The Charles Dickens Letters Project

Period: 
1841-1850
Theme(s): 
social engagements
clubs

To JOHN BOWRING,1 15 JUNE 1844 

Text from facsimile in Forum Auctions online catalogue, May 2020.

Osnaburgh Terrace.2

Fifteenth June 1844

Saturday 

My Dear Sir

            I am very much indebted to you; and had divined the kind purpose of your friendly visit. Absence from here, and constant seclusion for a fortnight past (during which period I have been engaged in finishing the book I have on hand) alone had prevented me from acknowledging your attention. I was only released, last night.3

            I am going down to Bath to take leave of my good friend Landor,4 on Monday. I shall be in town again on Wednesday, and will take the chance of finding you at home5 on Thursday at Twelve. But pray do not remain within, on my account. I shall be at the Athenaeum6 in any case; and it is but to walk across the Park7 and back again.

            My Dear Sir

                        Faithfully Yours

                                    CHARLES DICKENS

Dr Bowring

  • 1. Sir John Bowring (1792-1872; Dictionary of National Biography), politician, diplomat and writer. First editor of the Westminster Review. Elected MP for Bolton in June 1841 as a free-trade candidate; held his seat for over seven years.
  • 2. CD had let his house in Devonshire Terrace for a year, on 28 May, and was living at 9 Osnaburgh Terrace.
  • 3. Martin Chuzzlewit, published in monthly instalments from Dec 1842; the final number was published on 30 June 1844.
  • 4. Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864; Dictionary of National Biography), poet and author; used by CD as a model for Boythorn in Bleak House. They first met at Lady Blessington’s in Jan 1840, through their mutual friend John Forster; see Pilgrim Letters 2, p.23 n. Lived in Bath 1838-58.
  • 5. Bowring lived at 1 Queen Square.
  • 6. The Athenaeum Club, Waterloo Place, to which CD was elected in 1838.
  • 7. St. James’s Park.