thumb|upright=0.7|Charles Dickens Jr. (in 1874), possibly the model for Herbert Pocket Dickens gave six readings from 14 March to 18 April 1861, and in May, Dickens took a few days' holiday in Dover. On the eve of his departure, he took some friends and family members for a trip by boat from Blackwall to Southend-on-Sea. Ostensibly for pleasure, the mini-cruise was actually a working session for Dickens to examine banks of the river in preparation for the chapter devoted to Magwitch's attempt to escape. Dickens then revised Herbert Pocket's appearance, no doubt, asserts Margaret Cardwell, to look more like his son Charley. On 11 June 1861, Dickens wrote to Macready that Great Expectations had been completed and on 15 June, asked the editor to prepare the novel for publication.
thumb|upright=07|charles dickens jr (in 1874) possibly the model for herbert pocket dickens gave six readings from 14 march to 18 april 1861 and in may dickens took a few days' holiday in dover on the eve of his departure he took some friends and family members for a trip by boat from blackwall to southend-on-sea ostensibly for pleasure the mini-cruise was actually a working session for dickens to examine banks of the river in preparation for the chapter devoted to magwitch's attempt to escape dickens then revised herbert pocket's appearance no doubt asserts margaret cardwell to look more like his son charley on 11 june 1861 dickens wrote to macready that great expectations had been completed and on 15 june asked the editor to prepare the novel for publication