The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To JOHN GORHAM PALFREY,1 26 DECEMBER 1867

Text from facsimile in Swann Auction Galleries online catalogue, Feb 2018.

Westminster Hotel, New York City2

Twenty Sixth December, 1867 

Dear Doctor Palfrey,

            I have this morning received your letter herewith safely, and am truly glad to have it.3 Will you kindly present my compliments to Miss Palfrey,4 and tell her that I have not forgotten a line or two of direction I am to write for her when I next come to Boston5

                        Faithfully Yours

                        CHARLES DICKENS

• 1. John Gorham Palfrey (1796-1881; Dictionary of American Biography), former Unitarian minister, later, liberal politician, editor and proprietor, North American Review, 1835-42, and regular contributor; best known for his History of New England (4 vols, 1858-75). He played a leading role in the early history of Harvard Divinity School. CD had met him in Boston in Feb 1842, and in London in 1856.
• 2. In Irving Place; CD took up residence there on 9 Dec 1867.
• 3. CD had a “mistake” concerning Palfrey (untraced) brought to his attention by his Boston publisher and close friend, James T. Fields, on 19 Dec 1867 (Pilgrim Letters 11 p. 515-16). The note “astounded” CD, who was clearly worried that the error could be interpreted by Palfrey as by “intention and design”. He met with Palfrey on 22 Dec while in Boston for two nights of readings, and returned to New York on 25 Dec 1867.
• 4. Sarah Hammond Palfrey (1823-1914).
• 5. Thus in MS (no full stop).