Gordon, R.N., son of the Sheriff of Midlothian.

1863.

NARRATIVE.

At the beginning of this year, Charles Dickens was in Paris for the
purpose of giving a reading at the English Embassy.

He remained in Paris until the beginning of February, staying with his
servant "John" at the Hotel du Helder. There was a series of readings in
London this season at the Hanover Square Rooms. The Christmas number of
"All the Year Round" was entitled "Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings," to which
Charles Dickens contributed the first and last chapter.

The Lyceum Theatre, under the management of M. Fechter, was opened in
January with "The Duke's Motto," and the letter given here has reference
to this first night.

We regret very much having no letters to Lady Molesworth, who was an old
and dear friend of Charles Dickens. But this lady explains to us that
she has long ceased to preserve any letters addressed to her.

The "Mr. and Mrs. Humphery" (now Sir William and Lady Humphery)
mentioned in the first letter for this year, were dear and intimate
friends of his eldest daughter, and were frequent guests in her father's
house. Mrs. Humphery and her sister Lady Olliffe were daughters of the
late Mr. William Cubitt, M.P.

We have in this year the first letter of Charles Dickens to Mr. Percy
Fitzgerald. This gentleman had been a valuable contributor to his
journal before he became personally known to Charles Dickens. The
acquaintance once made soon ripened into friendship, and for the future
Mr. Fitzgerald was a constant and always a welcome visitor to Gad's
Hill.

The letter to Mr. Charles Reade alludes to his story, "Hard Cash," which
was then appearing in "All the Year Round." As a writer, and as a
friend, he was held by Charles Dickens in the highest estimation.

Charles Dickens's correspondence with his solicitor and excellent
friend, Mr. Frederic Ouvry (now a vice-president of the Society of
Antiquaries), was almost entirely of a business character; but we are
glad to give one or two notes to that gentleman, although of little
public interest, in order to have the name in our book of one of the
kindest of our own friends.

[Sidenote: Miss Dickens.]

PARIS, HOTEL DU HELDER, RUE DU HELDER,
_Friday, Jan. 16th, 1863._

MY DEAREST MAMIE,

As I send a line to your aunt to-day and know that you will not see it,
I send another to you to report my safe (and