Sketches from the Diaries of Rose, Lady Graves Sawle, 1833-1896 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1908 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV London and Bath, 1839-1848 IN December, 1839, my sister married Henry Caldwell, the only son of Sir John Caldwell. At her wedding she and her bridesmaids all wore bonnets; veils were not the fashion until later. The following spring I was with them in London. We dined with Mr and Mrs Charles Dickens in Devonshire Terrace, and there met Dr Quin, Walter Savage Landor, Mr John Forster, Mr Kenyon, the poet, and Daniel Maclise, the artist. The house had a small enclosure at the back, with a grass plot, and a tree in the centre. Charles Dickens at Home It was very hot that day, and we found Dickens lying on his back, on the turf under the tree, deep in the composition of "The Old Curiosity Shop." He told me he had received scores of letters from home and abroad, imploring him not to kill little Nell. In the evening we had charades en aStion. Charles Dickens was a born actor. With a turn down of his cuffs, or a turn up of his collar, or coat thrown back from his shoulder, he so metamorphized himself that he could personate at will any character. Once we went down with him in the divingbell at the Polytechnic. My sister, Lady Caldwell, myself, Mr Landor and Charles Dickens formed the party. We did not like it, and rang hastily to be pulled up again. The effect on the drum of the ear was so painful. Charles Dickens was a very showy dresser, and wore his hair long. His portrait by Maclise is perfect. I have several letters from him, as well as one to my mother, which 1 give below: "devonshire Terrace, York Gate, "regent's Park.. "Twelfth November, 1842. "My dear Mrs Paynter, --Many thanks to you for your kind letter and for its enclosure from Lord A., which I beg to return to you. The monument of which I make mention in my 'Notes, ' is that which is raised t...