The Charles Dickens Letters Project
Period:
1836-1840
Theme(s):
friends
Bentley's Miscellany
To WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH,1 13 MAY 1840
MS Alan Dilnot.
1 Devonshire Terrace
York Gate, Regents Park.
May 13th 1840.
Dear Ainsworth.
The inclosed were sent me by some illustrious obscure,2 in a parcel the day before yesterday. I suppose the best course is to forward them to you, and to write to him telling him that I have done so.
Believe me,
Very Truly Yours
CHARLES DICKENS
- 1. William Harrison Ainsworth (1805–1882, Dictionary of National Biography), historical novelist, succeeded CD as editor of Bentley’s Miscellany.
- 2. Unidentified. 'Illustrious obscure' is a term coined by William Hazlitt, in 'On the Aristocracy of Letters' (in Table Talk, 1822), and widely used thereafter. See Alan Dilnot, 'Dickens and Ainsworth: A Newly-Discovered Letter', Dickensian 113.1 (2017): 17-19.