The letter includes an engraving of the Brighton Chain Pier

In it, he describes how he joined Captain Fred Collins on his "famous" pleasure boat in Brighton.

"The sea was rather choppy and his chatter to the trippers was very witty and amusing," he wrote.

Gorringes Auction Galleries said the unpublished letter was expected to fetch more than �1,000 on Thursday.

I feel much better for my short stay here, also the characters one meets at these seaside places Charles Dickens

The unpublished letter is unusual because it includes so many local references, said auctioneer Aaron Dean.

It was written on headed paper from the Bedford Hotel and includes an engraving of the Brighton Chain Pier, which was destroyed by a storm in 1896.

In it, Dickens - a regular visitor to Brighton - commented: "I feel much better for my short stay here, also the characters one meets at these seaside places."

Collectors are also excited by the references to Captain Collins, said Mr Dean.

The captain was well-known at the time for taking passengers around the bay on his fishing boat, which he would decorate with bunting after swilling out the remains of his morning catch.

His call - "Anymore for the Skylark" - became a popular local phrase which is still used by people today.