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Translated by Howitt from a Swedish story called ‘Den Rätta’ by Swedish feminist writer Fredrika Bremer (1801-65), 'The Right One' was promptly translated back into Swedish after its publication in Household Words and published in a newspaper under Dickens’s name. See H. K. Riikonen, ‘Dickens’s Reception in Finland’ in Michael Hollington (ed.) The Reception of Charles Dickens in Europe, 2 vols. (London: Bloomsbury, 2013), II, p. 389. Such confusions were not uncommon. Dickens appears not to have been aware of the story's origins or subsequent embarrassing history; writing to Wills regarding the proof, he merely notes the story is ‘poor—but I think just passable’ (Letters 6, 447n.).

Compiled in large part from Thomas Keightley, The History of England, and from George L. Craik and Charles MacFarlane, The Pictorial History of England.

'I don't know what to write about', Dickens wrote to Wills on 10 August 'in the absence of your Paris-trip notes [see Headnote to 'A Flight', HW, Vol. III, 30 August 1851], but I think of a paper on "Whole Hogs" – Peace Society, Temperance Do, [i.e. ditto] and Vegetarians – all of whom have lately been making stupendous fools of themselves' (Pilgrim, Vol. VI, p. 457). All three Societies had featured prominently in The Times during the previous two or three weeks. On 5 August the paper satirically reported the National Temperance Society's 'Great Teetotal Demonstration' at Exeter Hall the previous day. George Cruikshank and the American pacifist Elihu Burritt were among those on the platform, and the committee's address stressed that 'nothing short of total abstinence could destroy their fearful foe'. There were also some dismal attempts at humour. 

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From John Hooker, "The Lyffe of Sir Peter Carewe," Archaeologia, 1840. 

Dickens first travelled to Paris by the South Eastern Railway's new 'Double Special Express Service' in 1850, travelling overnight from London Bridge Station on 22/23 June and arriving in Paris at 8.45 a.m. He wrote to Forster: 'The twelve hours' journey here is astounding – marvellously done, except in the means of refreshment, which are absolutely none' (Pilgrim, Vol. VI, p. 118). He went again (also overnight) on 10/11 February 1851 on HW business. He draws on memories of these journeys to convey what he later called, still in relation to this particular train service, 'that queer sensation born of quick travelling' (Pilgrim, Vol. VII, p. 464), but also, it seems, on those 'Paris-trip notes' of Will's (Wills had made a lightning visit to Paris on 28/30 July) that he said he was waiting for on 10 August.

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