CHARLES DICKENS. 187 



left in all he did some breathing of the air which stirs the 

 heather. But however desirous to enlarge on his genius as 

 an artist, I would rather speak of him now as a friend who 

 has gone from amongst us. There is his deserted studio — the 

 empty easel lying idly by — the unfinished picture with its face 

 turned to the wall ; and there is that bereaved sister, who loved 

 him with an affection which death cannot quench. He has 

 left a name in fame clear as the bright sky ; he has filled our 

 minds with memories pure as the blue waves which roll over 

 him. Let us hope that she who more than all others mourns 

 his loss, may learn to reflect that he died in the fulness ol 

 his fame, before age or sickness had dimmed his powers, and 

 that she may yet associate with feelings as calm and pleasant 

 as we do now the memory of Wilkie.' 



Having arranged regarding the issue of another work of 

 fiction, Dickens decided definitely regarding a visit to America, 

 and sailed with his wife on the 3d of January 1842. After a 

 stormy passage, he was everywhere received with the greatest 

 enthusiasm. 



On his return he issued Aj/ierican Notes for General Circula- 

 tion, with a frontispiece by Clarkson Stanfield, R.A. Its 

 publication gave great offence to his American readers. At 

 the earnest request of his friend, Mr. John Forster, an intro- 

 ductory chapter was suppressed; this section was afterwards 

 printed in his life, when all danger of its doing harm might be 

 said to be over. Before the close of the year, four large 

 editions had been sold. Mr. H. W. Longfellow, the poet, 

 was his guest this year. A trip to Cornwall was also 

 undertaken in the company of Mr. Forster, Stanfield, and 

 Maclise. 'Such a trip we had into Cornwall,' he wrote 

 to Mr. J. T. Fields, 'just after Longfellow went away. . ., 



