told him I was very well where I was, and we could begin immediately.  He tried to induce me to sit at a desk, but at that time in the House of Commons there was nothing but one’s knees to write upon, and I had formed the habit of doing my work in that way.  Without further pause he began and went rapidly on, hour after hour, to the end, often becoming very much excited and frequently bringing down his hand with great violence upon the desk near which he stood.”

I have before me, as I write, an unpublished autograph letter of young Dickens, which he sent off to his employer in November, 1835, while he was on a reporting expedition for the Morning Chronicle.  At that early stage of his career he seems to have had that unfailing accuracy of statement so marked in after years when he became famous.  The letter was given to me several years ago by one of Dickens’s brother reporters.  Thus it runs:—­

    George And Pelican, Newbury, Sunday Morning.

Dear Fraser:  In conjunction with The Herald we have arranged for a Horse Express from Marlborough to London on Tuesday night, to go the whole distance at the rate of thirteen miles an hour, for six guineas:  half has been paid, but, to insure despatch, the remainder is withheld until the boy arrives at the office, when he will produce a paper with a copy of the agreement on one side, and an order for three guineas (signed by myself) on the other.  Will you take care that it is duly honored?  A Boy from The Herald will be in waiting at our office for their copy; and Lyons begs me to remind you most strongly that it is an indispensable part of our agreement that he should not be detained one instant.

We go to Bristol to-day, and if we are equally fortunate in laying the chaise-horses, I hope the packet will reach town by seven.  As all the papers have arranged to leave Bristol the moment Russell is down, we have determined on adopting the same plan,—­one of us will go to Marlborough in the chaise with one Herald man, and the other remain at Bristol with the second Herald man to conclude the account for the next day.  The Times has ordered a chaise and four the whole distance, so there is every probability of our beating them hollow.  From all we hear, we think the Herald, relying on the packet reaching town early, intends publishing the report in their first Edition.  This is however, of course, mere speculation on our parts, as we have no direct means of ascertaining their intention.

I think I have now given you all needful information.  I have only in conclusion to impress upon you the necessity of having all the compositors ready, at a very early hour, for if Russell be down by half past eight, we hope to have his speech in town at six.

    Believe me (for self and Beard) very truly yours,

    Charles Dickens.

    Nov., 1835.

    Thomas Fraser, Esq., Morning Chronicle Office.