4; residence in Switzerland 1846; three months in Paris
1847; Switzerland and Italy revisited in 1853. Three summers were spent at
Boulogne in 1853, 1854, 1856; residence in Paris 1855-56; America
revisited 1867-68.

Such in brief is a review of the physical activities of the author. He did
not go to Australia--as he was variously importuned--but enough is given
to show that, in spite of his literary associations with old London and
its institutions, Charles Dickens was, for a fact, a very cosmopolitan
observer.

As for Dickens' daily round of London life, it is best represented by the
period of the magazines, _Master Humphrey's Clock_, _Household Words_, and
_All the Year Round_, particularly that of the former. In those days he
first met with the severe strain which in after life proved, no doubt, to
have shortened his days.

Considering his abilities and his early vogue, Dickens made some
astonishingly bad blunders in connection with his agreements with
publishers; of these his biographer Forster tells in detail.

After the publication of "Martin Chuzzlewit," Dickens expressed
dissatisfaction with his publishers, Messrs. Chapman and Hall, which
resulted in his making an agreement with Messrs. Bradbury and Evans.

To conserve his intellectual resources, he resolved to again visit Italy,
to which country he repaired after a farewell dinner given him at
Greenwich, where Turner, the artist, and many other notables attended. He
accordingly settled in a suburb of Genoa, where he wrote "The Chimes," and
came back to London especially to read it to his friends. Writing from
Genoa to Forster in November, 1844, he said:

"... But the party for the night following? I know you have consented to
the party. Let me see. Don't have any one this particular night for
dinner, but let it be a summons for the special purpose, at half-past six.
Carlyle indispensable, and I should like his wife of all things; _her_
judgment would be invaluable. You will ask Mac, and why not his sister?
Stanny and Jerrold I should particularly wish; Edwin Landseer, Blanchard
... and when I meet you, oh! Heaven, what a week we will have!"

[Illustration: THE READING OF "THE CHIMES" AT FORSTER'S HOUSE IN LINCOLN'S
INN FIELDS.

_From a drawing by D. Maclise._]

Forster further describes the occasion itself as being--

"Rather memorable ... the germ of those readings to larger audiences by
which, as much as by his books, the world knew him."

A