It is, I think, certain that he had none of those wonderful gifts of elocution which made it a pleasure to listen to Dickens, whatever he read or whatever he said; nor had he that power of application by using which his rival taught himself with accuracy the exact effect to be given to every word.

The rendering of a piece by Dickens was composed as an oratorio is composed, and was then studied by heart as music is studied.

And the piece was all given by memory, without any looking at the notes or words.

There was nothing of this with Thackeray.

But the thing read was in itself of great interest to educated people.