Item Info

Accession Number: 86-2795
Physical Description: [3] pages
Transcription:

Folkestone, Monday Twenty Fourth September
                                     1855

Dear Sir
     I have seen Mr Francis and have explained to him that in begging you to admit the Members of the Working Mens’ Educational Institution, generally, to my reading, at the Working Mens’ reduced admission-price of threepence each, I have full reliance on the privilege not being abused, and feel a conviction that such of their members as do not really belong to what we generally understand by the term “Working Men” will forbear to claim it.  He has assured me that he knows me to be right in this trustfulness.  He thinks that in a case where a tradesman of the better sort is a member of both Institutions and pays for himself as a member of your more expensive one, he might claim the cheaper privilege in behalf of some member of his own family.  I think so too, and that in this he would not be unreasonable.
     Within my experience you may safely trust the honor of any class, if you will only appeal to it plainly, and make the case perfectly understood.  I hope we shall all be in good humour and good accord in this instance.
     I have impressed upon Mr Francis the great desirability of his letting you know as soon as possible, how many persons will present themselves for that cheap admission on the night, in order that you may be able to arrange for their accommodation.  He told me in reply, that he had no doubt of being able to get this information pretty correctly, next Monday night.

                                                               Faithfully Yours
                                                                 Charles Dickens

W. Wightwick Esquire.
 

MssDate: Monday Twenty Fourth September 1855
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Letter deals with planning for a public reading of A Christmas Carol and relates to letters "To Francis, 7 June 1855" and "To Forster, 23 September 1855."

Notes:

Record entered by KS 11/2/11.

Recipient: Wightwick, William
Provenance: Sotheby Sale 5 June 77 lot 326 thru Maggs, Gratz Fund.

Bibliography:

The Letters of Charles Dickens, Pilgrim Edition, Volume Seven, 1853-1855, p. 709.

Country: Country:England
City/Town/Township:Folkestone [Kent]

Call Number: DL W639 1855-09-24
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author