h;
"The Chimes" (Christmas Book, 1845), containing a unique impression of
Leech's illustration thereto.

Other interesting and valuable _ana_ were the Visitors' Book of "Watts'
Charity," at Rochester, containing the signatures of "C. D." and Mark
Lemon; the quill pen belonging to Charles Dickens, and used by him just
previous to his death; a paper-knife formerly belonging to "C. D.," and
the writing-desk used by "C. D." on his last American tour; silver
wassail-bowl and stand presented to "C. D." by members of the
Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh in 1858; walking-stick formerly
belonging to "C. D.;" a screen belonging to Moses Pickwick, of Bath--the
veritable Moses Pickwick of Chap. XXXV. of "Pickwick Papers;" the oak
balustrade from the old "White Hart" (pulled down in 1889); pewter
tankards from various of the Pickwickian Inns; the entrance door of
Newgate Prison, of which mention is made in "Barnaby Rudge," Chap. LXIV.;
warrant officer's staff, formerly in use in the Marshalsea Prison;
original sign of "The Little Wooden Midshipman" ("Dombey and Son"),
formerly over the doorway of Messrs. Norie and Wilson, the nautical
publishers in the Minories. This varied collection, of which the above is
only a mere selection, together with such minor _personalia_ as had been
preserved by friends and members of the family, formed a highly
interesting collection of Dickens' reliques, and one whose like will
hardly be got together again.

Innumerable portraits, photographs, lithographs, and drawings of the
novelist were included, as well as of his friends and contemporaries.

Letters and documents referring to Dickens' relations with Shirley Brooks,
Richard Bentley, Hablot K. Browne, Frederic Chapman, J. P. Harley, Mark
Lemon, Samuel Rogers, Newby, John Forster, David Maclise, and many others,
mostly unpublished, were shown, and should form a valuable fund of
material for a biographer, should he be inclined to add to Dickens'
literature of the day, and could he but have access to and the privilege
of reprinting them.

A word on the beginnings of what is commonly called serial literature is
pertinent to the subject. The first publication with which Dickens'
identity was solely connected was the issue of "Pickwick" in monthly parts
in 1836-37.

A literary critic, writing in 1849, had this to say on the matter in
general, with a further reference to the appearance of "David
Copperfield," whose author was the chief and foun