your Danube . . . The ferry-
boat was turned round by the
current, and carried to
Isleworth.’ Charles Dickens
often stayed along this stretch
of the river. In the summer of
1839 he rented Elm Cottage
in nearby Petersham for four
months, writing to the artist
Daniel MacLise, ‘Beard is
hearty, new and thicker ropes
have been put up at the tree
. . . swimming feats from
Petersham to Richmond