The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To THOMAS MITTON,1 24 FEBRUARY 1843

MS Bloomsbury Auctions, June 2008.

Twenty Fourth February 18432

My Dear Mitton

I write, in the greatest haste, to say that I will see you early next week. My little captain of the Britannia,3 unexpectedly shewed on Wednesday morning, and I am tearing my legs off, in shewing him the Lions.4

In haste | Always Faithfully

CD

• 1. Thomas Mitton (1812-78), solicitor, one of CD’s earliest close friends. He acted as CD’s solicitor for twenty years: see further Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 35n.
• 2. The date is at the end of the letter.
• 3. John Hewitt (c.1812-1850), master of the Britannia, in which CD sailed to the United States, Jan 42. CD described Hewitt in American Notes, Ch. 1, as “a wellmade, tight-built, dapper little fellow”. See further Pilgrim Letters 3, p. 7n.
• 4. I.e. the sights. For some account of Hewitt’s visit, see To Felton, 2 Mar 43, Pilgrim Letters 3, p. 452.