Thackerayana

Introduction

LARGE portion of the public, and especially that smaller section of the community, the readers of books, will not easily forget the shock, as universal as it was unexpected, which was produced at Christmas, 1863, by the almost incredible intelligence of the death of William Makepeace Thackeray. The mournful news was repeated at many a Christmas table, that he, who had led the simple Colonel Newcome to his solemn and touching end, would write no more. The circumstance was so startling from the suddenness of the great loss which society at large had sustained, that it was some time before people could realise the dismal truth of the report.

It will be easily understood, without elaborating on so saddening a theme, with how much keener a blow this heavy bereavement must have struck the surviving relatives of the great novelist. It does not come within our province to speak of the paralysing effect of such emotion ; it is sufficient to recall that Thackeray's death, with its overvi INTRODUCTION.

whelming sorrow, left, in the hour of their trial, his two young daughters deprived of the fatherly active mind which had previously shielded from them the graver responsibilities of life, with the additional anxiety of being forced to act in their own interests at the very time such exertions were peculiarly distracting.

It may be remembered that the author of ' Vanity Fair ' had but recently erected, from his own designs, the costly and handsome mansion in which he anticipated passing the mellower years of his life ; a dwelling in every respect suited to the high standing of its owner, and, as has been said by a brother writer, ' worthy of one who really represented literature in the great world, and who, planting himself on his books, yet sustained the character of his profession with all the dignity of a gentleman.'

In such a house a portion of Thackeray's fortune might be reasonably invested. To the occupant it promised the enjoyment he was justified in anticipating, and was a solid property to bequeath his descendants when age, in its sober course, should have called him hence. But little more than a year later, to those deadened with the effects of so terrible a bereavement as their loss must have proved when they could realise its fulness, this house must have been a source of desolation. Its oppressive size, its infinitely mournful associations, the hopeful expectations with which it had been erected, the tragic manner in which the one dearest to them had there been stricken down ; with all this acting on the sensibilities of unhealed grief, the building must have impressed them with peculiar aversion ; and hence it may be concluded that their first

INTRODUCTION. vii

desire was to leave it. The removal to a house of dimensions more suitable to their requirements involved the sacrifice of those portions of the contents of the larger mansion with which it was considered expedient to dispense ; and thus Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods announced for sale a selection from the paintings, drawings, part of the interesting collection of curious porcelain, and such various objects of art or furniture as would otherwise have necessitated the continuance of a house as large as that at Palace Green. These valuable objects were accordingly dispersed under the hammer, March 16 and 17, 1864, and on the following day the remainder of Thackeray's library was similarly offered to public competition. To anyone familiar with Thackeray's writings, and more especially with his Lectures and Essays, this collection of books must have been both instructive and fascinating ; seeing that they faithfully indicated the course of their owner's readings, and through them might be traced many an allusion or curious fact of contemporaneous manners, which, in the hands of this master of his craft, had been felicitously employed to strengthen the purpose of some passage of his own compositions.

Without converting this introduction into a catalogue of the contents of Thackeray's library it is difficult to particularise the several works found on his book-shelves ; it is sufficient to note that all the authorities which have been quoted in his Essays were fitly represented ; that such books — in many instances, obscure and trivial in themselves, as threw any new or curious light upon persons or things — on the private and individual, as well as the public or political history of men, and of the events or writings to viii INTRODUCTION.

which their names owe notoriety, of obsolete fashions or of the changing customs of society — were as numerous as the most ardent and dilettanti of Thackeray's admirers could desire.

The present volume is devised to give a notion, necessarily restricted, of certain selections from these works, chiefly chosen with a view of farther illustrating the bent of a mind, with the workings of which all who love the great novelist's writings may at once be admitted to the frankest intercourse. It has been truly said that Thackeray was ' too great to conceal anything ; ' the same candour is extended to his own copies of the books which told of times and company wherein his imagination delighted to dwell ; for, pencil in hand, he has recorded the impressions of the moment without reserve, whether whimsical or realistic.

A collection of books of this character is doubly interesting. On the one hand were found the remnants of earlier humorists, the quaint old literary standards which became, in the hands of their owner, materials from which were derived the local colouring of the times concerning which it was his delightful fancy to construct romances, to philosophise, or to record seriously.

On the other hand, the present generation was fitly represented. To most of the writers of his own era it was an honour that a presentation copy of their literary offspring should be found in the library of the foremost author, whose friendship and open-handed kindness to the members of his profession was one of many brilliant traits of a character dignified by innumerable great qualities, and tenderly shaded by instances uncountable of generous readiness to confer benefits, and modest reticence to let the fame of his goodness go forth.

INTRODUCTION. ix

Presentation copies from his contemporaries were therefore not scarce ; and whether the names of the donors were eminent, or as yet but little heard of, the creatures of their thoughts had been preserved with unvarying respect. The ' Christmas Carol/ that memorable Christmas gift which Thackeray has praised with fervour unusual even to his impetuous good-nature, was one of the books. The copy, doubly interesting from the circumstances both of its authorship and ownership, was inscribed in the well-known hand of that other great novelist of the nineteenth century, 4 W. M. Thackeray, from Charles Dickens {whom he made very happy once a long way from home)! Competition was eager to secure this covetable literary memorial, which may one day become historical ; it was knocked down at 25/. ioj\, and rumour circulated through the press, without foundation, we believe with regret, that it had been secured for the highest personage in the State, whose desire to possess this volume would have been a royal compliment to the community of letters.

Nor were books with histories wanting. George Augustus Sala, in the introduction to his ingenious series of ' Twice Round the Clock,' published in 1 S62, remarks with diffidence, ' It would be a piece of sorry vanity on my part to imagine that the conception of a Day and Night in London is original. I will tell you how I came to think of the scheme ©f " Twice Round the Clock." Four years ago, in Paris, my then master in literature, Mr. Charles Dickens, lent me a little thin octavo volume, which I believe had been presented to him by another master of the craft, Mr. Thackeray.' A slight resemblance to this opuscule was offered in ' A View of the Transactions of London and Westminster from the Hours of Ten in the Evening till x INTRODUCTION.

Five in the Morning,' which was secured at Thackeray's sale for forty-four shillings.

Thus, without presuming to any special privileges, we account for the selection of literary curiosities which form settings for the fragments gathered in ' Thackerayana.' The point of interest which rendered this dispersion of certain of Thackeray's books additionally attractive to us may be briefly set forth.

In looking through the pages of odd little volumes, and on the margins and fly-leaves of some of the choicest works, presentation copies or otherwise, it was noticed that pencil or pen-and-ink sketches, of faithful conceptions suggested by the texts, touched in most cases with remarkable neatness and decision, were abundantly dispersed through various series.

It is notorious that their owner's gift of dexterous sketching was marvellous ; his rapid facility, in the minds of those critics who knew him intimately, was the one great impediment to any serious advancement in those branches of art which demand a lengthy probationship ; and to this may be referred his implied failure, or but partial success, in the art which, to him, was of all cultivated accomplishments the most enticing. The fact has been dwelt on gravely by his friends, and was a source of regret to certain eminent artists best acquainted with his remarkable endowments.

The chance of securing as many of these characteristic designs as was in our power directed the selection of books which came into our possession in consequence of the sale of Thackeray's library ; it was found they were richer in" these clever pencillings than had been anticipated.

INTRODUCTION. xi

An impulse thus given, the excitement of increasing the little gathering was carried farther ; many volumes which had been dispersed were traced, or were offered spontaneously when the fact of the collection became known ; from books wherein, pencil in hand, passages had been noted with sprightly little vignettes, not unlike the telling etchings which the author of ' Vanity Fair ' caused to be inserted in his own published works, we became desirous of following the evidence of this faculty through other channels ; seeing we held the Alpha, as it were, inserted in the Charter House School books, and the latter pencillings, which might enliven any work of the hour indifferently, as it excited the imagination, grotesque or artist-like, as the case might be, of the original reader, whether the book happened to be a modest magazine in paper or an edition de luxe in morocco.

A demand created, the supply, though of necessity limited, was for a time forthcoming ; the energy, which fosters a mania for collecting, was aided by one of those unlooked-for chances which sustain such pursuits, and, from such congenial sources as the early companions of the author, sufficient material came into our possession to enable us to trace Thackeray's graphic ambition throughout his career with an approach to consistency, following his efforts in this direction through his school days, in boyish diversions, and among early favourites of fiction ; as an undergraduate of Cambridge ; on trips to Paris ; as a student at Weimar and about Germany ; through magazines, to Paris, studying in the Louvre ; to Rome, dwelling among artists ; through his contributions to ' Fraser's,' and that costly abortive newspaper speculation the ' Constixii INTRODUCTION.

tutional ; ' through the slashing Bohemian days, to the period of ' Vanity Fair ; ' through successes, repeated and sustained — Lectures and Essays ; through travels at home and abroad — to America, from Cornhill to Grand Cairo, to Scotland, to Ireland, ' Up the Rhine,' Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Holland, and wherever Roundabout ' sketches by the way ' might present themselves.

The study which had attracted an individual, elicited the sympathy of a larger circle ; the many who preserve mementos similar to those dispersed through ' Thackerayana' enlarged on the general interest of the materials, and especially upon the gratification which that part of the public representing Thackeray's admirers would discover in such original memorials of our eminent novelist ; and which, from the nature of his gifts, and the almost unique propensity for their exercise, would be impossible in the case of almost any other man of kindred genius.

Selections from the sketches were accordingly produced in facsimile, only such subjects being used as, from their relation to the context, derived sufficient coherence to be generally appreciable.

The writer is aware that many such memorials exist, some of them unquestionably of greater worth in themselves than several that are found in the present gathering ; but it is not probable, either from their private nature, the circumstances of their ownership, or from the fact that, in their isolated condition, they do not illustrate any particular stage of their author's progress, that the public will ever become familiar with them.

1 Thackerayana' is issued with a sense of imperfections ; many more finished or pretentious drawings might have

INTRODUCTION. xiii

been offered, but the illustrations have been culled with a sense of their fitness to the subject in view. It is the intention to present Thackeray in the aspect his ambition preferred, — as a sketcher ; his pencil and pen bequeath us matter to follow his career ; we recognise that delightful gift, a facility for making rapid little pictures on the inspiration of the moment ; it is an endless source of pleasure to the person who may exercise this faculty, and treasures up the most abundant and life-like reminiscences for the delectation of others. It will be understood as no implied disparagement of more laboured masterpieces if we observe that the composition of historical works, the conception and execution of chefs-d'ceuvre, are grave, lengthy, and systematic operations, not to be lightly intruded on ; they involve much time and preparation, many essays, failures, alterations, corrections, much grouping of accessories, posing of models, and setting of lay-figures, — they become oppressive after a time, and demand a strain of absorption to accomplish, and an effort of mind to appreciate, which are not to be daily exerted ; long intervals are required to recruit after such labours ; but the bright, ready croquis of the instant, if not profound, embalms the life that is passing and incessant ; the incident too fleeting to be preserved on the canvas, or in a more ambitious walk of the art, lives in the little sketch-book ; it is grateful to the hand which jots it down, and has the agreeable result of being able to extend that pleasure to all who may glance therein. If it was one of Thackeray's few fanciful griefs that he was not destined for a painter of the grand order, it doubtless consoled him to find that the happier gift of embodying that abstract creation — an idea — in a few strokes of a pencil t I

INTRODUCTION.

was his beyond all question ; and this graceful faculty he was accustomed to exercise so industriously, that myriad examples survive of the originality of his invention as an artist, in addition to the brilliant fancy and sterling truth to be found in his works as an author.

CONTENTS,

Chapter I. Page

Voyage from India — Touching at St. Helena — Schooldays at the Charterhouse — Early Reminiscences — Sketches in School Books — Boyish Scribblings — Favourite Fictions — Youthful Caricatures — Souvenirs of the Play — Holidays — Visits to Parents . . ... I

Chapter II

Early Favourites — The Castle of Otranto— Rollin's Ancient History . 20

Chapter III

Thackeray's last visit to the Charterhouse — College days — Pendennis at Cambridge — Sketches of University worthies — Sporting subjects — Pen's popularity — Etchings at Cambridge — Pencillings in old authors — Pictorial Puns — The 'Snob,' a Literary and Scientific Journal — 'Timbuctoo,' apprize poem 49

Chapter IV

Early Favourites — Fielding's 'Joseph Andrews' — Imitations of Fielding's novels — 'The Adventures of Captain Greenland' — 'Jack Connor' — * Chrysal, or the Adventures of a Guinea ' .74

Chapter V

Continental Ramblings — A Stolen Trip to Paris — Calais and the Paris Road in 1830 — French Jottings — Thackeray's Residence at Weimar — Contributions to Albums — Burlesque State — German Sketches and Studies — The Weimar Theatre — Goethe — Weimar re-visited — Souvenirs of the Saxon city — 'Journal kept during a Visit to Germany ' . 92

Chapter VI. Page

Thackeray's Predilections for Art — A Student in Paris — First Steps in the Career — An Art Critic — Impressions of Turner — Introduction to Marvy's English Landscape Painters — Early connection with Literature — Michael Angelo Titmarsh, a contributor to ' Fraser's Magazine ' — French Caricature under Louis Philippe — Political Satires — A Young Artist's life in Paris— Growing Sympathy with Literature — Paris Sketches 116

Chapter VII

Thackeray on the staff of ' Fraser's Magazine ' — Early connection with Maginn and his Colleagues — The Maclise Cartoon of the ' Fraserians' — Thackeray's Noms de Plume — Charles Yellowplush as a Reviewer — Skelton and his ' Anatomy of Conduct ' — Thackeray's proposal to Dickens to illustrate his novels — Gradual growth of Thackeray's notoriety — His genial admiration for ' Boz ' — Christmas Books and Dickens's ' Christmas Carol ' — Return to Paris — Execution of Fieschi and Lacenaire — Daily Newspaper Venture — The ' Constitutional and Public Ledger ' — Thackeray as Paris Correspondent — Dying Speech of the 'Constitutional' — Thackeray's marriage — Increased application to Literature — The ' Shabby Genteel Story ' — Thackeray's article in the 'Westminster' on George Cruikshank — First Collected Writings — The ' Paris Sketch Book,' illustrated by the Author — Dedication of M. Aretz — ' Comic Tales and Sketches,' with Thackeray's original illustrations — The 'Yellowplush Papers' — The ' Second Funeral of Napoleon,' with the 'Chronicle of the Drum' —The 'History of Samuel Titmarsh and the great Hoggarty Diamond' — ' Fitzboodle's Confessions' — The 'Irish Sketch Book,' with the Author's illustrations — The 'Luck of Barry Lyndon' — Contributions to the 'Examiner' — Miscellanies — ' Carmen Lilliense' — ' Notes of a Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairo,' with the Author's illustrations — Interest excited in Titmarsh — Foundation of ' Punch ' — Thackeray's Contributions — His comic designs — The 'Fat Contributor' — 'Jeames's Diary '—'Prize Novelists,' &c. 130

Chapter VIII

Increasing reputation — Later writings in ' Fraser' — ' Mrs. Perkins's Ball, with Thackeray's illustrations — Early Vicissitudes of ' Pencil Sketches of English Society' — Thackeray's connection with the Temple — Appearance of ' Vanity Fair ' with the Author's original illustrations — Appreciative notice in the ' Edinburgh Review ' — The impression pro-

CONTENTS. xvii

PAGE

duced— 'Our Street,' with Titmarsh's Pencillings of some of its Inhabitants—The 'History of Pendennis,' illustrated by the Author — ' Dr. Birch and his Young Friends,' with illustrations by M, A. Titmarsh — 'Rebecca and Rowena' — The Dignity of Literature and the ' Examiner ' and l Morning Chronicle ' newspapers — Sensitiveness to Hostile Criticism — The ' Kickleburys on the Rhine, ' with illusti-ations by M. A. Titmarsh — Adverse bias of the ' Times ' newspaper — Thackeray's reply — An 'Essay on Thunder and Small Beer ' 152

Chapter IX

Commencement of the Series of early Essayists — Thackeray as a Lecturer — The ' English Humorists of the Eighteenth Century ' — Charlotte Bronte at Thackeray's readings — The Lectures repeated in Edinburgh — An invitation to visit America — Transatlantic popularity — Special success attending the reception of the ' English Humorists ' in the States — ' Week-day Preachers ' — Enthusiastic Farewell — Appleton's New York edition of Thackeray's Works ; the Author's Introduction, and remarks on International Copyright — Thackeray's departure — : Cordial impression bequeathed to America — The ' History of Henry Esmond, a story of Queen Anne's Reign' — The writers of the Augustan Era — The ' Newcomes ' — An allusion to George Washington misunderstood — A second visit to America— Lectures on the 'Four Georges' — The series repeated at home — Scotch sympathy — Thackeray proposed as a candidate to represent Oxford in Parliament — His liberal views and impartiality ........... 166

Chapter X

Curious authors from Thackeray's library, indicating the course of his readings — Early essayists illustrated with the humorist's pencillings — Bishop Earle's ' Microcosmography ; a piece of the World Characterised,' 1628 — An 'Essay in Defence of the Female Sex,' 1697 — Thackeray's interest in works on the Spiritual World — ' Flagellum Dsemonum, et Fustis Doemonum. Auctore R. P. F. Hieronymo Mengo,' 1727 — 'La Magie et L'Astrologie,' par L. F. Alfred Maury — 'Magic, Witchcraft, Animal Magnetism, Hypnotism, and Electro Biology,' by James Baird, 1852 183

Chapter XI. English Essayists Of The Georgian Era

Early Essayists whose writings have furnished Thackeray with the accessories of portions of his Novels and Lectures — Works from the

a xviii CONTENTS.

I'ACE

Novelist's Library, elucidating his course of reading for the preparation of his ' Lectures' : Henry Esmond,' the 'Virginians,' &c. — Characteristic passages from the lucubrations of the Essayists of the Augustan Era illustrated with original Marginal sketches, suggested by the Text, by Thackeray's hand — The ' Tatler ' — Its history and influence — Re- • forms introduced by the purer style of the Essayists — The Literature of Queen Anne's Reign — Thackeray's love for the writings of that period — His remarks on Addison and Steele ; the ' Early Humorists ' and their contemporaries— His picture of their times — Thackeray's gift of reproducing their masterly and simple style of composition, their irony, and playful humour — Extracts from notable essays ; illustrated with original pencillings from the Series of The ' Tatler,' 1709 . .218

Chapter XII

thackeray's researches amongst the writings of the early essayists — continued.

Extracts of characteristic Passages from the Works of ' the Humorists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated with original Sketches by the Author's hand — The Series of the 'Guardian,' 1713 — Introduction —Steele's Programme — Authors who contributed to the ' Guardian ' — Paragraphs and Pencillings . . . . . . . .276

Chapter XIII. Thackeray's Researches Amongst The Writings Of The

early essayists— continued.

Characteristic Passages from the Works of Humorous Writers of the ' Era of the Georges,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated with original Marginal Sketches by the Author's hand — The 'Humorist,' 1724 —

Extracts and Pencillings ......... 299

•

Chapter XIV. Thackeray's Researches Amongst The Writings Of The

early essayists — continued.

Characteristic Passages from the Works of the ' Humorists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand, with Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text — The 'World,' 1753 — Introduction — Its Difference from the Earlier Essays — Distinguished Authors who contributed to the ' World ' — Paragraphs and Pencillings . . . 318

CONTENTS.

Chapter XV

thackeray's familiarity with the writings of the satirical essayists — continued.

PAGE

Characteristic Passages from the Compositions of the ' Early Humorists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand with original Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text — The ' Connoisseur,' 1754 — Introduction — Review of Contributors — Paragraphs and Pencillings 357

Chapter XVI

thackeray's researches amongst the writings of the

EARLY ESSAYISTS COJltilllied.

Characteristic Passages from the Works of the • Humorists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand with Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text— The 'Rambler,' 1749-50 — Introduction — Its Author, Dr. Johnson — Paragraphs and Pencillings . . 370

Chapter XVII. Thackeray's Familiarity With The Writings Of The

satirical essayists — continued.

Characteristic Passages from the Works of ' Early Humorists, ' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand with original Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text — The ' Mirror,' Edinburgh, 1779-80 — Introduction — The Society in which the 'Mirror' and ' Lounger ' "originated — Notice of Contributors — Paragraphs and Pencillings ............ 408

Chapter XVIII

Thackeray as an Illustrator — Allusions to Caricature Drawing found throughout his Writings — Skits on Fashion — Titmarsh on Artists, Men, and Clothes — Sketches of the 'Fraser' Period — Jottings of the time of ' Vanity Fair ' — Of the 'English Humorists ' — 'Esmond,' and the Days of Qaeen Anne — ' The Virginians, ' and the Early Georges — Bohemianism in youth — Sketches of Contemporary Habits and Manners — Imaginative Illustrations to Romances — Skill in Ludicrous Parody — Burlesque of the ' Official Handbook of Court and State ' . . . 436

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX. Page

Thackeray as a Traveller — Journey in Youth from India to England — Little Travels at Home — Sojourn in Germany — French Trips — Residence in Paris— Studies in Rome — Sketches and Scribblings in Guide Books — Little Tours and Wayside Studies — Brussels — Ghent and the Beguines — Bruges — Croquis in Murray's ' Handbooks to the Continent' — Up the Rhine — ' From Cornhill to Grand Cairo ' — Journeys to America — Switzerland — A ' Leaf out of a Sketch Book' — The Grisons — Verona — ' Roundabout Journeys ' — Belgium and Holland . -455

Chapter XX

Commencement of the 'Cornhill Magazine' — 'Roundabout Papers' — ' Lovel the Widower ' — The ' Adventures of Philip on his Way through the World ' — Lectures on the ' Four Georges ' — Editorial Penalties — The 'Thorn in the Cushion'— Harass from disappointed Contributors — Vexatious Correspondents — Withdrawal from the arduous post of Editor — Building of Thackeray's House in Kensington Palace Gardens, Christmas 1863 — Death of the great Novelist — The unfinished Work — Circumstances of the Author's last Illness 485

Chapter I

Voyage from India — Touching at St. Helena — School days at the Charterhouse — Early Reminiscences — Sketches in School Books — Boyish Scribblings — Favourite Fictions — Youthful Caricatures — Souvenirs of the Play — Holidays — Visits to Parents.

The fondness of Thackeray for lingering amidst the scenes of a boy's daily life in a public grammar school, has generally been attributed to his early education at the Charterhouse, that celebrated monasticlooking establishment in the neighbourhood of Smithneld, which he scarcely disguised from his readers as the original of the familiar ' Greyfriars ' of his works of fiction. Most of our novelists have given us in various forms their school reminiscences ; but none have reproduced them so frequently, or dwelt upon them with such manifest bias towards the subject, as the author of 'Vanity- Fair,' ' The Newcomes,' and 'The Adventures of Philip.' It is pleasing to think that this habit, which Thackeray was well aware had been frequently censured by his critics as carried to excess, was, like his partiality for the times of Queen

R

View of Life as seen through the Charterhouse Gates

THA CKERA VAN A.

Anne and the Georges, in some degree due to the traditional reverence of his family for the memory of their great-grandfather, Dr. Thomas Thackeray, the well-remembered head-master of Harrow. Sketches of Indian life and Anglo-Indians generally are abundantly interspersed through Mr. Thackeray's writings, but he left India too early to have profited much by Indian experiences. He is said, however, to have retained so strong an impression of the scene of his early childhood, as to have long wished to visit it, and recall such things as were still remembered by him. In his seventh year he was sent to England, when the ship

An Exile

having touched at St. Helena, he was taken up to have a glimpse of Bowood, and there saw that great Captain at A Sentry

whose name the rulers of the earth had so often trembled. It is remarkable that in his little account of the second funeral of Napoleon, which he witnessed in Paris in 1840, no allusion to this fact appears ; but he himself has described it in one of his latest works. ' When I first saw England,' he says, ' she was in mourning for the young Princess Charlotte,* the hope of the empire. I came from

* The Princess Charlotte died Nov. 6, 181 7.

EARLY REMINISCENCES.

India as a child, and our ship touched at an island on our wayhome, where my black servant took me a long walk over rocks and hills, until we reached a garden where we saw a man walking. " That is he ! " cried the black man ; " that is Bonaparte ! He eats three sheep every day, and all the children he can lay his hands on ! " With the same childish attendant,' he adds, ' I remember peeping through the colonnade at Carlton House, and seeing the abode of the Prince Regent. I can yet see the guards pacing

The It is

A highly respectable Member of Society A Master of Arts

before the gates of the palace. The palace ! What palace ? palace exists no more than the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, but a name now.' *

We fancy that Thackeray was placed under the protection of his grandfather, William Makepeace Thackeray, who had settled with a good fortune, the fruit of his. industry in India, at Hadley, near Chipping Barnet, a little village, in the churchyard of which

* * The Four Georges,' p. in.

B 2

THA CKERA YANA.

lies buried the once-read Mrs. Chapone, the authoress of the

' Letters on the Improvement of the Mind/ the correspondent of

Richardson, and the intimate friend of the

learned Mrs. Carter and other blue-stocking

ladies of that time.

In the course of time — we believe in his

twelfth year — Thackeray was sent to the

Charterhouse School, and remained there as

a boarder in the house of Mr. Penny. He

appears in the Charterhouse records for the

year 1822 as a boy on the tenth form. In the

next year we find him promoted to the seventh

form ; in 1 824 to the fifth ; and in 1828, when