- Brief description
- Letter, from John Dickens to Thomas Beard, 4 December 1834
- Label
- Thomas Beard was Dickens's friend, but he also was friendly with the whole family. Charles's father John wrote often to ask Thomas a favour or money, and Charles (here nicknamed "Boz") often confided in Thomas about the family's dire financial situation. John was a money-foolish "opportunist", according to Dickens, whose debts caused the break-up of the family home. Here John explains why he was arrested a second time for his debts and why his family split up.
- Collection
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Object number
- B17
- Object type
- letter
- Production person
- Dickens, John
- Production date
- 4 December 1834
- Inscription content
- Private
My Dear Beard
If I had not the highest friendship and esteem for yourself and your worthy family you would not receive this epistle from me, but from the course which events have taken, I must say a word at parting to those I value so much.
From what Charles said to me today in the course of conversation, I apprehend you have been made acquainted that our establishment is about being broken up, Mrs. Dickens, my Daughters, Alfred & Boz, going into more economical apartments somewhere in the vicinity of Fanny's engagements, Charles (taking Frederick with him into chambers) and your humble Servant "to the Winds".
For various reasons, which it was supposed would justify the end, we have been living in apartments the expenses of which were much beyond my means, and with other expenses consequent thereupon. The expectations which it was supposed would justify this expenditure have not been realised, and the result is what might have been expected and which I without the power of preventing it have long foreseen.
I cast no blame upon anyone but myself; I ought never to have allowed myself to be a party to an arrangement for appearances sake, which was to lead to my own undoing, more particularly after the experience I had already had, shipwrecking at once the adage, that "experience makes fools wise". Suffice it to say what the result is, which has been hastened by Charles's determination to leave home, and that on the first occasion of his having an assured engagement. I need not say what drawbacks the [illegible] of the last two years were, all expenses going on upon the same scale as though we had the Saturday's Bag to put our hand into.
Under all the circumstances of the case, it may be better that the separation which has taken place between myself and family may be permanent but on no other ground than that they may be enabled to live with a greater degree of comfort by being able to obtain the smaller amount of accommodation they will require in a particular locality at a cheaper rate.
It only remains for me again to express the high sense I entertain of every member of your family, and that I shall always when I reflect upon the times I have passed in their society, think on those which have been among the happiest of my life.
I have marked this private, but it is public (because I know it will be private) to any member of your family to whom you may like to show its contents. God Bless you all.
Ever yours faithfully
John Dickens
4 Dec. 1834
[on reverse of second sheet]
Private
Thomas Beard Esqre
42 Portman Terrace
Edgeware Road
Home
/ B17
