CHARLES DICKENS AND THE QUEEN.

Thames Star, Volume XIXI, Issue 3613, 26 July 1880, Page 2

CHARLES DICKENS AND THE QUEEN.

The new literary paper* The Pen, contains in. its first number the .following hitherto unpublished letter addressed! by Charles Dickens fo an intimate friend (the father of the painter of the > " 801 l Gall,") immediately after themarriagv of the Queen:— ■* ■•• . ' Devonshire Terraced ;-' Thursday Mbnu&i.: My dear .Thompson,—Macliie and I are raring with lore for the Queen, with a , hopeless passion -whose' extent? iw tongue can tell nor mind of maneoneeivt. On Tuesday we sallied down to Windsojr, prowled about the Castle, saw the corridor and their private rooms-Hniay, the very bedchamber (which we know from having been there twice) lighted, up with such a ruddy, homely^ brilliant-glow, bespeaking so much bliss and happiness that I, your humble servant, -lay dowti. in the mud at the top of < the Long Walk, and refused all comfort, to the immeasurable... astonish)nent of a few straggling passengers'who had 'survived the drunkenness of the previous night. After perpetrating some other extravagances we ' returned" home at midnight in a poskehaise, andndwwe wear, marriage medals next our hearts, and so go about' with, pockets full of portraits, which we weep over in Secret. Forste'r was. with' us at Windsor, and (for the joke' sake) counterfeits a pas«ion too, but he doe* not love heri ' -\ t n „ r' . ,v Don't mention this unhappy attachment. I am very wretohed* and think of leaving my home. My wife makes; me miserable, and when I hear the voice of my children I burst into tears. I fear it is too late to ask you to take this house, now that you have made such arrangements of comfort in Fall Mall; but .if you will you shall have it very cheapo-furniture atlow ■ valuation—rmoney not oeing so muoh an object as escaping from the family^ For God's sake turn this matter over in you mind, and please to ask Captain Kiaoaide what he asks-r-bis lowest; terms, in short, for. ready money*—for that post of Gentle* men»at< Arms. I must be near beir, ahdJC see no better way than for the present. l'" . I have- on hand three numbers of, " Master Humphrey's Clock/'.tad the two first chapters of " Btraaby." / Would you like to buy them P Writing any . more in my present state of mind is out of the question. They are written in a pretty fair hand and when lam in the . Serpentine may be considered curious. Name your own terms, f '1- iK-- >\ .'; < f ' I know you don't like trouble, but I have ventured, notwithstanding, to make you an executor of my will. There won't be a great deal to do, as there is no money. There is a.little bequest .having, reference to HER which you might lik* to execute. I.have heard,,on the Lord Chamberlain's authority, that the leads my books and is very fond of .them. I think she will be sorry when I am gone. I should wish to be embalmed, and to be kept (if practicable) on the top of the Triumphal Arch at Buckingham Palace .-, when she is in.town, and oat the northeast' t turret of the Bound Tower when she is at ' Windsor. From your distracted and blighted friend, - -.-^ -■"'.' '* "* CD Don't show this to Mr Makley (tie coroner) if it eVer comes to that. ; ;