DICKENS, CILUtLES, novelist and humorist, was b. at Landport, in Hampshire, in Feb., 1812. His father, Mr. John Dickens, was employed for some years in the navy pay department, but at the conclusion of the war with France was pensioned, and became a parliamentary reporter. In this pursuit his son was soon distinguished for uncommon ability; and after a literary engagement—at a very early age—upon the True Sun, he attached himself to the staff of the Morning Chronicle. In this newspaper he gave the first evidence of his talents in the lively essays, entitled Sketches by Boz, published in 1836. Encouraged by their success, he undertook to write the letter-press of the Adven tures of Mr. Pickwick, the illustrations of which were to be executed by the then more famous Mr. Seymour, a comic draughtsman. The result was as though Shakespeare had been engaged to write the libretto for an opera of Mr. Balfe's. The Pickwick Papers, which had an enormous commercial success, commenced also an era in English litera ture. It was the first of a series of fictitious works exhibiting the life and manners of the middle and lower classes, which up to that time had had scarcely any exponent. In one respect, however, this hook had neither predecessor nor progeny. Neither before nor since has there ever been such a literary embodiment animal spirits. There is none like it for unflagging but never unwise merriment—for humor that is very much the reverse of dry. That Mr. D. gave us no more Pickwick Papers is to be lamented, but may be easily explained by the fact, that he never had the advantage of being five-and-twenty again. Since then, however, he has given us many works more admirable in other respects. Nicholas .N'icIdeby, his next effort, was, as a story, greatly in advance of it. It was also the first of those social novels which form so marked a feature in modern literature. It was aimed at the wrongs and cruelties inflicted upon their wretched pupils by the cheap schoolmasters of Yorkshire—and it hit its mark. After this beginning, our author set lance in rest against many a social monster. He may be sometimes wrong, but he can scarcely be accused of want of honesty of purpose; while quite as little can partisanship (except that he is always for the poor) be laid to his charge, since at the very time that the country gentlemen were shaking their heads at him for his want 'of reverence for "land," he incensed the manufacturing interest by the publication of Hard Times. His sarcasm is of a rather peculiar char acter; too good-natured to sneer, and with eyes, notwithstanding their indignant fire. that never lose sight of the ludicrous side of things, his style is mocking argument. After Nicholas .Nickleby came Master Humphrey's Clock, containing the Old Curiosity Shop and Barn a"?' Budge. In the former of these, and in the character of Little Nelly, he first exhibited that power of setting forth child-life and child-thought may have 'leen said perhaps, before the publication of George 'Eliot's works, to be peculiarly his own. Barnaby Budge was his first, and, with the exception of his subsequent Tale of
Two Cities, his only attempt to describe the past; and it was a successful one. It is probably, with reference to plot and circumstance, his best novel, barring Darid Copper field. The Old Curiosity Shop began in a curious dreamy manner, which, although obviously a favorite one with our author, he soon perceived was unappreciated. and had the prudence to discontinue. This disposition of his mind towards the weird and the grotesque he subsequently developed with greater success in his Christmas Stories. After a voyage across the Atlantic, Mr. D. published, in 1842, his American Notes for General Circulation; but a much more admirable result of that expedition appeared in his Martin Chuzzlewit. This was certainly the greatest of his humorous works since the Pickwick Papers, and it may almost be said to have been his last. From this period, his animal spirits—a rare gift among even comic authors, and rarely lasting so long as in his own case—appeared to have deserted him. His humor, except in seine rich creations, such as Mr. Mieawber, was no longer so apparent, while, on the other land, his wit and pathos increased. Dombey and Son was considered a falling off in one who stood so high; but his death of little Dombey brought tears to the eyes of lawyers. When men were expecting that he should wane and weaken like other prolific writers before him, he produced a novel as fresh as the dawn. In this, he, for the first time, adopted the autobiographical form, and that perhaps offered him some advantages; but at all events, the result was admirable. David Copperfield is, in our judgment, by far his oTeatest work, and will endure—though for very different reasons—as long as the 'Pickwick Papers. Its Agues is one of the most charming female characters in the whole range of fiction. Bleak House, Hard 2Ymes, Little Dorrit, the Tale of Two Cities, Great Ezpectations, and Our Mutual Friend, afterwards succeeded one another with almost periodical punctuality, and an audience larger than any English author ever had awaited each. We must also note Oliver Twist, one of his most popular works, the first installment of which appeared in 1837 in Bentley's Miscellany. No prose-writer was ever more quotable or more quoted than he. In 1845, the Daily News was started under Mr. D.'s editorial auspices, but the task appears to have been ungenial, for he soon withdrew from it. In 1850, he commenced a weekly periodical entitled Household Word.% afterwards merged in All the Year Round. In 1807, he again visited America, giving numerous readings, and meeting with a brilliant reception. He was till the last engaged in writing a new novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which was left unfin ished: He died on June 9, 1870. His Life was written by John Forster (3 vols. 1871-74).