The reader who desires to know something of the origins of
the celebrated society established to mark the two hundredth and first anniversary
of the birth of the inimitable author Mr. Charles Dickens Esq. will derive no
small degree of satisfaction from a perusal of the following entry in the
transactions of the aforementioned association; this being a true and faithful
account of the proceedings of the inaugural meeting of the same.
‘January 20. Mr. Richard Swiveller, Esq., P.V.P.M.C.D.A.S*,
presiding. The following resolutions unanimously agreed to:-
‘That Mr. Bradley Headstone, Esq. is duly elected to the
honorable position of General Chairman of the Society and may forthwith append
the letters G.C.M.C.D.A.S † to his name on all correspondence relating to the
business of the Society.
‘That the said Bradley Headstone Esq. hereby undertakes to complete
his great project and to read within the space of a single calendar year the
following remaining works of Mr. Charles Dickens Esq.:
David Copperfield
Bleak House
Hard Times
Little Dorrit
A Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations
Our Mutual Friend
The Mystery of Edwin
Drood
‘That the Society is deeply sensible of the advantages which
must accrue to the cause of literature from the completion of the aforesaid
project, and cannot but entertain a lively sense of the inestimable benefits
which must inevitably result from the observations of that learned gentleman,
to the advancement of knowledge, and the diffusion of learning.
‘That Mr. Augustus Snodgrass, Esq., M.C.D.A.S is duly
appointed as the Society’s official historian and shall record for posterity in prose sublime the transactions
of the Society, all of which shall be published for the general benefit of mankind.
Furthermore, the said Augustus Snodgrass Esq. shall on occasion compose such
verses as may be required by the Society for the proper execution of its celebratory
proceedings.
‘That Mr. Wilkins Micawber, Esq., M.C.D.A.S is duly
appointed as the Society’s Treasurer and shall be responsible for all pecuniary
matters relating to the Society’s transactions.
‘That the Society hereby deplores the paucity of national
events planned to commemorate the two hundredth and first anniversary of the
birth of the inimitable author Mr. Charles Dickens Esq. and shall petition
parliament on this burning question.
‘That the first act of the Society shall be to hold a public
dinner on the seventh of February at the establishment known as The George and Vulture to celebrate the
birth of Mr. Dickens, and that the author himself shall be invited to attend as
guest of honour. Furthermore, it is the fervent hope of the Society that the literary
gentleman can be prevailed upon to deliver a speech, or perhaps a song.’
* P.V.P.M.C.D.A.S – Perpetual Vice-President Member Charles
Dickens Anniversary Society
† G.C.M.C.D.A.S – General Chairman Member Charles Dickens
Anniversary Society
