[131] Another well-known literary woman, the poetess, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, according to her “Letters” recently published, wrote to an American friend earnestly recommending adoption of “our penny postage, as the most successful revolution since 'the glorious three days' of Paris”—meaning, of course, the three days of July 1830 (i. 135).
[132] This window and the amusing scramble outside it are immortalised in Dickens's pleasant article on the Post Office in the opening number of Household Words, first edition, 30th March 1850. (Our friend, Mr Henry Wills, already mentioned in the Introductory Chapter, was Dickens's partner in Household Words, and brought the famous novelist to our house at Hampstead to be dined and “crammed” before writing the article. It was a memorable evening. No doubt the cramming was duly administered, but recollection furnishes no incident of this operation, and only brings back to mind a vivid picture of Dickens talking humorously, charmingly, incessantly, during the too brief visit, and of his doing so by tacit and unanimous consent, for no one had the slightest wish to interrupt the monologue's delightful flow. His countenance was agreeable and animated; the impression made upon us was of a man, who, as the Americans aptly put it, is “all there.” We often saw him both within doors and without, for one of his favourite walks, while living in Tavistock Square, was up to Hampstead, across the Heath—with an occasional peep in at “Jack Straw's Castle,” where friends made a rendezvous to see him—and back again to town through Highgate. Every one knew him by sight. The word would fly from mouth to mouth, “Here comes Dickens!” and the lithe figure, solitary as a rule, with its steady, swinging pace, and the keen eyes looking straight ahead at nothing in particular, yet taking in all that was worth noting, would appear, pass, and be lost again, the while nearly every head was turned to look after him.) Whenever visitors were shown over the Post Office, they were advised so to time their arrival that the tour should end a little before 6 P.M., with a visit to a certain balcony whence a good view could be obtained of the scene. One day my father escorted the Duchess of Cambridge and her younger daughter—better known since as Duchess of Teck—over the Post Office. He was delighted with their society, being greatly struck with the elder lady's sensible, well-informed talk, and the lively, sociable manner of the younger one. Both were much amused by the balcony scene, and Princess Mary entered keenly into the fun of the thing. She grew quite excited as the thickening crowd pressed forward faster, laughed, clapped her hands, and audibly besought the stragglers, especially one very leisurely old dame, to make haste, or their letters would not be posted in time.
[133] “Life,” i. 451. In 1841 the census gave the population of England and Wales as a little under 16,000,000. The delay above mentioned therefore affected at least a fourth of the number.
[134] “Report of the Committee on Postage” (1843), p. 29.
[135] See also chap. vi.
[136] “Life,” i. 412.
[137] “First Annual Report of the Postmaster-General, 1854.”
[138] “Life,” i. 414.
[139] “Life,” ii. 4, 5.
[140] “Life,” ii. 87.