The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To THOMAS HEADLAND,1 28 DECEMBER 1861

MS Mrs Sharon Lindsay.

OFFICE OF ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

Saturday Twenty Eighth December 1861.

Dear Mr Headland

In telegraphing to Birmingham2 this afternoon, please add the words: “Please send 4 stalls for each night, to Mr. Rofe,3 Paradise Street, with Mr. D’s compliments.” The letter has gone to Hullah.4 You shall take a copy of it on Monday.

Faithfully Yours

CD

• 1. Thomas Hughes Headland (?1806-88), Arthur Smith’s assistant; after Smith’s death (Oct 61) took over as manager of CD’s reading tours: see Pilgrim Letters 8, p. 606n. He proved unsatisfactory and was replaced by George Dolby for the 1866-70 readings: see Pilgrim Letters 11, p. 183n.
• 2. CD was in Birmingham, 30 & 31 Dec.
• 3. Henry Rofe, 16 Paradise Street, Birmingham, engineer to Birmingham Waterworks, uncle to the Ternan sisters (Pilgrim Letters 8, p. 605n, where misspelt Rolfe).
• 4. John Pyke Hullah (1812-84; Dictionary of National Biography), composer: see Vol. I, p. 113nn & Vol. V, p. 208n. The letter’s purpose not traced; Hullah’s reply elicited a (presumably) facetious response from CD (Pilgrim Letters 9, p. 555).