Dickens' London

All sublunary things of death partake! What alteration does a cent'ry make! Kings and Comedians all are mortal found, Cæsar and Pinkethman are underground. What's not destroyed by time's devouring hand? Where's Troy, and where's the Maypole in the Strand? Pease, cabbages, and turnips once grew where Now stands New Bond Street and a newer square; Such piles of buildings now rise up and down, London itself seems going out of town.

JAMES BRAMSTON, The Art of Politicks.

The attempt is herein made to present in an informal manner such facts of historical, topographical, and literary moment as surrounded the localities especially identified with the life and work of Charles Dickens in the city of London, with naturally a not infrequent reference to such scenes and incidents as he was wont to incorporate in the results of his literary labours; believing that there are a considerable number of persons, travellers, lovers of Dickens, enthusiasts et als., who might be glad of a work which should present within a single pair of covers a résumé of the facts concerning the subject matter indicated by the title of this book; to remind them in a way of what already exists to-day of the London Dickens knew, as well as of the changes which have taken place since the novelist's time.

To all such, then, the present work is offered, not necessarily as the last word or even as an exhaustive résumé, knowing full well the futility for any chronicler to attempt to do such a subject full justice within the confines of a moderate sized volume, where so many correlated facts of history and side lights of contemporary information are thrown upon the screen. The most that can be claimed is that every effort has been made to present a truthful, correct, and not unduly sentimental account of the sights and scenes of London connected with the life of Charles Dickens.

In Praise of London

"The inhabitants of St. James', notwithstanding they live under the same laws and speak the same language, are as a people distinct from those who live in the 'City.'"

Addison.

"If you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of the City you must not be satisfied with its streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts."

Johnson.

"I have often amused myself with thinking how different a place London is to different people."

Boswell.

"I had rather be Countess of Puddle-Dock (in London) than Queen of Sussex."

Shadwell.

"London ... a place where next-door neighbours do not know one another."

Fielding.

"London ... where all people under thirty find so much amusement."

Gray.

"Dull as London is in summer, there is always more company in it than in any other one place."

Walpole.

"London! Opulent, enlarged, and still--increasing London!"

Cowper.

"What is London?"

Burke.

"I began to study a map of London ... the river is of no assistance to a stranger in finding his way."

Southey.

Contents

PAGE

INTRODUCTION 11

THE LONDON DICKENS KNEW 20

DICKENS' LITERARY LIFE 47

THE HIGHWAY OF LETTERS 60

DICKENS' CONTEMPORARIES 73

THE LOCALE OF THE NOVELS 99

DISAPPEARING LONDON 119

THE COUNTY OF KENT 139

THE RIVER THAMES 160

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 181

PAST AND PRESENT 211

THE UNDER WORLD 236

LONDON TOPOGRAPHY 246

A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY 287

INDEX 289

List of Illustrations

PAGE

CHARLES DICKENS Frontispiece

NO. 8 CRAVEN STREET, STRAND.--MR. TULKINGHORN'S HOUSE 14

DICKENS' HOUSE IN DEVONSHIRE TERRACE.--NO. 48 DOUGHTY STREET, WHERE DICKENS LIVED 54

THE READING OF "THE CHIMES" AT FORSTER'S HOUSE, IN LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS 57

CHARLES DICKENS, HIS WIFE, AND SISTER GEORGINA 87