The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To VICE ADMIRAL SIR SIDNEY DACRES,1 1 AUGUST 1868

MS Huntington Library.

GAD’S HILL PLACE, | HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT.

Saturday First August, 1868

My Dear Sir Sydney2 Dacres

I hear from Captain Buckley of the Pylades3 that he has recommended my son4 for promotion to a Death-vacancy5 on board his ship. He is kind enough to tell me that he has done so, because my son knows his profession well, and is a zealous and bright officer. If you can serve him again,6 I hope he will always do credit to your favorable remembrance.

Alwys Yours | Faithfully and obliged

CHARLES DICKENS

Vice Admiral | Sir Sydney Dacres | K.C.B.

• 1. Sir Sidney Colpoys Dacres (1805-84; Dictionary of National Biography), Vice-Admiral 1865;Admiral 1870; KCB 1865; First Sea Lord 1868-72; see Pilgrim Letters 11, p. 352n.
• 2. Possibly confused by writing to Sir Sidney about Sydney Smith Dickens (below), CD wrote Dacres’s name here “Sydney”; in the address line below he originally wrote “Sidney”, then overwrote “i” with “y”.
• 3. Sydney Smith Dickens (below) served on the Pylades 1867-68; he joined the Zealous 1868.
• 4. Sydney Smith Dickens (1847-72), CD’s seventh child and fifth son. Entered the Royal Navy, Sep 1860, and trained on board the Britannia at Portsmouth (Pilgrim Letters 9, pp. 309, 316 & nn). Midshipman, Dec 1861 (Pilgrim Letters 9, pp. 542 & n, 543) and appointed to the Orlando, Dec 1861. Served on the Pelican, June 1864-67, joining the Pylades, July 1867, where he advanced to Acting Sub-Lt (Aug 1867) and Sub- Lt (Nov 1867).
• 5. Though Buckley presumably wanted to promote him, Sydney joined the Zealous as Sub-Lt, Aug 1868.
• 6. As Dacre had done in some way (Apr 1867), when Sydney was sent home on sick leave, having contracted African Coast fever (Pilgrim Letters 11, pp. 352, 367).