The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To W. C. MACREADY,1 17 MARCH 1841

MS Klaus Schappert.

Devonshire Terrace

Wednesday Seventeenth March / 1841

My Dear Macready

How are you disposed this morning? Will you walk down to Evans’s?2 I want to leave word about the books I have bought of poor Tom Hill’s,3 and shall be glad of your company if you will go. A word in answer.  

Faithfully Always / CD

• 1. William Charles Macready (1793-1873; Dictionary of National Biography), the leading English actor of his generation: see Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 279n & Pilgrim Letters 2, p. 2n. His friendship with CD was unbroken from 1837.
• 2. Messrs Evans, 93 Pall Mall, auctioneers.
• 3. Thomas Hill (1760-1840; Dictionary of National Biography), retired dry-salter and book collector: see Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 329n. CD invited him to the Pickwick dinner (18 Nov 37) and gave him presentation copies. His books and manuscripts auctioned 10-17 Mar 40; CD attended the first day and sent someone to bid for him on the second. The marked catalogue (British Library) shows his numerous purchases: see Pilgrim Letters 2, p. 229, nn 2 & 4 and p. 238.