ALs to John Leech
Charles Dickens
Item Info
Physical Description: [2] pages + envelope.
Material: paper
Transcription:
Tavistock House
Friday Night Twenty Seventh Jany
1854.
My Dear Leech.
read the enclosed!!! Having read the fatal missive, will you wet the adhesive on the envelope and give it back to French—I suppose to take to the place where it is addressed. You will answer for me that you never knew me break an engagement before, except when Mr. Pitt was invited by the Duchess of Gordon to dine in the Indian manner. The excuse is no excuse, but a literal truth. I am off two hundred miles in the morning, and do not see how I can possibly get back before monday night. It is no excursion of pleasure, but real Household Words business—nor had I any idea of going until today.
With kind regards to Mrs. Leech, who I am glad to hear is herself again,
Always Faithfully Yours
Charles Dickens
John Leech Esquire
MssDate: Friday Night Twenty Seventh Jany. 1854.
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:
Dickens alludes to Jane Gordon, Duchess of Gordon (1748-1812) the political socialite who hosted unconventional dinners and was known to have invited William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806) the youngest man to become Prime Minister of England in 1783. Dickens makes the same allusion in another letter to Leech in 21 Sept 1848. See Vol. v P.411 in the Pilgrim Edition.
Recipient: Leech, John, 1817-1864
Provenance: Gift of Mrs. D. Jacques Benoliel, 12/6/54.
Bibliography:
Volume 7, p.260, The Letters of Charles Dickens, edited by Madeline House & Graham Storey; associate editors, W.J. Carlton…[et al.].
Country: Creation Place Note:Tavistock House
Country:England
City/Town/Township:London
Call Number: DL L516j 1854-01-27
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author
ALs to John Leech
ALs to John Leech 
Envelope for ALs to John Leech