Item Info

Accession Number: 2001-51
Physical Description: [2] pages
Material: paper
Transcription:

From my cell.
  Monday Morning 
  Twenty First June 1847.
My Dear Sir
   I am taming a spider or two in my solitude, and weaving a small web of my own—with a very long beard, and talons in place of nails—and shaking my grizzled locks refuse to be comforted or to come out. This very day, the world and I become again acquainted, on a special occasion; and for that very reason, I must go back to my spiders, inexorably, tomorrow morning.
   I should have been truly glad to have accepted your invitation—to descend to common life—but I am bidden tomorrow to the marriage of a friend of mine—one Dombey—and I am afraid if I stayed, the Ceremony would scarcely come off; so much importance is attached to my presence. In fact, I give away the bride.
   Yours gloomily
   Charles Dickens
   (For Self and Partner)
K. Kay Shuttleworth Esquire. 

MssDate: Twenty First of June 1847
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

The taming of the spider is possibly a reference to a melodramatic version of the life of Baron Trenck: see To Miss  Powers, 2 July 1847.
The "marriage" is a reference to writing Chapter 31, "The Wedding" in No. X. of Dombey & Son. 

Recipient: Kay-Shuttleworth, James, Sir, 1804-1877
Provenance: Quaritch, 3/2001, Gratz Fund.

Bibliography:

Volume 5, p. 96, The Letters of Charles Dickens, edited by Madeline House & Graham Storey; associate editors, W.J. Carlton…[et al.] 

Country: Creation Place Note:[Chester Place]
Country:England
City/Town/Township:[London]

Call Number: DL K18 1847-06-21
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author