CONVERSATIONS WITH DICKENS.

9

I have found many a broken heart too good for this world. Many such persons, now in the most abject condition, have seen better days. Once they moved in circles of friendship and affluence, from which they have been hurled by misfortune to the lowest depths of want and sorrow. This class of persons is very large.

"Then there are thousands in our parish workhouses and in the lanes of London, born into the world without a friend except God and a dying mother. Many, too, who in circumstances of trial have yielded to impulses of passion, and by one fatal step fallen beyond recovery. London is crowded, and, indeed, so is all England, with the poor, the unfortunate, and the guilty. This description of persons has been generally overlooked by authors. They have had none to care for them, and have fled from the public gaze to some dark habitation of this great city, to curse the cold charities of a selfish world, and die. There are more broken hearts in London than in any other place in the world. The amount of crime, starvation, nakedness, and misery of every sort in the metropolis surpasses all calculation. I thought I could render some service to humanity by bringing these scenes before the minds of those who, from never having witnessed them, suppose they cannot exist. In

this effort I have not been wholly unsuccessful; and there is nothing makes me happier than to think that, by some of my representations, I have increased the stock of human cheerfulness, and, by others, the stock of human sympathy. I think it makes the heart better to seek out the suffering and relieve them. I have spent many days and nights in the most wretched districts of the metropolis, studying the history of the human heart. There we must go to find it. In high circles we see everything but the heart, and learn everything but the real character. We must go to the hovels of the poor and the unfortunate, where trial brings out the character. I have in these rambles seen many. exhibitions of generous affection and heroic endurance, which would do honour to any sphere. Often have I discovered minds that only wanted a little of the sunshine of prosperity to develop the choicest endowments of Heaven. I think I never return to my home after these adventures without being made a sadder and a better man. In describing these characters I aim no higher than to feel in writing as they seemed to feel themselves. I am persuaded that I have succeeded just in proportion as I have cultivated a familiarity with the trials and sorrows of the poor, and told their story as they would have related it themselves."

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11

I spoke of the immense popularity of his works, and remarked that I believed he had ten readers in America where he had one in England.

"Why, sir, the popularity of my works has surprised me. For some reason or other, I believe they are somewhat extensively read; nor is it the least gratifying circumstance to me, that they have been so favourably received in your country. I am trying to enjoy my fame while it lasts, for I believe I am not so vain as to suppose that my books will be read by any but the men of my own times."

I remarked that he might consider himself alone in that opinion, and it would probably be no easy matter to make the world coincide with him. He answered, with a smile, "I shall probably not make any very serious efforts to do it!"

It happened, as, indeed, it always has in my conversations with literary men I have met in England, that your name was mentioned. It is scarcely necessary to say that Mr. Dickens is no less an admirer of your writings than we are ourselves. Nor is it unpleasant to your countrymen abroad to hear the same opinions expressed by foreigners of your works, that we have so long cherished. No man has done so much to win from the European world respect

for our literature as yourself; and for it you deserve our gratitude. It is in the memory of many that, before the Sketch Book was written, American literature was treated with utter contempt by Englishmen.

True, it is still matter of great surprise to English ladies and bishops to learn that we speak English, and even write "Sketch Books," "Thanatopses," "Odes on Marco Botzaris," live in framed houses, and manifest other symp→ toms of civilization. Said Lady —, who is sister to a celebrated noble authoress in London, "Pray tell me if you have not such a man in America as Irving Washington, who has written a book? they call it a Book of Sketches, I think he must be a son of the general of that name. Or was it George Washington? Pray tell me something about these men I suppose you must be acquainted with them." I had the impudence to laugh her ladyship in the face before I told her something about "these men," and then read her a chapter upon American history, and another upon American authors.

Mr. Dickens spoke on every matter about which we conversed with a freedom and kindness that showed he spoke from the heart. The windows of his library look out upon a garden. I saw several rosy-cheeked children playing by

DESCRIPTION OF HIS PERSON.

13

a water fountain; and, as the little creatures cast occasional glances up to us while we were watching their sports from the window, I thought I saw in their large, clear, blue eyes, golden hair, and bewitching smile, the image of Charles Dickens. They were, in fact, young Bozzes!! I was greatly surprised, for I had never heard that there was such a lady as Mrs. Dickens.

I think Dickens incomparably the finest-looking man I ever saw. The portrait of him in the Philadelphia edition of his works is a good one; but no picture can do justice to his expression when he is engaged in an interesting conversation. There is something about his eyes at such times which cannot be copied. In person he is perhaps a little above the standard height; but his bearing is noble, and he appears taller than he really is. His figure is very graceful, neither too slight nor too stout. The face is handsome. His complexion is delicate-rather pale generally; but when his feelings are kindled his countenance is overspread with a rich glow. I presume he is somewhat vain of his hair, and he can be pardoned for it too. It reminded me of words in Sidney's Arcadia: "His fair auburn hair, which he wore in great length, gave him at that time a most delightful show." His forehead, a phrenologist would say (especially if he knew VOL. II.-B