LONDON: 1841. resolved to make that bird, whose accomplishments had been daily ripening and enlarging for the last twelve months to the increasing mirth The raven. and delight of all of us, a prominent figure in Barnaby; and the invitation to the artist was for a conference how best to introduce him graphically. A loss in the family. The next letter mentioning Barnaby was from Brighton (25th February), whither he had flown for a week's quiet labour. "I have (it's four "o'clock) done a very fair morning's work, at "which I have sat very close, and been blessed "besides with a clear view of the end of the "volume. As the contents of one number usually "require a day's thought at the very least, and "often more, this puts me in great spirits. I think "that is, I hope-the story takes a great stride "at this point, and takes it well. Nous verrons. "Grip will be strong, and I build greatly on the "Varden household." Upon his return he had to lament a domestic calamity, which, for its connection with that famous personage in Barnaby, must be mentioned here. The raven had for some days been ailing, and Topping had reported of him, as Shakespeare of Hamlet, that he had lost his mirth and foregone all customary exercises: but Dickens paid no great heed, remembering his recovery from an illness of the previous summer when he swallowed some white paint; so that the graver report which led him to send for the doctor came upon him unexpectedly, and nothing but his own language can worthily describe the result. Unable from the state of his feelings to write two letters, he sent the narrative to Maclise, under an enormous black seal, for transmission to me; and thus it befell that this fortunate bird receives a double passport to fame, so great a humorist having celebrated his farewell to the present world, and so great a painter his welcome to another. LONDON raven 1841. "You will be greatly shocked" (the letter is Death of the dated Friday evening, March 12th, 1841) "and 12 March. "grieved to hear that the Raven is no more. He 66 expired to-day at a few minutes after twelve "o'clock at noon. He had been ailing for a few "days, but we anticipated no serious result, con"jecturing that a portion of the white paint he "swallowed last summer might be lingering about "his vitals without having any serious effect upon "his constitution. Yesterday afternoon he was C. D. de"taken so much worse that I sent an express for illness. "the medical gentleman (Mr. Herring), who "promptly attended, and administered a powerful "dose of castor oil. Under the influence of this "medicine, he recovered so far as to be able at "eight o'clock p.m. to bite Topping. His night scribes his LONDON: "was peaceful. This morning at daybreak he ap❝peared better; received (agreeably to the doctor's 1841. directions) another dose of castor oil; and par"took plentifully of some warm gruel, the flavor "of which he appeared to relish. Towards eleven "o'clock he was so much worse that it was found "necessary to muffle the stable-knocker. At half"past, or thereabouts, he was heard talking to "himself about the horse and Topping's family, "and to add some incoherent expressions which "are supposed to have been either a foreboding "of his approaching dissolution, or some wishes Disposal of "relative to the disposal of his little property: "consisting chiefly of half-pence which he had "buried in different parts of the garden. On the "clock striking twelve he appeared slightly agi"tated, but he soon recovered, walked twice or "thrice along the coach-house, stopped to bark, "staggered, exclaimed Halloa old girl! (his favou"rite expression), and died. his property. "He behaved throughout with a decent for❝titude, equanimity, and self-possession, which "cannot be too much admired. I deeply regret "that being in ignorance of his danger I did not "attend to receive his last instructions. Something "remarkable about his eyes occasioned Topping The doctor "to run for the doctor at twelve. When they re"turned together our friend was gone. It was the sent for. "medical gentleman who informed me of his de LONDON: 1841. 'cease. He did it with great caution and delicacy, "preparing me by the remark that 'a jolly queer "start had taken place;' but the shock was very "great notwithstanding. I am not wholly free "from suspicions of poison. A malicious butcher Suspicions. "has been heard to say that he would 'do' for "him: his plea was that he would not be molested "in taking orders down the mews, by any bird "that wore a tail. Other persons have also been "heard to threaten: among others, Charles Knight, "who has just started a weekly publication price "fourpence: Barnaby being, as you know, three"pence. I have directed a post-mortem examina❝tion, and the body has been removed to Mr. "Herring's school of anatomy for that purpose. "I could wish, if you can take the trouble, "that you could inclose this to Forster imme"diately after you have read it. I cannot discharge "the painful task of communication more than "once. Were they ravens who took manna to "somebody in the wilderness? At times I hope "they were, and at others I fear they were not, or "they would certainly have stolen it by the way. "In profound sorrow, I am ever your bereaved Family "friend C.D. Kate is as well as can be expected, "but terribly low as you may suppose. The mourners. |