Brief description: Letter from Elizabeth Gaskell to Anne Green, 13 May 1849
Label: In this letter to her friend, Elizabeth Gaskell gives a full description of Dickens's study at Devonshire Terrace, and of the dinner-party she attended there, with many distinguished guests: ‘Anne sat between Carlyle & Rogers, - I between Dickens & Douglas Jerrold. Anne heard the most sense, and I the most wit’.

Gaskell was among the first writers Dickens approached for his new magazine Household Words. They met after her first novel, Mary Barton, was published and her novels Cranford and North and South were published serially in Household Words. Gaskell and Dickens had a fraught working relationship — she began to dislike the rigid routine of publishing her novels in parts and was slow to make cuts suggested by Dickens. Equally he would assert editorial control, making edits without permission. Their friendship ended for good when Dickens separated from Catherine — Gaskell didn't approve of his public announcement of it.
Collection: Archives & Manuscripts
Object number: B137
Object type: letter
Production person: Gaskell, Elizabeth
Production date: 13 May 1849
Inscription content: Sunday morning
27, Woburn Sq.

My dear Annie,
I must try hard to write you a few lines, for I should like to tell you about yesterday, and I think my dear old friend (who could make puddings, but never did, do you remember Annie?) will like to hear about. Must I begin at the beginning? Well! we got up; that was the first thing; and we dressed that was the second; and then we cabbed it to Mr. Monckton Milnes, meeting Mr. Procter (Barry Cornwall) at the door: he had promised to meet us the day before; Mrs and Miss Procter were already there. There were the House of Lords there, Miss Holland says; but independently of the Lords, there was Guizot, and Whewell, and Archdeacon Hare. I did not know who Whewell was, as he came in too late to be introduced; but he began to talk about Silverdale & all our dear old places in the North, and we got on famously. He sent me a book of his in the course of the afternoon, with such a nice note. We were very merry, and it was a very short two hours which every one had said was the proper number of hours to stay at breakfast. Then we went to the Exhibition; and thence to Stafford House the Duke of Sutherlands. We saw the most beautiful picture-gallery, statues, and furniture & flowers I ever could have fancied, and in the most perfect taste. But I found it very tiring looking up at the pictures, guilding, &c, and was very glad to come out, and proceed leisurely home. We dressed and went to dine at Mr. Dickens', making (with our morning's breakfast) what Anne calls, "a rich day". We were shown into Mr. Dickens' study; this is the part, dear Annie, I thought you would like to hear about.

It is the study where he writes all his works; and has a bow-window, is about the size of Uncle Holland's drawing room. There are books all round, up to the ceiling, and down to the ground; a standing-desk at which he writes; and all manner of comfortable easy chairs. There were numbers of people in the room. Mr. Rogers (the old poet, who is 86, and looked very unfit to be in such a large party,) Douglas Jerrold, Mr & Mrs Carlyle, Hablot Browne, who illustrated Dickens' works, Mr Forster, Mr and Mrs Taggart, a Mr Kenyon. We waited dinner a long time for Lady Dufferin; (the Hon. Mrs Blackwood who wrote the Irish Emigrant's lament,) but she did not come till after dinner. Anne sat between Carlyle & Rogers, - I between Dickens & Douglas Jerrold. Anne heard the most sense, and I the most wit; I never heard any one so witty as Douglas Jerrold, who is a very little almost deformed man with grey flowing hair, and very fine eyes. He hade so many bon-mots, that at the time I thought I could remember; but which now have quite slipped out of my head. After dinner when we went upstairs I sat next to Mrs Carlyle, who amused me very much with her account of their only servant who commes from Annandale in Scotland, and had never been accustomed to announce titles; so when Count Pepoli called she announced him as Mr Compilloly; Lord Jeffrey as Lorcherfield; and simply repeated it louder & louder each time; till at last Mrs Carlyle said "What is it - man woman or beast?"to which the servant answered "a little wee gentleman, Ma'am." Miss Fanny Kemble called in a hat & a habit,and when Mrs C. spoke to the servant about bringing Miss K. in, unannounced, the servant said "I did not know if it was a Mr or Mrs-" In the evening quantities of other people came in. We were by this time up in the drawing-room, which is not nearly so pretty or so home-like as the study. Frank Stone the artist, Leech & his wife, Benedict the great piano-forte player, Sims Reeves the singer, Thackeray, Lord Dudley Stuart, Lord Headfort, Lady Yonge, Lady Lovelace, Lady Dufferin, and a quantity of others whose names I did not hear. We heard some beautiful music. Mr Tom Taylor was there too, who writes those comical ballads in Punch; and Anne said we had the whole Punch-bowl, which I believe we had. I kept trying to learn people's faces off by heart, that I might remember them; but it was rather confusing there were so very many. There were some nice little Dickens' children in the room, - who were so polite, and well-trained. We came away at last feeling we had seen so many people and things that day that we were quite confused; only that we should be glad to remember we had done it. I have written this letter dearest Annie, in the midst of talking and conversation, but I hope it will be intelligible, and amuse you a little, my dear. Give my dearest love to my girls and Mrs Green & your sisters, and ever believe me
Your very affect friend
E.C.Gaskell

Letter from Elizabeth Gaskell to Anne Green, 13 May 1849