- Brief description
- Letter, from John Dickens to Thomas Beard, 19 October 1837
- Label
- Dickens's father John is inviting family friend Thomas Beard to The Hyde (then rural Middlesex, now North London) for a meal to repay local friends, possibly for their hospitality during John's "rural retreat". 'Withdrawing' or 'lifting the cloth' means taking away the tablecloth after finishing food, usually for drinks or games. It is unclear what John means by "Yorkshire".
- Collection
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Object number
- B21
- Object type
- letter
- Production person
- John Dickens
- Production date
- 19 October 1837
- Inscription content
- Confidential
At Mrs. Brennans
The Hyde
Thursday Morning.
My dear Beard
As it is my intention to quite this rural retreat in a few days, I shall on Saturday next, put a bit of supper on table nearby, a joint, and a couple of Ducks or Fowls, in order to make a slight return to one or two of my village friends for their Kindness. Will you come and bring one or both of your brothers with you. It will be Yorkshire after the cloth is withdraw. The Hour will be Seven. I wish you would come down in good time & take a walk, it would also be doubly agreeable if you could entrap Prentis. I will send you home if you should be too much fatiguant[?] to walk.
Let me know my fate.
Yours faithfully
John Dickens
[on reverse, sealed and franked 7NT7, Oc 19, 1837]
John Dickens
Hyde
Oct 19. 1837
Thomas Beard Esq [also marked with large number 3]
42 Portman Terrace
Edgeware Road
Home
/ B21