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Notes
Hereafter the monthly unit will be referred to as "Number" to distinguish it from the weekly "issue". See Table of Issues appended.
The opening of chapter xlvii reveals Dickens's awareness of his difficulty: "Kit's mother and the single gentleman — upon whose track it is expedient to follow with hurried steps, lest this history should be chargeable with inconstancy, and the offence of leaving its characters in situations of uncertainty and doubt . . . ."
Hereafter the issue number and chapter number will be given conventionally, in the form 34/53, i.e., chapter liii in issue 34.
cf. Letters, I, 254, "I mean to make much of him [Swiveller]", and I, 282-283, "I am glad you like Dick and the Marchioness in that sixty-fourth chapter — I thought you would."
This is the only drawing Maclise did for the Clock, and is designed to strengthen the foreshadowing of Nell's death. The degree of Dickens's concern that it should be emotionally adequate may be seen in his two letters to Forster in November 1840, Letters, I, 277. See also Letters, I, 278, "I am inundated with imploring letters recommending poor little Nell to mercy." (The current issue was then issue 34.)
Cf. Dickens's comment, "No xiii will finish the part at rather a good point, I expect." Letters, I, 261.
Letters, I, 283. The issue is that for January 23, 1841; Dickens is relating his setting to his readers' weather.
Cf. Letters, I, 272, "I have touched Miss Brass in Number 25, lightly, but effectively I hope. . . ."
Letters, I, 269. Dickens himself made some of these ideas more explicit in the passage added to the book form of OCS at the end of chapter 1, "I sat down . . . and pictured the child alone . . . . She seemed to exist in a kind of allegory . . ." (to the end of the penultimate sentence of the chapter).
Dickens noted that "Quilp's last appearance on any stage . . . is casting its shadow upon my mind." Letters, I, 282-283.
Letters, I, 343-345. Dickens used the word 'number' for both weekly and monthly units. Here he is referring to the weekly unit, or "issue." At the dates of these last two letters, the issues before readers were: 70/47-48, July 31; 71/49-50, August 7; and 72/51-52, August 14. Dickens refers, of course, to issues soon to appear; he was usually some three weeks ahead with his writing.
Cf. "If you [Cattermole] would like to have the raven's first appearance . . . . I shall be delighted." Letters, I, 298.
Cf. Letters, I 335, "In the first of the two numbers I have written since I have been away, I forget whether the blind man, in speaking to Barnaby about riches, tells him they are to be found in crowds. If I have not actually used that word, will you introduce it? A perusal of the proof of the following number (70) will show you how, and why. . . ."
Cf. Letters, I, 247. "I inclose you the proof (a secret yet, of course) . . . . The blanks are for woodcuts." This was the proof of Clock issue 1. See also I, 245-6, 269, 283-284, 293, 298.
Headpieces moved in BR are those of 53/13 (The Warren), 63/31 (Joe's goodbye to Dolly), 66/39 (Tappertit dancing), 71/49 (Gordon and the mob), and 79/65 (Dennis at the cells). The tailpiece of the ruined Warren at 74/56 is similarly moved. All are placed, however, with the text of their reference.
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