• 3. The Private Act to incorporate the Guild of Literature and Art was passed on 2 June 1854.
• 4. CD proposed that Ouvry seek an amendment of the Act of Parliament incorporating the Guild of Literature and Art, to enable the Guild to accept a gift of land from Allan-Fraser. See To Ouvry, [?10 May 1858], Pilgrim Letters 8, p. 562. See also Michael Slater, "Munificence Declined: New Letters about the Guild of Literature and Art", Dickensian 111.1 (2015): 34-41.