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[72] In November 1865 he wrote to me that the sale of his Christmas
fancy for that year (_Dr. Marigold's Prescriptions_) had gone up, in the
first week, to 250,000.

[73] A characteristic letter of this date, which will explain itself,
has been kindly sent to me by the gentleman it was written to, Mr. James
Verry Staples, of Bristol:--"Third of April, 1844. I have been very much
gratified by the receipt of your interesting letter, and I assure you
that it would have given me heartfelt satisfaction to have been in your
place when you read my little _Carol_ to the Poor in your neighbourhood.
I have great faith in the poor; to the best of my ability I always
endeavour to present them in a favourable light to the rich; and I shall
never cease, I hope, until I die, to advocate their being made as happy
and as wise as the circumstances of their condition, in its utmost
improvement, will admit of their becoming. I mention this to assure you
of two things. Firstly, that I try to deserve their attention; and
secondly, that any such marks of their approval and confidence as you
relate to me are most acceptable to my feelings, and go at once to my
heart."

CHAPTER IV.

YEAR OF DEPARTURE FOR ITALY.

1844.

Gore-house--Liverpool and Birmingham
Institutes--A Troublesome Cheque--Wrongs from
Piracy--Proceedings in Chancery--Result of
Chancery Experience--Reliefs to Work--M. Henri
Taine on Dickens--Writing in the
_Chronicle_--Preparations for Departure--In
Temporary Quarters--The Farewell
Dinner-party--"The Evenings of a
Working-man"--Greenwich Dinner.

AND now, before accompanying Dickens on his Italian travel, one or two
parting incidents will receive illustration from his letters. A
thoughtful little poem written during the past summer for Lady
Blessington has been quoted on a previous page: and it may remind me to
say here what warmth of regard he had for her, and for all the inmates
of Gore-house; how uninterruptedly joyous and pleasurable were his
associations with them; and what valued help they now gave in his
preparations for Italy. The poem, as we have seen, was written during a
visit made in Yorkshire to the house of Mr. Smithson, already named as
the partner of his early companion, Mr. Mitton; and this visit he
repeated in sadder circumstances during the present