Rambles in Dickens' Land Part 18

"By the orders of the Dean of Westminster, the officials were instructed to keep the grave open until six o'clock last evening, and all who came had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing not only the grave itself, but the polished oak coffin which contained the remains of the lamented deceased. A raised platform was placed around the grave, and two of the vergers of the Abbey were in attendance to prevent crowding and preserve order, an almost unnecessary precaution, for all who came, comprising persons of various cla.s.ses, conducted themselves in the most exemplary manner. In the afternoon, when the fact of the interment became generally known, and that the coffin was to be seen, the crowds arriving at the Abbey became very great, and between twelve and six o'clock many thousands of persons had been present. Large numbers paid a simple tribute to the memory of the deceased by throwing the flowers they wore in their coat or dress on to the coffin, until, towards the close of the afternoon, it was completely covered with these simplest offerings of public affection."

The following Poetical Tribute, _in Memoriam_, was, at that sad time, contributed to the public Press, and is worthy of remembrance:-

"The Artist sleeps, yet friends are here he gave The fair dream-children that his fancy drew; A phantom crowd still gathers at his grave, And in each character he lives anew.

"Soft winds of summer breathe along the fane, The honoured sepulchre where d.i.c.kens lies; An Emigravit write we in our pain- He is not dead-the artist never dies.

"The statesman wins the mantle of a peer, The warrior boasts all t.i.tles of renown; We leave one laurel only on his bier, And England's love is greater than a crown."

"S. C."

So long as the art of printing remains in Society, and the powers of affection, appreciation, and sympathy survive in the hearts of Anglo-Saxons-of the Old World or the New-the name and fame of CHARLES d.i.c.kENS will be ever held fresh and green amongst us. And, through the coming summer-dawn of time-amidst the destined agencies slowly evolving the brighter omens of the future-his genius shall remain co-operant.

For, let us rest a.s.sured that "the thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns"; that the wheel of time is rolling, surely for an end; and that all worthy labour in the cause of human progress shall become Immortal, as it helps to make the world purer, gentler, and more Christian; and hastens onwards the fulfilment of its n.o.bler destiny.

APPENDIX

"The Pickwick Papers"; Mrs. Bardell's House-The Spaniards' Inn [Wellington Academy]. "Oliver Twist"; Mr. Brownlow's Residence-f.a.gin and Bill Sykes. "Nicholas Nickleby"; The London Tavern-Mrs. Nickleby and Kate in Thames Street-Mortimer Knag's Library-General Agency Office-Messrs. Cheeryble Brothers-Residence of Mrs. Wit.i.tterly. "Barnaby Rudge"; The Golden Key-Cellar of Mr. Stagg-The Black Lion Tavern.

"Martin Chuzzlewit"; Anthony Chuzzlewit and Son-Montague Tigg, Esq., Pall Mall-Tom Pinch and Ruth at Islington. "Dombey & Son"; Polly Toodles at Staggs Gardens-Miss Tox and Major Bagstock, Princess Place-Mrs.

MacStinger and Captain Cuttle, No. 9 Brig Place. "David Copperfield"; Mr. Creakle's Establishment, Salem House-The Micawber family-Residence of Mrs. Steerforth-Doctor and Mrs. Strong-Mr. and Mrs. D. Copperfield-Mr.

Traddles's lodgings. "Bleak House"; Addresses of Mr. Guppy and his Mother-Apartments of Mr. Jarndyce-Mr. and Mrs. Smallweed, Mount Pleasant-George's Shooting Gallery-Mr. and Mrs. Bagnet-Harold Skimpole and family. "Little Dorrit"; The House of Mrs. Clennam-Residence of Mr.

t.i.te Barnacle-The Patriarchal Casby. "Tale of Two Cities"; Old Church of St. Pancras in the Fields. "Great Expectations"; Private Residence of Mr. Jaggers-Wemmick's Castle, Walworth-Mr. Barley, _alias_ old Gruff-and-Glum. "Our Mutual Friend"; Gaffer Hexam's House-The Six Jolly Fellows.h.i.+p Porters-Rogue Riderhood and his Daughter-Mr. Twemlow's Lodgings-The Veneerings and the Podsnaps-Boffin's Bower.-Mr. R. Wilfer's Residence-Establishment of Mr. Venus. "Mystery of Edwin Drood"; The Opium Smokers' Den.

The various localities referred to in the foregoing RAMBLES comprise all the more interesting and better-known points which the Reader of d.i.c.kens would most naturally desire to visit. In addition to these, however, there are several places mentioned in the many works of "The inimitable Boz" which may be enumerated, but cannot for the following reasons be included in such specified routes:-

(1) Neighbourhoods have, in course of years, altogether changed, making it extremely difficult (in many cases impossible) to specify with exact.i.tude the former situation of old houses, which have long become part and parcel of the forgotten past, "lost to sight" and now only "to memory dear."

(2) The indications given in the various tales have, in some cases, been purposely rendered vague and uncertain; it being the evident aim of the author to avoid precision, and to afford no definite clue to the position of many places named.

(3) Some of the localities specified are situated at a considerable distance from any main line of route, and can be visited only by separate excursion specially undertaken for the purpose.

In the following addendum these uncertain or distant addresses are given under the headings of those books in which they respectively occur; in order that Ramblers, if so disposed, may-in the words of Mr.

Peggotty-"fisherate" for themselves.

THE PICKWICK PAPERS.

Mrs. Bardell's House was located in _Goswell Street_, certainly in a central position; for we read that, as Mr. Pickwick looked from his chamber-window on the world beneath,

"Goswell Street was at his feet, Goswell Street was on his right hand, as far as the eye could reach, Goswell Street extended on his left, and the opposite side of Goswell Street was over the way."

The "Spaniards' Inn" at _Hampstead_ may be remembered as the scene of the tea-party at which _Mrs. Bardell_ and a few select friends enjoyed themselves, previous to her unexpected arrest and removal to the Fleet Prison, at the suit of _Messrs. Dodson and Fogg_. There still exists the "Spaniards" at Heath End, Hampstead Heath.

[Visitors to Hampstead may be disposed to visit the site once occupied by Mr. Jones's School, called the "Wellington Academy," at which d.i.c.kens received some two years' technical education; being a little over fourteen years old when he left. The house is now in possession of the INLAND REVENUE OFFICE, at the corner of Granby Street, 247 Hampstead Road; part of the premises ab.u.t.ting on the London and North-Western Railway, the formation of which demolished the old schoolroom and playground.]

[Picture: The "Spaniards," Hampstead Heath]

OLIVER TWIST.

Mr. Brownlow's Residence, in "a quiet shady street near Pentonville,"

cannot he fairly localised. In the days of "Oliver Twist," Mr. George Cruikshank, the ill.u.s.trator of the book, lived at _Myddelton Terrace_, Pentonville; and possibly d.i.c.kens bethought himself of this vicinity in consequence.

f.a.gin's House in _Whitechapel_ and the residence of _Bill Sykes_ cannot, with any fairness, be accurately indicated. The latter is spoken of as being in "one of a maze of mean and dirty streets, which abound in the close and densely populated quarter of Bethnal Green."

NICHOLAS NICKLEBY.

The London Tavern, at which was held the Meeting in promotion of "The United Metropolitan Improved Hot m.u.f.fin and Crumpet Baking and Punctual Delivery Company," once (many years since) occupied the site of the ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, 123 _Bishopsgate Street Within_, on the left hand entering the street from Cornhill.

Mrs. Nickleby and her daughter Kate lived, per favour of their amiable relative, in _Thames Street_. This business thoroughfare has undergone considerable reconstruction since the days of their tenancy, and the particular dwelling intended cannot be identified. The place is described as a "large, old dingy house, the doors and windows of which were so bespattered with mud that it would have appeared to have been uninhabited for years."

Mr. Mortimer Knag kept a small circulating library "in a by-street off Tottenham Court Road," where also lived his sister, _Miss Knag_, the presiding genius of Madame Mantalini's establishment; and we may remember the evening when Mrs. Nickleby and Kate were graciously invited to supper at this abode of literary genius.

The General Agency Office, at which Nicholas Nickleby obtained the address of _Mr. Gregsbury_, _M.P._, Manchester Buildings, Westminster (also one of the lost localities of London), and where he first met _Madeline Bray_, has no specified direction in the book. There have been few such agencies existent in a central position in London.

Messrs. Cheeryble Brothers had their place of business in a small City square. "Pa.s.sing along Threadneedle Street, and through some lanes and pa.s.sages on the right," we read that Nicholas was conducted by _Mr.

Charles Cheeryble_ to the place in occupation of the firm-

"The City square has no enclosure, save the lamp-post in the middle, and no gra.s.s but the weeds which spring up around its base. It is a quiet, little-frequented, retired spot, favourable to melancholy and contemplation, and appointments of long waiting... . In winter-time the snow will linger there long after it has melted from the busy streets and highways. The summer's sun holds it in some respect, and while he darts his cheerful rays sparingly into the square, keeps his fiery heat and glare for noisier and less imposing precincts. It is so quiet, that you can almost hear the ticking of your own watch, when you stop to cool in its refres.h.i.+ng atmosphere.

There is a distant hum-of coaches, not of insects-but no other sound disturbs the stillness of the square."

The Residence of Mrs. Wit.i.tterly is referred to as having been pleasantly situated in Cadogan Place, Sloane Street-

"Cadogan Place is the one slight bond which joins two extremities; it is the connecting link between the aristocratic pavements of Belgrave Square and the barbarism of Chelsea. It is in Sloane Street, but not of it. The people of Cadogan Place look down upon Sloane Street, and think Brompton low. They affect fas.h.i.+on, too, and wonder where the New Road is. Not that they claim to be on precisely the same footing as the high folks of Belgrave Square and Grosvenor Place, but that they stand, in reference to them, rather in the light of those illegitimate children of the great, who are content to boast of their connexions, although their connexions disavow them."

BARNABY RUDGE.

"The Golden Key"-the house of honest _Gabriel Varden_, the locksmith-was in Clerkenwell, situated in a quiet street not far from the Charter House-

"A modest building, not very straight, not large, not tall, not bold-faced, with great staring windows, but a shy, blinking house, with a conical roof going up into a peak over its garret window of four small panes of gla.s.s, like a c.o.c.ked hat on the head of an elderly gentleman with one eye. It was not built of brick, or lofty stone, but of wood and plaster; it was not planned with a dull and wearisome regard to regularity, for no one window matched the other, or seemed to have the slightest reference to anything beside itself."