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Lot 248

DICKENS (CHARLES)
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Dickens"), to Samuel Robert Starey, Secretary of the Field Lane Ragged School, seeking further information on his Ragged School: Devonshire Terrace, 1 February 1844

4 December 2019, 11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £2,040 inc. premium

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DICKENS (CHARLES)

Autograph letter signed ("Charles Dickens"), to Samuel Robert Starey, Secretary of the Field Lane Ragged School, seeking further information on his Ragged School: "Will you have the goodness to run over in your mind, and to note down for me as briefly as you please, any little facts or details connected with the ragged school, which you think it could benefit the design to have publicly known?"; specifying that "The kind of thing I wish to know is – your average number of scholars – whether it increases or falls off – whether any boys are pretty constant in their attendance – whether after absenting themselves, they return again – whether the ignorance of their parents be one of your rocks ahead – and the like" and assuring him that "In short, I think I can turn any result of your experience and observation of these unfortunate creatures, to the account would desire", 3 pages, paginated on rectos by recipient, sheets separated, small stain, browning and some brittleness overall, 8vo, Devonshire Terrace, 1 February 1844

Footnotes

'I CAN TURN ANY RESULT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION OF THESE UNFORTUNATE CREATURES, TO THE ACCOUNT YOU WOULD DESIRE' – Dickens acts as spokesman for the Ragged Schools.

On 11 April, Samuel Starey, with three others (a woollen-draper, a dealer in second-hand tools and a city missionary) held the inaugural meeting of what was to become the Ragged Schools Union, at which they decided upon having a public meeting in order to determine local interest and research feasibility. Like the previous lot, this letter is published in the Pilgrim Edition and is sold to benefit Livability.

Additional information

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