The Charles Dickens Letters Project
To SIR THOMAS NOON TALFOURD,1 18 MARCH 1851
Facsimile on Bonham’s New York website, 2008.
Devonshire Terrace
Eighteenth Mar 1851.
My Dear Talfourd
Will you kindly read the enclosed letter, which comes from the very best man in America -- the Greek Professor at their Cambridge University2 -- and write me a word in3 two in reply? My address is Knotsford Lodge, Great Malvern -- for Mrs. Dickens4 is there for her health, and I am with her, except on one day in the week.5
As I remember—but not distinctly—this same mysterious gentleman gave some one a letter of introduction to me sometime since. To whom I plainly said that I knew no such person. In the same dim manner I seem to remember the same thing happening with Carlyle.6
Ever affectionately Yours
CHARLES DICKENS
- 1. Thomas Noon Talfourd (1795-1854; Dictionary of National Biography), barrister (later Judge), MP, essayist, and dramatist. "What an extraordinary, what an indefatigable man!" wrote Macready, on first hearing of his tragedy Ion (Diaries, I, 219). As literary executor, published Letters of Charles Lamb, with a Sketch of his Life, 1837, and Final Memorials of Charles Lamb, 1848. Serjeant-at-Law 1833; Whig MP for his native town of Reading 1835-41 and 1847-9. CD reported him in Parliament and the Law Courts (e.g. in Norton v. Melbourne). They first met (perhaps through John Forster) soon after Talfourd's introduction of the Copyright Bill into Parliament, May 37. CD dedicated Pickwick Papers to him.
- 2. Not identified and unknown to CD. Clearly Talfourd was enquiring about a letter he had received.
- 3. Thus in MS.
- 4. Catherine Dickens, née Hogarth (1815-79).
- 5. CD's wife remained at Malvern for treatment from 13 March to 15 April 1851; CD stayed with her at Knotsford, with visits to London.
- 6. Thus in MS. George William Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle (1802-64; Dictionary of National Biography). Spent a year in America and Canada 1842, where he met most of CD’s hosts there: see further Pilgrim Letters 3, p. 118n.