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Charles Dickens

Madeline House and Graham Storey (eds), The British Academy/The Pilgrim Edition of the Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 1: 1820–1839

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To DR J. A. WILSON,2 [?14 FEBRUARY 1838]*

MS Mrs Humphry House. Date: Grimaldi was finished by 21 Jan and review copies were distributed before 17 Feb. It seems more likely CD was writing on Wed 14 Feb than on 7 Feb, immediately on his return from Yorkshire.

48 Doughty Street. | Wednesday Morning

My Dear Sir.

Let me thank you most cordially for your very kind note and indosure which is exceedingly interesting, and of which I should certainly have availed myself, if poor Grimaldi's memoirs had not already passed through the Press; but for which I am not the less obliged to you on that account.

I am very happy to find that I had not formed a wrong estimate of the poor fellow's character. I have merely been editing another's account, and telling some of the stories in my own way, but I was much struck by the many traits of kind heartedness scattered through the book, and have given it that colouring throughout.

If you will permit me to retain the autograph for a few days, I shall be happy to return it in person,3 and to thank you by word of mouth for your polite attention.

  • I am Sir
  •     Very truly Yours
  •          Charles Dickens

  • Dr. Wilson
  •   &c   &c

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Notes

Editor’s Note
2 James Arthur Wilson, FRCP (1795–1882; DNB), senior physician at St George's Hospital 1829–57. Possibly Grimaldi had been his patient.
Editor’s Note
3 At the foot of the page is written, presumably in Wilson's hand: "Never Returned. Grimaldi's sad letter of May Day date, to me—grateful & melancholy. Nov. 25 1868 8 p.m."
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