The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To THE MASTER OF THE CROWN HOTEL, ROCHESTER, 6 February 1846

Text from facsimile in Bloomsbury Auctions online catalogue, December 2015.

Servant

Mr John Tompson1 

Devonshire Terrace London

Friday afternoon

Sixth February 1846

Mr Charles Dickens sends his compliments to the Master of the Crown Hotel at Rochester, and begs to say that he wishes to secure for tomorrow and Sunday, a comfortable Private Sitting room – a bedroom for himself and Mrs Dickens – another for a young lady2 – and two more for two gentlemen3 who will accompany them.4 Also dinner for five persons5 at five o’Clock tomorrow,6 with Soup and Fish. Mr Dickens intends to come down by the Twelve o’Clock Gravesend Boat from Blackheath.

• 1. Thus in MS; added in another hand. John Thompson (1821-71), CD’s man-servant.
• 2. Georgina Hogarth (1827-1917), CD’s sister-in-law.
• 3. Douglas Jerrold and Daniel Maclise, although CD’s letter to Emile de la Rue (dated 16 February 1846) states that Maclise did not join the party, which was in celebration of CD’s birthday; see Pilgrim Letters 4, p. 498.
• 4. See Pilgrim Letters 4, p. 492n, quoting letter to Forster, which identifies the party as CD, Catherine, Georgina, Maclise and Jerrold.
• 5. Added over caret.
• 6. Added over caret.