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

THACKERAYANA.