The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To WILLIAM CHARLES HOOD,1 19 FEBRUARY 1862

Text from facsimile in on-line catalogue of GoAntiques.com (8 April 2005). 

OFFICE OF ALL THE YEAR ROUND,

Wednesday Nineteenth February 1862

My Dear Dr. Hood

The gift is unfortunately bestowed elsewhere. I know the fact, or I would have immediately represented your case.2 You will see a reference to yourself (and not a disagreeable one, I hope) in our today’s No.3 

Faithfully Yours ever

CHARLES DICKENS

• 1. Dr William Charles Hood (1824-70), MD, FRCP, Medical Superintendent of Bethlehem Hospital since 1852: see Pilgrim Letters 8, p. 318 & n. CD’s friendship with him developed from 1857 and Hood apparently gave medical attention to CD’s mother (To Hood, 21 June 60, Pilgrim Letters 9, p. 266).
• 2. Presumably Hood was asking CD’s support in placing one of his patients in an institution.
• 3. Hood is referred to twice in “M.D. and M.A.D.”, All the Year Round, 22 Feb 62, VI, 511 & 513. The article, based on a hearing in the Commission of Lunacy to determine whether William Frederick Windham (“Mad Windham”) of Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, should be declared incapable of managing his own affairs (reported extensively in The Times, 17 Dec 61 onwards: the hearing occupied 34 days), attacks the system of expert witnesses being retained by either prosecution or defence and giving their opinions accordingly, regardless of facts. Dr Hood (“who should be an authority”) is honourably mentioned both for his part in the hearing and for his effort “to be helpful to a foolish and neglected youth” (All the Year Round, VI, 511, 513). On Windham (who was clearly incapable of managing his own affairs), see further R.W. Ketton-Cremer, Felbrigg: The Story of a House, 1962, ch.XIII. Hood had been earlier referred to in “The Star of Bethlehem”, Household Words, 15 Aug 57, XVI, 145.