Details
DICKENS, CHARLES. Autograph letter signed (with large paraph), to his lawyer, Frederic Ouvry, "Office of All the Year Round," [London], 25 April l869. 2 pages, 8vo, written in blue ink on rectos only, first leaf with red and black logo of All the Year Round, "a weekly journal conducted by Charles Dickens," the two pages professionally double-matted, glazed and in a simple mahogany frame.
DICKENS DRAWS UP HIS FINAL WILL
While on his last lecture tour, which he had undertaken against his Doctor's advice, Dickens had collapsed at Preston, in early April. Two days prior to this letter, Sir Thomas Watson, his physician, learned that the author had been "on the brink of an attack of paralysis of the left side, and possibly of apoplexy," as the result of worry, overwork and his demanding schedule of public readings. Watson ordered Dickens to end the readings, but relented to allow him to undertake a series which required no railroad travel. This month also saw the publication of the first number of Dicken's last work, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Sobered by his collapse, Dickens gives final instructions to his solicitor: "You will be glad to know under my own hand that my sudden lying from hard work (at a great cost of money by the bye) is a precautionary measure at the part of the doctors, and not a remedial one.
"I want a new draft of a will (as short as possible). Thus: I give such legacies[:] I appoint [John] Foster and Georgina Hogarth executors [sic] and executrix....I give Georgina Hogarth so much absolutely. I leave so much money in Trust for my unmarried daughter Mary. At her decease the principal to be divided among my surviving children share and share alike. I leave so much money in trust for my wife, with exactly the same conditions. The trustees in each case my eldest son Charles, andmy son Henry Fielding, now of Trinity Hall, Cambridge....I intend the sum of each of these three Cases to be L l0,000, but would rather write it in -- and indeed write the whole will -- myself. Any house or land property of which I may die possessed to be sold as soon as may be, and converted into money towards these purposes.
"My copyrights to be sold or not as my executor and executrix may deem best. Anyway, my children to benefit of them, share and share alike. And the whole residue of my estate to be divided among my children...excepting my unmarried daughter, Mary...to whom I leave L1,000. As in the existing wil, the Executor and Executrix to be as free and unshackled as possible. I am going to Gad's Hill for a day or two...."
On the 30th of April, five days later, Dickens appeared in public for the final time, at a dinner of the Royal Academy, when he spoke feelingly of his departed friend, Daniel Maclise. He retired to Gadshill, continued work on Edwin Drood, and dsuffered a fatal collapse on the evening of June 8, and died the folowing day. He was buried at Westminster Abbey. As specified in his will, prepared according to these instructions, the contents ofhis library at Gads Hill was dispersed, while his large collection of paintings, sold at Christie's on 9 July l870, realized extraordinarily high prices.
DICKENS DRAWS UP HIS FINAL WILL
While on his last lecture tour, which he had undertaken against his Doctor's advice, Dickens had collapsed at Preston, in early April. Two days prior to this letter, Sir Thomas Watson, his physician, learned that the author had been "on the brink of an attack of paralysis of the left side, and possibly of apoplexy," as the result of worry, overwork and his demanding schedule of public readings. Watson ordered Dickens to end the readings, but relented to allow him to undertake a series which required no railroad travel. This month also saw the publication of the first number of Dicken's last work, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Sobered by his collapse, Dickens gives final instructions to his solicitor: "You will be glad to know under my own hand that my sudden lying from hard work (at a great cost of money by the bye) is a precautionary measure at the part of the doctors, and not a remedial one.
"I want a new draft of a will (as short as possible). Thus: I give such legacies[:] I appoint [John] Foster and Georgina Hogarth executors [sic] and executrix....I give Georgina Hogarth so much absolutely. I leave so much money in Trust for my unmarried daughter Mary. At her decease the principal to be divided among my surviving children share and share alike. I leave so much money in trust for my wife, with exactly the same conditions. The trustees in each case my eldest son Charles, andmy son Henry Fielding, now of Trinity Hall, Cambridge....I intend the sum of each of these three Cases to be L l0,000, but would rather write it in -- and indeed write the whole will -- myself. Any house or land property of which I may die possessed to be sold as soon as may be, and converted into money towards these purposes.
"My copyrights to be sold or not as my executor and executrix may deem best. Anyway, my children to benefit of them, share and share alike. And the whole residue of my estate to be divided among my children...excepting my unmarried daughter, Mary...to whom I leave L1,000. As in the existing wil, the Executor and Executrix to be as free and unshackled as possible. I am going to Gad's Hill for a day or two...."
On the 30th of April, five days later, Dickens appeared in public for the final time, at a dinner of the Royal Academy, when he spoke feelingly of his departed friend, Daniel Maclise. He retired to Gadshill, continued work on Edwin Drood, and dsuffered a fatal collapse on the evening of June 8, and died the folowing day. He was buried at Westminster Abbey. As specified in his will, prepared according to these instructions, the contents ofhis library at Gads Hill was dispersed, while his large collection of paintings, sold at Christie's on 9 July l870, realized extraordinarily high prices.