The Charles Dickens Letters Project
To PATRICK ALLAN-FRASER,1 19 APRIL 1858
MS Hospitalfield Arts Centre
Address: Allan Fraser Esquire | Hospitalfield | Arbroath
Tavistock House
Monday Nineteenth April 1858
My dear Sir,
I have not a doubt that such a provision as you describe in your letter from Hawkesbury Hall would carry out, in an admirable manner, the principles and objects of the Guild.2
You will readily believe that I have not been unmindful of your munificent and generous intentions because I have delayed writing to you. Immediately after I had the pleasure of seeing you, I conferred with Mr. Ouvry3 the Guild solicitor, on the subject of our conversation. He was of opinion that it would be necessary to apply to Parliament for an act to enlarge and amend our present Bill.4 Not being quite clear on the subject, however, he proposed to lay a case before our Honorary Standing Counsel, Mr. Wordsworth.5 This he did at once, but (owing, I think, to absence on Circuit business), the opinion has not yet been given.
In the meantime I have deferred writing to you, expecting every day to have something more distinct to tell you. Not feeling satisfied, however, to leave your kind note longer unanswered, I write after all, still waiting for the opinion.
Mr. Ouvry deemed it better not to communicate with Mr Roberts6 until he should receive his case back from Mr Wordsworth. Both he and I will pursue the subject (he with Mr. Roberts, and I with you) without a moment’s loss of time you may be sure.
Dear Sir
Always very faithfully Yours
CHARLES DICKENS
- 1. Patrick Allan-Fraser (1813-1890; Dictionary of National Biography), artist and architect. Born Patrick Allan, son of an Arbroath stocking weaver; successively, house painter and artist; assumed additional name of Fraser 1851, after marrying in 1843 the heiress of the nearby estate of Hospitalfield. Devoted himself to managing his wife's estate and collecting works of art. Under his Will formed a Trust, to maintain Hospitalfield as an Art College for young students, and to assist aged and infirm professional men, including specifically "painters, sculptors or literary men".
- 2. Fraser and his wife Elizabeth offered to donate Hawkesbury Hall in Warwickshire, which Elizabeth had inherited from her mother, to the Guild of Literature and Art, founded with CD’s assistance in 1851. See Michael Slater, "Munificence Declined: New Letters about the Guild of Literature and Art", Dickensian 111.1 (2015): 34-41. See also CD’s letters to Fraser of 3 May 1858, 12 May 1858, and 22 May 1858.
- 3. Frederic Ouvry (1814-81), CD's solicitor from 1856.
- 4. The Private Act to incorporate the Guild of Literature and Art was passed on 2 June 1854.
- 5. Either of Messrs. Wordsworth and Dunn, Southsea House, 32 Threadneedle Street, or of Messrs. Wordsworth, Greathead and Blake, Southsea House, 32 Threadneedle Street.
- 6. Probably Allan-Fraser’s solicitor; not otherwise identified.