The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To RICHARD BENTLEY,1 [?EARLY APRIL 1837-LATE MARCH 1838]

Facsimile in Koller Auctions of Zurich online catalogue, June 2010. Date: CD moved to Doughty Street, Early Apr 37; “Esqre” rather than “Esquire” in subscription supports a date no later than Mar 38.

48 Doughty Street. | Friday Evening

Dear Sir.

Wait till tomorrow. We shall put him out of sorts else, and retard the other.2

Richard Bentley Esqre.

Faithfully Yours

 CHARLES DICKENS

• 1. Richard Bentley (1794-1871; Dictionary of National Biography), prominent Victorian publisher, founder of Richard Bentley & Son. See further Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 164n. CD entered into agreement with Bentley (1836) for a novel (eventually to be Barnaby Rudge) and edited Bentley’s Miscellany, Jan 37-Jan 39. For the often difficult professional relationship between CD and Bentley, see Robert L. Patten, CD and His Publishers, 1978, ch. 4.
• 2. Although not on mourning paper, the letter is possibly related to the negotiations in June 37 with the publisher Macrone over copyright of the Sketches (Pilgrim Letters 1, pp. 269-73); Forster, acting for CD, was also concerned about the terms under which CD was contracted to Bentley for two novels (To Forster, ?9 June, ?14 June, ?15 June; Pilgrim Letters 1, pp. 269-71). The days of the week for the two latter to Forster and this to Bentley (Wed, Thurs, Fri) would fit 14-16 June and CD may have been concerned on 16 June not to put Forster “out of sorts” by negotiations with Bentley and so “retard” the more immediately urgent negotiations with Macrone.