THE VIRGINIANS

A Tale Of The Last Century

By William Makepeace Thackeray



CONTENTS


THE VIRGINIANS


CHAPTER I.   In which one of the Virginians visits home

CHAPTER II.   In which Harry has to pay for his Supper

CHAPTER III.   The Esmonds in Virginia

CHAPTER IV.   In which Harry finds a New Relative

CHAPTER V.   Family Jars

CHAPTER VI.   The Virginians begin to see the World

CHAPTER VII.   Preparations for War

CHAPTER VIII.   In which George suffers from a Common Disease

CHAPTER IX.   Hospitalities

CHAPTER X.   A Hot Afternoon

CHAPTER XI.   Wherein the two Georges prepare for Blood

CHAPTER XII.   News from the Camp

CHAPTER XIII.   Profitless Quest

CHAPTER XIV.   Harry in England

CHAPTER XV.   A Sunday at Castlewood

CHAPTER XVI.   In which Gumbo shows Skill with the Old English Weapon

CHAPTER XVII.   On the Scent

CHAPTER XVIII.   An Old Story

CHAPTER XIX.   Containing both Love and Luck

CHAPTER XX.   Facilis Descensus

CHAPTER XXI.   Samaritans

CHAPTER XXII.   In Hospital

CHAPTER XXIII.   Holidays

CHAPTER XXIV.   From Oakhurst to Tunbridge

CHAPTER XXV.   New Acquaintances

CHAPTER XXVI.   In which we are at a very Great Distance from Oakhurst

CHAPTER XXVII.   Plenus Opus Aleae

CHAPTER XXVIII.   The Way of the World

CHAPTER XXIX.   In which Harry continues to enjoy Otium sine Dignitate

CHAPTER XXX.   Contains a Letter to Virginia

CHAPTER XXXI.   The Bear and the Leader

CHAPTER XXXII.   In which a Family Coach is ordered

CHAPTER XXXIII.   Contains a Soliloquy by Hester

CHAPTER XXXIV.   In which Mr. Warrington treats the Company with Tea and a Ball

CHAPTER XXXV.   Entanglements

CHAPTER XXXVI.   Which seems to mean Mischief

CHAPTER XXXVII.   In which various Matches are fought

CHAPTER XXXVIII.   Sampson and the Philistines

CHAPTER XXXIX.   Harry to the Rescue

CHAPTER XL.   In which Harry pays off an Old Debt, and incurs some New Ones

CHAPTER XLI.   Rake's Progress

CHAPTER XLII.   Fortunatus Nimium

CHAPTER XLIII.   In which Harry flies High

CHAPTER XLIV.   Contains what might, perhaps, have been expected

CHAPTER XLV.   In which Harry finds two Uncles

CHAPTER XLVI.   Chains and Slavery

CHAPTER XLVII.   Visitors in Trouble

CHAPTER XLVIII.   An Apparition

CHAPTER XLIX.   Friends in Need

CHAPTER L.   Contains a Great deal of the Finest Morality

CHAPTER LI.   Conticuere Omnes

CHAPTER LII.   Intentique Ora tenebant

CHAPTER LIII.   Where we remain at the Court End of the Town

CHAPTER LIV.   During which Harry sits smoking his Pipe at Home

CHAPTER LV.   Between Brothers

CHAPTER LVI.   Ariadne

CHAPTER LVII.   In which Mr. Harry's Nose continues to be put out of joint

CHAPTER LVIII.   Where we do what Cats may do

CHAPTER LIX.   In which we are treated to a Play

CHAPTER LX.   Which treats of Macbeth, a Supper, and a Pretty Kettle of

CHAPTER LXI.   In which the Prince marches up the Hill and down again

CHAPTER LXII.   Arma Virumque

CHAPTER LXIII.   Melpomene

CHAPTER LXIV.   In which Harry lives to fight another Day

CHAPTER LXV.   Soldier's Return

CHAPTER LXVI.   In which we go a-courting

CHAPTER LXVII.   In which a Tragedy is acted, and two more are begun

CHAPTER LXVIII.   In which Harry goes westward

CHAPTER LXIX.   A Little Innocent

CHAPTER LXX.   In which Cupid plays a Considerable Part

CHAPTER LXXI.   White Favours

CHAPTER LXXII.   (From the Warrington MS.) In which My Lady is on the Top

CHAPTER LXXIII.   We keep Christmas at Castlewood. 1759

CHAPTER LXXIV.   News from Canada

CHAPTER LXXV.   The Course of True Love

CHAPTER LXXVI.   Informs us how Mr. Warrington jumped into a Landau

CHAPTER LXXVII.   And how everybody got out again

CHAPTER LXXVIII.   Pyramus and Thisbe

CHAPTER LXXIX.   Containing both Comedy and Tragedy

CHAPTER LXXX.   Pocahontas

CHAPTER LXXXI.   Res Angusta Domi

CHAPTER LXXXII.   Miles's Moidore

CHAPTER LXXXIII.   Troubles and Consolations

CHAPTER LXXXIV.   In which Harry submits to the Common Lot

CHAPTER LXXXV.   Inveni Portum

CHAPTER LXXXVI.   At Home

CHAPTER LXXXVII.   The Last of God Save the King

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.     Yankee Doodle comes to Town

CHAPTER LXXXIX.   A Colonel without a Regiment

CHAPTER XC.   In which we both fight and run away

CHAPTER XCI.   Satis Pugnae

CHAPTER XCII.   Under Vine and Fig-Tree






HENRY ESMOND; THE ENGLISH HUMOURISTS; THE FOUR GEORGES

By William Makepeace Thackeray



CONTENTS






THACKERAYANA

Notes And Anecdotes

By William Makepeace Thackeray



CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
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 1
CHAPTER II.
Early Favourites—The 'Castle of Otranto'—Rollin's 'Ancient History' 18
CHAPTER III.
Thackeray's last visit to the Charterhouse—College days—Pendennis at Cambridge—Sketches of Universities—Sporting subjects—Etchings at Cambridge—Pencillings in old authors—Pictorial Puns—The 'Snob,' a Literary and Scientific Journal—'Timbuctoo,' a Prize Poem 47
CHAPTER IV.
Early Favourites—Fielding's 'Joseph Andrews'—Imitators of Fielding—The 'Adventures of Captain Greenland'—'Jack Connor'—'Chrysal; or, the Adventures of a Guinea' 71
CHAPTER V.
Continental Rambles—A Stolen Trip to Paris—Residence at Weimar—Contributions to Albums—Burlesque State—German Sketches and Studies—The Weimar Theatre—Goethe—Souvenirs of the Saxon city—'Journal kept during a Visit to Germany' 89
CHAPTER VI.
Thackeray's Predilections for Art—A Student in Paris—First Steps in the Career—An Art Critic—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 114
CHAPTER VII.
'Elizabeth Brownrigge: a Tale,' 1832—'Comic Magazine,' 1832-4—'National Standard and Literary Representative,' 1833-4—'Flore et Zéphyr, Ballet Mythologique,' 1836—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 Lacénaire—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'—Dedication to M. Aretz—'Comic Tales and Sketches,' with Thackeray's original Illustrations—The 'Yellowplush Papers'—The 'Second Funeral of Napoleon,' with the 'Chronicles 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 on 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' 124
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 produced—'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 'Morning Chronicle' newspapers—Sensitiveness to Hostile Criticism—The 'Kickleburys on the Rhine,' with illustrations by M. A. Titmarsh—Adverse bias of the 'Times' newspaper—Thackeray's reply—An 'Essay on Thunder and Small Beer' 161
CHAPTER IX.
Commencement of the Series of Early Essayists—Thackeray as a Lecturer—The 'English Humourists of the Eighteenth Century'—Charlotte Brontë at Thackeray's Readings—The Lectures repeated in Edinburgh—An invitation to visit America—Transatlantic popularity—Special success attending the reception of the 'English Humourists' 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 Esmonde, 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 171
CHAPTER X.
Curious Authors from Thackeray's Library, indicating the course of his Readings—Early Essayists illustrated with the Humourist'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 Dæmonum, et Fustis Dæmonum. 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 186
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 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—Reforms introduced by the purer Style of the Essayists—The Literature of Queen Anne's Reign—Thackeray's Love for the Writings of the Period—His 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 221
CHAPTER XII.
THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THE EARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued.
Extracts of Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated with Original Marginal 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 275
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 'Humourist,' 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 'Humourists,' 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
CHAPTER XV.
THACKERAY'S FAMILIARITY WITH THE WRITINGS OF THE SATIRICAL ESSAYISTS—Continued.
Characteristic Passages from the compositions of the 'Early Humourists,' 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—Continued.
Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,' 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 the 'Early Humourists,' 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—The 'North British Review' on Thackeray—Illustrations to 'Men of Character'—'The Whitey-brown Paper Magazine'—'Comic Tales,' illustrated by Thackeray—Allusions to Caricature Drawing found throughout his writings—Skits on Fashion—Titmarsh on 'Men and Clothes'—Bohemianism in youth—Hatred of Conventionality—Sketches of Contemporary Habits and Manners—Imaginative Illustrations to Romances—Skill in Ludicrous Parody—Burlesque of the 'Official Handbook of Court and State' 436
CHAPTER XIX.
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 Béguines—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 465
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—His Death 488