Description:

1st-Hand Account of Charles Dickens' Final Years "very jovial & in tremendous spirits"

A firsthand account of Charles Dickens written by George Dunlop Leslie, the youngest son of painter Charles Leslie. 6pp on mourning stationery, measuring 4.5" x 7", Riverside, Wallingford, dated November 27, 1886. Addressed to an unnamed recipient [believed to be F.G. Kitten]. Leslie provides a detailed account of the first and last times he saw Dickens, as well as a few anecdotes about various parties and gatherings he attended with the famed author, particularly in his later years. With flattened mail folds. Very fine overall.

Highlights from the letter:
"…The first time I ever saw Dickens was when I was a very small boy at Broadstairs. I recollect him with Mrs. Dickens calling on us and standing at the little green gate of our garden - a stern dandified young man with a light overcoat & fair hair like the portrait by [Daniel] Maclise. The last time I saw him was at the Royal Academy Banquet when he made that wonderful speech on the loss of Maclise. The Prince of Wales & a very distinguished company were present and the effort of Dickens' speech was most striking - sad & pathetic, the whole assembly listened in dead silence. I also saw Dickens and Mark Lemon [the Editor of Punch magazine] shake hands over dear old Stanfield's grave at Kensal Green. At the juvenile parties at his house and also at the juvenile parties at [William Charles] Macredy's house I only remember that Dickens was very jovial & in tremendous spirits. Once at Macredy's I remember his making a speech at the supper table at 12 o'clock on the 31st of December. I was one of a party that went with Dickens to see the Amazon with a number of Mormons on board on the day before it started for New York. It was in the East India Docks & we drove in an open carriage from the office of Household Words. Dickens talked & laughed the whole way & was in great form as we passed through Ratcliffe Highway. He has described this visit in the 'Uncommercial Traveler'… Dickens certainly in later years impressed me with the idea of a man who was always at high pressure of spirits - bubbling over like champagne; laughing and talking and wearing himself out, his face lately was a mass of lines & wrinkles from its extreme mobility of features & the constant & incessant way he worked them about. I heard him read many times & at times it was almost painful to see his worn looks…"

Charles Dickens died prematurely at the age of 58. Prior to his death, in 1868-69, he gave a series of "farewell readings" in England, Scotland and Ireland. He was able to complete 75 of the contracted 100 readings, but had a stroke on April 18, 1869, and was forced to cancel the remaining tour. Upon regaining some of his strength, Dickens returned to giving a series of readings from January to March 1870, despite still being gravely ill. On May 2, 1870, he made his last public appearance at a Royal Academy banquet where he paid a special tribute on the death of his friend, Irish illustrator Daniel Maclise. He suffered another stroke on June 8, 1870 and died the following day.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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