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Charles Dickens

Kathleen Mary Tillotson (ed.), The British Academy/The Pilgrim Edition of the Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 4: 1844–1846

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To JOHN DILLON,2 3 FEBRUARY 1844

Text from Autograph Prices Current, 1 (1914–16); dated 1, Devonshire Terrace, 3 Feb 44; salutation from N, i, 566.

My Dear Sir,

No, indeed. Trust me you were not wrong in believing—in feeling well assured, I hope—that the testimony you bear to the success of my little book, would sink deep into my heart, and fill it with a sad delight. Nothing could touch me half so nearly. No roar of approbation that human voices could set up would affect me like the faintest whisper from a home such as yours … . I shall ever prize your letter. I thank God for the high privilege of speaking to the secret hearts of those who are in grief like yours;3 and I thank you earnestly, for the courage you have given me.

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Editor’s Note
2 John Dillon, of Morrison, Dillon & Co., merchants, Fore St, Cripplegate; like his partner James Morrison (see To Stanfield, 24 Aug 44, fn) he was extremely rich, and was a well-known philanthropist. He spoke at the Sanatorium dinner 29 June 43, and was at the farewell dinner to Macready on 26 Aug 43: see Vol. iii, pp. 500n, 544n.
Editor’s Note
3 Dillon's second son, Edward, aged 22, died 10 Sep 43 (The Times, 11 Sep 43).
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