self too much from old friendly intercourse, had its real origin in
disappointments connected with the public work on which he was engaged
in those later years, and to which he sacrificed every private interest
of his own. His was only the common fate of Englishmen, so engaged, who
do this; and when the real story of the "Fresco-painting for the Houses
of Parliament" comes to be written, it will be another chapter added to
our national misadventures and reproaches in everything connected with
Art and its hapless cultivators.

[305] It is a duty to quote these eloquent words. "Statesmen, men of
science, philanthropists, the acknowledged benefactors of their race,
might pass away, and yet not leave the void which will be caused by the
death of Dickens. They may have earned the esteem of mankind; their days
may have been passed in power, honour, and prosperity; they may have
been surrounded by troops of friends; but, however pre-eminent in
station, ability, or public services, they will not have been, like our
great and genial novelist, the intimate of every household. Indeed, such
a position is attained not even by one man in an age. It needs an
extraordinary combination of intellectual and moral qualities . . . before
the world will thus consent to enthrone a man as their unassailable and
enduring favourite. This is the position which Mr. Dickens has occupied
with the English and also with the American public for the third of a
century. . . . Westminster Abbey is the peculiar resting-place of English
literary genius; and among those whose sacred dust lies there, or whose
names are recorded on the walls, very few are more worthy than Charles
Dickens of such a home. Fewer still, we believe, will be regarded with
more honour as time passes and his greatness grows upon us."

APPENDIX.

I.

THE WRITINGS OF CHARLES DICKENS.

1835.

SKETCHES BY BOZ. Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People.
(The detached papers collected under this title were in course of
publication during this year, in the pages of the _Monthly Magazine_ and
the columns of the _Morning_ and the _Evening Chronicle_.) i. 97; 104,
105; 107; 113, 114.

1836.

SKETCHES BY BOZ. Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People.
Two volumes: Illustrations by George Cruikshank. (Preface dated from
Furnival's Inn, February 1836.) John Macrone.

THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF THE PICKWICK CLUB. Edited by Boz. With
Illustrations by R