The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To THOMAS NOON TALFOURD,1 [?LATE 1838-11 DECEMBER 1839]

MS Classic Bindings Ltd. Date: handwriting supports 1838-9; before 12 Dec 39, when CD moved to Devonshire Terrace.

Doughty Street / Wednesday2 Morning

My Dear Talfourd.

I CAN’T.3 I have refused two invitations, without counting yours. hat would have been nothing however, for I would have gladly come to you when I would go nowhere else. But I am engaged at home, and have been for a fortnight and it is out of my power to make any new arrangements now.

Always faithfully Yours  

 CHARLES DICKENS

Mr Sergeant Talfourd

• 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. CD wrote “Thu” and overwrote with “We”.
• 3. Underlined with two short strokes.