Item Info

Accession Number: 86-2796
Physical Description: [1] page
Transcription:

   Paris, Thursday Twenty Fourth April, 1856
Dear Wills.
                   I return you my Proof, corrected.
            I am very much disheartened by the last published No. of H.W. which is - not to mince the matter - frightfully bad.  No idea in it, no purpose, no appropriateness to or about anything, a mere hash-up of most indifferent magazine papers at chance-medley.
            Tomorrow morning I will go to work again and try to do another paper, so that you may receive it on Monday Morning.  It would be better not to begin a No. with your story, under the circumstances, if it can possibly be avoided.
                             Ever Faithfully
                                           CD

MssDate: Thursday Twenty Fourth April, 1856
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Record entered by KS 11/3/11.

Notes:

The proof Dickens sent to Wills is of "Proposals for a National Jest-Book."
Letter refers to Household Words No. 318, 23 April 1856. 
The paper that Dickens shows an intent to write ends up as "Railway Dreaming" from Household Words, 10 May 1856.
The story of Wills that Dickens mentions is "The Ninth of June," which did not appear until June 1856.  None of its four installments began a number of Household Words.

Recipient: Wills, W. Henry (William Henry), 1810-1880
Provenance: Hamilton Auction 11 Dec 75 Lot 109 thru Seven Gabl, Matlack Fund.

Bibliography:

The Letters of Charles Dickens, Pilgrim Edition, Volume Eight, 1856-1858, pp. 97-98.

Country: Country:France
City/Town/Township:Paris

Call Number: DL W685 1856-04-24
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author