Volume I Part 1 (1/2)
The Uncollected Writings of Thomas de Quincey.
Vol. 1.
by Thomas de Quincey.
PREFACE.
'_The last fruit off an old tree!_' This, in the words of WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR, is what I have now the honour to set before the public in these hitherto 'UNCOLLECTED WRITINGS OF THOMAS DE QUINCEY.'
It was my privilege to be a.s.sociated intimately with the Author some thirty to forty years ago--from the beginning of 1850 until his death in 1859.[1] Throughout the whole period during which he was engaged in preparing for the Press his _Selections Grave and Gay_, I a.s.sisted in the task.
[Footnote 1: DE QUINCEY, LEIGH HUNT, and MACAULAY all died in that year.]
Of the singularly pleasant literary intercourse of that memorable time I have given some reminiscences in _Harper's Magazine_ for this month.
I may yet combine in a Volume with these some amusing, scholarly letters in my possession, and a Selection of Papers from the original sources, which I feel warranted, by the Author's own estimate, in calling _De Quincey's Choice Works_. Meantime, in dealing with the various Essays and Stories here gathered together, I limit myself to such notes as are necessary to point out the special circ.u.mstances under which some of the papers were written; in others the nature of the evidence I have found as to the indisputable authors.h.i.+p.
My special opportunities, derived from constant companions.h.i.+p and the continuous discussion with DE QUINCEY of matters concerning his writings, gave me the key to some of the admirable papers here reprinted. It also ent.i.tles me to say, that he would have included a number of them in his Collected Works alongside the _Suspiria de Profundis_ (Sighs from the Depths), had he lived to continue his labours.
When we find that most part of the _Suspiria_--perhaps the highest reach of his intellect in impa.s.sioned power--did not appear in the _Selections_ at all, the reader will at once understand that, in the Author's own opinion, the Essays and Stories now first collected, were neither less dignified in purpose nor less finished in style than those which had pa.s.sed under his hand in the fourteen volumes he nearly completed. Rather like the _Suspiria_, some of these papers were reserved as material upon the revision of which his energy might be fitly bestowed when health would permit.
The interesting papers which appeared in _Tait's Magazine_ are all duly vouched for in that periodical. I have not touched any of the autobiographical matter which appeared in _Tait_,--the Author having recast that as well as the _Sketches from Childhood_, published in _The Instructor_ in the 'Autobiographic Sketches' with which he opened the _Selections_. _The Casuistry of Duelling_, indeed, appeared in _Tait_ as part of the Autobiographic Series, but, practically, it stood as an independent paper. The touching personal pa.s.sage in this article reveals the misery caused by the unbridled scurrility of certain notorious publications of the last generation.
The paper on _The German Language_ appeared in _Tait_ in June 1836, and the _Brief Appraisal of Greek Literature_ in December 1838 and June 1839.
Two long and valuable papers on _Education; Plans for the Instruction of Boys in Large Numbers_, which appeared in _The London Magazine_ for April and May, 1824, were duly authenticated by the following characteristic letter from DE QUINCEY to CHRISTOPHER NORTH. It appears in _Professor Wilson's Life_, written by his daughter, MRS. GORDON:--
'_London, Thursday, February 24th, 1825._
'MY DEAR WILSON,
'I write to you on the following occasion:--Some time ago, perhaps nearly two years ago, Mr. Hill, a lawyer, published a book on Education, detailing a plan on which his brothers had established a school at Hazlewood, in Warwicks.h.i.+re. This book I reviewed in the _London Magazine_, and in consequence received a letter of thanks from the Author, who, on my coming to London about midsummer last year, called on me. I have since become intimate with him, and, excepting that he is a sad Jacobin (as I am obliged to tell him once or twice a month), I have no one fault to find with him, for he is a very clever, amiable, good creature as ever existed; and in particular directions his abilities strike me as really very great indeed. Well, his book has just been reviewed in the last _Edinburgh Review_ (of which some copies have been in town about a week). This service has been done him, I suppose, _through_ some of his political friends--(for he is connected with Brougham, Lord Lansdowne, old Bentham, etc.),--but I understand _by_ Mr. Jeffrey. Mr. Hill, in common with mult.i.tudes in this Babylon--who will not put their trust in Blackwood as in G.o.d (which, you know, he ought to do)--yet privately adores him as the Devil; and indeed publicly too, is a great _p.r.o.neur_ of Blackwood.
For, in spite of his Jacobinism, he is liberal and inevitably just to real wit. His fear is--that Blackwood may come as Nemesis, and compel him to regorge any puffing and cramming which Tiff has put into his pocket, and is earnest to have a letter addressed in an influential quarter to prevent this. I alleged to him that I am not quite sure but it is an affront to a Professor to presume that he has any connection as contributor, or anything else, to any work which he does not publicly avow as his organ for communicating with the world of letters. He answers that it would be so in him,--but that an old friend may write _sub rosa_. I rejoin that I know not but you may have cut Blackwood--even as a subscriber--a whole l.u.s.trum ago. He rebuts, by urging a just compliment paid to you, as a supposed contributor, in the _News of Literature and Fas.h.i.+on_, but a moon or two ago.
Seriously, I have told him that I know not what was the extent of your connection with Blackwood at _any_ time; and that I conceive the labours of your Chair in the University must now leave you little leisure for any but occasional contributions, and therefore for no regular cognizance of the work as director, etc. However, as all that he wishes--is simply an interference to save him from any very severe article, and not an article in his favour, I have ventured to ask of you if you hear of any such thing, to use such influence as must naturally belong to you in your general character (whether maintaining any connection with Blackwood or not) to get it softened. On the whole, I suppose no such article is likely to appear. But to oblige Hill I make the application. He has no _direct_ interest in the prosperity of Hazlewood; he is himself a barrister in considerable practice, and of some standing, I believe; but he takes a strong paternal interest in it, all his brothers (who are accomplished young men, I believe) being engaged in it. They have already had one shock to stand: a certain Mr. Place, a Jacobin friend of the School till just now, having taken the pet with it--and removed his sons. Now this Mr. Place, who was formerly a tailor--leather-breeches maker and habit-maker,--having made a fortune and finished his studies,--is become an immense authority as a political and reforming head with Bentham, etc., as also with the _Westminster Review_, in which quarter he is supposed to have the weight of nine times nine men; whence, by the way, in the ”circles” of the booksellers, the Review has got the name of the _Breeches Review_.' ... [The writer then pa.s.ses on to details of his own plans and prospects, and thus concludes.]
'I beg my kind regards to Mrs. Wilson and my young friends, whom I remember with so much interest as I last saw them at Elleray.--I am, my dear Wilson,
'Very affectionately yours,
'THOMAS DE QUINCEY.'
In approaching the consideration of other papers said, in various quarters (with some show of authority) to have been written by DE QUINCEY, it was necessary to act with extreme care. One was a painstaking list on the whole, but very inaccurate as regards certain contributions attributed to DE QUINCEY in _Blackwood_. I have had the kind aid of MESSRS. BLACKWOOD in examining the archives of _Maga_ to settle the points in question.
I was puzzled by some papers in _The London Magazine_ set down as DE QUINCEY'S contributions in a memorandum said to have been furnished by MESSRS. TAYLOR and HESSEY, its Publishers. The _Blackwood_ blunders made me very sceptical. There was one story in particular--the long droll one of _Mr. Schnackenberger; or, Two Masters to one Dog_, about which I remained in doubt.