The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To GILBERT À BECKETT,1 9 FEBRUARY 1854

MS Robert à Beckett

TAVISTOCK HOUSE,

Ninth February 1854

My dear a2 Beckett.

I hope it is not unconstitutional to find a trifle of difficulty sometimes, in deciphering Beakish caligraphy.3A “mysterious appearance” in your letter looks to me more like Monday (in the list of your official days) than any thing else. Assuming it to be the sign or symbol of Monday, I will come on Monday at 4, to see Mary Richardson4

Faithfully Yours ever

CHARLES DICKENS

Gilbert a5à Beckett Esquire

• 1. Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (1811-56); police magistrate (hence ‘Beakish’); journalist, prolific playwright and humorous writer. Recommended suitable candidates for Urania Cottage, which Mary Richardson probably was, although there is no further mention of her.
• 2. Thus in MS.
• 3. Thus in MS.
• 4. The name ‘Mary Richardson’ is written (in a different hand) on a scrap of paper and pasted into the letter.
• 5. Thus in MS.