Re: Another question
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Thu, 7 May 1998 11:30:42 -0100
My dear Miss Miller,
Smithfield was London's cattle market from the twelfth century up to the
1850s. Beasts were driven into the centre of London, sold, and slaughtered
in nearby abattoirs. By my day, the capacity of the market was grotesquely
over-stretched. Bizarre practices abounded. There were cases of sheep
being held in the upstairs rooms of taverns! The slaughterhouses were as
unhygienic and inhumane as it was possible for them to be. At the
mid-century, many voices were raised, my own among them, for a new suburban
market, with attached abattoirs. Despite resistance from the Corporation of
London, those voices, I'm glad to say were heard and heeded, a new market
was built in Islington, and Smithfield became a market for carcases only.
I am of course on friendly terms with many of my writer contemporaries,
but am not aware of any who correspond, as I do, by this electronic telegraph.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
________________________________________________________________________________
>Dear Mr. Dickens,
>
>I would please like to know what Smithfield was in the novel Great
>Expectatins. Its description occurs in chapter 20 of the book. Pip is
>busying himself while waiting for Jaggers to return to the office.
>
>Thanks for your help. Also, do you know of any other 19th century
>authors with whom the reader of classics could contact?
>
>Respectfully,
>dmiller
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author