- Brief description
- Letter, from Charles Dickens to Thomas Beard, 17 May 1837
- Label
- Dickens writes to Thomas Beard, one of his oldest friends, about the sudden death of his sister-in-law, Mary Hogarth. Mary was the youngest sister of Catherine, Dickens's wife. Mary was staying with the Dickenses at 48 Doughty Street but a year into her time with them she fell suddenly ill and died, age 17. Charles and Catherine were profoundly affected - Catherine suffering a miscarriage soon after and Dickens fell behind on his prolific rate of work. They escaped to Collins's Farm in Hampstead to recover.
- Collection
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Object number
- A16
- Object type
- letter
- Production person
- Dickens, Charles
- Production date
- 17/05/1837
- Inscription content
- Thomas Beard Esqre. | 42 Portman Place | Edgeware Road.
Collins's Farm. North End | Hampstead | Wednesday Evening
My Dear Beard.
I received your kind letter in due course. I should have written to you myself, to communicate the dreadful occurrence, but I had so many distressing appeals to my attention and exertions, that I was compelled to postpone doing so for a time.
I presume you heard from my father, that on the Saturday Night we had been to the Theatre -- that we returned home as usual -- that poor Mary was in the same health and spirits in which you have so often seen her -- that almost immediately after she went up stairs to bed she was taken ill -- and that next day she died. Thank God she died in my arms, and the very last words she whispered were of me.
Of our sufferings at the time, and all through the dreary week that ensued, I will say nothing -- no one can imagine what they were. You have seen a good deal of her, and can feel for us, and imagine what a blank she has left behind. The first burst of my grief has passed, and I can think and speak of her, calmly and dispassionately. I solemnly believe that so perfect a creature never breathed. I knew her inmost heart, and her real worth and value. She had not a fault.
Mrs. Hogarth has suffered and still continues to suffer most deep and bitter anguish. Kate, I am glad to say, made such strong efforts to console her, that she unconsciously summoned up all her fortitude at the same time, and brought it to her own assistance. She knows that if ever a mortal went to Heaven, her sister is there; she has nothing to remember but a long course of affection and attachment, perhaps never exceeded. Not one cross word or angry look on either side, even as children, rises in judgment against her; and she is now so calm and cheerful that I wonder to see her.
I have been so shaken and unnerved by the loss of one whom I so dearly loved that I have been compelled to lay aside all thoughts of my usual monthly work, for once; and we have come here for quiet and change. We have a cottage of our own, with large gardens, and everything else on a small but comfortable scale. Kate is very anxious indeed to see you and as I can assure you that you will derive any thing but pain from seeing her, I hope you will join us in the old way. Name your own time, and believe me that there is no one whom it would give us so much pleasure to welcome as yourself.
Believe me My Dear Beard
Ever Faithfully Yours
CHARLES DICKENS
Thomas Beard Esqre.
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