- Brief description
- Letter, from Charles Dickens to Thomas Beard, 14 August 1837
- Label
- Dickens here asks one of his oldest friends, Thomas Beard, to help resolve Dickens's ongoing dispute with his boss, Richard Bentley of Bentley's Miscellany. Dickens had joined Miscellany as editor November 1836, started serialising Oliver Twist in February 1837, but already by August Dickens was arguing with Bentley about better pay and greater creative control of the magazine. He would end up leaving his contract early in February 1839.
- Collection
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Object number
- A18
- Object type
- letter
- Production person
- Dickens, Charles
- Production date
- 14/08/1837
- Inscription content
- Thomas Beard Esqre. | 42 Portman Place | Edgeware Road. On mourning paper.
Doughty Street. | Monday Morning
My Dear Beard.
I want to avail myself of your friendly services in a rather delicate matter -- don't be alarmed; not in a duel.
My dispute with Bentley is still pending. He, merely as a colourable proceeding and to gain time, wishes a friend of mine to meet a friend of his, to discuss the subject. Now, as any reasonable man will feel convinced that my proposal is a most fair and moderate one, I merely want to concede this to him for the sake of appearances, without in the slightest degree departing from my point. Will you do this for me? It will oblige me most highly, and relieve me of a great difficulty, because as my acquaintance lies chiefly with people intimately connected with literature, I cannot find anybody else who would be supposed to feel with strict impartiality.
If I may rely upon your friendly feeling to undertake this task (as I think I may) will you call upon me tomorrow at 12 at noon? We will walk down to Forster's Chambers, put you in possession of all the facts and documents, and determine exactly on the course to be pursued. If you are at home, write me one word in reply.
Believe me Ever
My Dear Beard
Faithfully Yours
CHARLES DICKENS
Home
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