Item Info

Accession Number: 87-0789
Physical Description: [3] pages
Material: paper
Transcription:

 Boulogne, Friday Thirteenth October

                                   1854 

Dear Stone. 

       As I shall be sending a parcel to Wills tomorrow, I write this note today, to put into it—with a lively probability before me of your not getting it until Monday. 

       Having some little matters that rather press on my attention, to see to in town, I have made up my mind to relinquish the walking project, and to come straight home (by way of Folkestone)on Tuesday.   I shall be due in Town at midnight, and shall hope to see you next day— with the top of your coal collar mended.   Everything that happens here, we suppose to be an announcement of the taking of Sebastopol.  When a church clock strikes, we think it is the Joy-Bell, and fly out of the house in a burst of nationality —to sneak in again. If they practise firing at the Camp, we are sure it is the artillery celebrating the fall of the Russian, and we become enthusiastic in a moment. I live in constant readiness to illuminate the whole house. Whatever anybody says, I believe.  Everybody says, every day, that Sebastopol is in flames. Sometimes the Commander in chief has blown himself up, with 75,000 men. Sometimes he has "cut his way through Lord Raglan”, and has fallen back on the advancing body of the Russians, 142,000 strong—whom he is going to "bring up " (I don't know where from, or how, or when, or why) for the destruction of the allies.   all these things, in the words of the catechism, "I steadfastly believe”, until I become a mere driveller— a moonstruck, babbling, staring, credulous, imbecile, greedy, gaping, wooden-headed, addle-brained, wool-gathering, dreary, vacant, obstinate civilian.  

                       Ever,  my fellow-countryman,                          
                                                  affect          CD

MssDate: Friday Thirteenth October 1854
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Commander in Chief refers to Prince Mentschikoff (1787-1869). 

Recipient: Stone, Frank, 1800-1859
Provenance: Gift of Mrs. D. Jacques Benoliel, 12/6/54.

Bibliography:

Volume 7, pp. 437-438, The Letters of Charles Dickens, edited by Madeline House & Graham Storey; associate editors, W.J. Carlton…[et al.].

 

Country: Country:France
City/Town/Township:Boulogne

Call Number: DL St71F 1854-10-13
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author