Tulkinghorn？HowwouldGeorgeWarringtonappreciateMr.Pickwick？
Yes，thetwogreatnovelistswereasopposedastwomencouldbe——inmanner，instyle，inknowledgeofbooks，andoftheworld.AndyethowadmirablyThackeraywritesaboutDickens，inhislettersasinhisbooks！Howhedelightsinhim！Howmanlyisthatemulationwhichenablesanauthortoseeallthepointsinhisrival，andnottocarpatthem，buttopraise，andbestimulatedtokeenereffort！
Considerthispassage.\"HaveyoureadDickens？O！itischarming！
BraveDickens！Ithassomeofhisveryprettiesttouches——thoseinimitableDickenstoucheswhichmakesuchagreatmanofhim，andthereadingofthebookhasdoneanotherauthoragreatdealofgood.\"
Thackerayisjustasgenerous，andperhapsmorecritical，inwritingofKingsley.\"Afine，honest，go—a—headfellow，whochargesasubjectheartily，impetuously，withthegreatestcourageandsimplicity;butwithnarroweyes（hisareextraordinarilybrave，blueandhonest），andwithlittleknowledgeoftheworld，Ithink.
Butheissuperiortousworldlingsinmanyways，andIwishIhadsomeofhishonestpluck.\"
Ihaveoftenwishedthatgreatauthors，whentheirdaysofcreationwereover，when\"theirmindsgrowgreyandbald，\"wouldcondescendtotellusthehistoryoftheirbooks.SirWalterScottdidsomethingofthiskindintheprefacestothelasteditionoftheWaverleyNovelspublishedduringhislife.Whatcanbemoreinterestingthanhisaccount，intheintroductiontothe\"FortunesofNigel，\"ofhowheworked，howheplanned，andfoundallhisplotsandplansoverriddenbythedemonattheendofhispen！ButSirWalterwasfailingwhenhebeganthoseliteraryconfessions;goodastheyare，hecametothemtoolate.Yetthesearenotconfessionswhichanauthorcanmakeearly.ThepaganAztecsonlyconfessedonceinalifetime——inoldage，whentheyhadfewertemptationstofalltotheiroldloves：thentheymadeacleanbreastofitonceforall.Soitmightbewithanauthor.Whileheisinhiscreativevigour，wewanttohearabouthisfanciedpersons，aboutPendennis，Beatrix，Becky，notabouthimself，andhowheinventedthem.Butwhenhehaspassedhisbest，thenitishewhobecomesofinterest;itisabouthimselfthatwewishhimtospeak，asfarashemodestlymay.Whowouldnotgive\"LoveltheWidower\"and\"Philip\"forsomeautobiographicalandliteraryprefacestotheoldernovels？Theyneednothavebeenmoreegotisticthanthe\"RoundaboutPapers.\"Theywouldhavehadfarmorecharm.Somethingscannotbeconfessed.WedonotaskwhowastheoriginalSirPittCrawley，ortheoriginalBlancheAmory.Butwemightlearninwhatmood，inwhatcircumstancestheauthorwrotethispassageorthat.
TheLetterscontainafewnotesofthiskind，afewliteraryconfessions.WehearthatEmmySedleywaspartlysuggestedbyMrs.
Brookfield，partlybyThackeray’smother，muchbyhisownwife.
TherescarceseemsroomforsomanyelementsinEmmy’spersonality.
Forsomereasonladieslovehernot，nordomenadoreher.IhavebeenherfaithfulknighteversinceIwastenyearsoldandread\"VanityFair\"somewhatstealthily.Whydoesonelikeherexceptbecausesheissuchathoroughwoman？Sheisnotclever，sheisnotverybeautiful，sheisunhappy，andshecanbejealous.Onepitiesher，andthatisakintoamoretendersentiment;onepitiesherwhileshesitsinthecorner，andBecky’sgreeneyesflatterheroafofahusband;onepitiesherinthepovertyofherfather’shouse，inthefamousbattleoverDaffy’sElixir，intheseparationfromtheyoungerGeorge.Youbegintowishsomegreatjoytocometoher：
itdoesnotcomeunalloyed;youknowthatDobbinhadbadquartersofanhourwiththislady，andhadtodisguisealittleofhistendernessforhisowndaughter.Yes，Emmyismorecomplexthansheseems，andperhapsitneededthreeladiestocontributethevariouselementsofherpersonandhercharacter.Oneofthem，thejealousone，lentatouchtoHelenPendennis，toLaura，toLadyCastlewood.
ProbablythismaybethereasonwhysomepersonsdislikeThackerayso.Hisverybestwomenarenotangels.{3}Aretheverybestwomenangels？Itisapiousopinion——thatbordersonheresy.
WhentheLettersbegantobewritten，in1847，Thackerayhadhisworstyears，inaworldlysense，behindhim.Theywerepast：thetimeswhenhewroteinGalignanifortenfrancsaday.Hasanyliteraryghouldisinterredhisoldten—francarticlesinGalignani？
Thetimeof\"BarryLyndon，\"too，wasover.Hesaysnothingofthatmasterpiece，andonlyawordabout\"TheGreatHoggartyDiamond.\"\"I
havebeenre—readingit.Uponmywordandhonour，ifitdoesn’tmakeyoucry，Ishallhaveameanopinionofyou.Itwaswrittenatatimeofgreataffliction，whenmyheartwasverysoftandhumble.
Amen.Ichhabeauchvielgeliebt.\"Of\"Pendennis，\"asitgoeson，hewritesthatitis\"awfullystupid，\"whichhasnotbeentheverdictoftheages.Hepicksupmaterialsashepasses.Hedineswithsomeofficers，andperhapshestationsthematChatteris.HemeetsMissG—，andherconversesuggestsalovepassagebetweenPenandBlanche.Whydidhedislikefairwomenso？Itrunsallthroughhisnovels.Beckyisfair.Blancheisfair.Outsidetheoldyellowcoversof\"Pendennis，\"youseetheblondemermaid，\"amusing，andclever，anddepraved，\"draggingthelovertothesea，andthenut—brownmaidholdinghimback.Angelina，ofthe\"RoseandtheRing，\"istheBeckyofchildhood;sheisfair，andthegoodRosalbaisbrune.Inwriting\"Pendennis\"hehadasingularexperience.Helookedoverhisown\"backnumbers，\"andfound\"apassagewhichIhadutterlyforgottenasifIhadneverreadorwrittenit.\"InLockhart’s\"LifeofScott，\"JamesBallantynesaysthat\"whenthe’BrideofLammermoor’wasfirstputintohishandsinacompleteshape，hedidnotrecollectonesingleincident，character，orconversationitcontained.\"Thatistosay，herememberednothingofhisowninvention，thoughhismemoryofthetraditionalpartswasasclearasever.Ballantyneremarks，\"Thehistoryofthehumanmindcontainsnothingmorewonderful.\"TheexperienceofThackerayisaparalleltothatofScott.\"Pendennis，\"itmustbenoted，wasinterruptedbyasevereillness，and\"TheBrideofLammermoor\"wasdictatedbySirWalterwheningreatphysicalpain.OnoneoccasionThackeray\"lituponaverystupidpartof’Pendennis，’Iamsorrytosay;andyethowwellwrittenitis！Whatashametheauthordon’twriteacompletegoodstory！Willhediebeforedoingso？orcomebackfromAmericaanddoit？\"
Didheeverwrite\"acomplete，goodstory\"？Didanyoneeverdosuchathingaswriteathree—volume，novel，oranovelofequallength，whichwas\"acomplete，goodstory\"？Probablynot;orifanymortaleversucceededinthetask，itwasthegreatAlexanderDumas.
\"TheThreeMusketeers，\"Itakeleavetothink，and\"TwentyYearsAfter，\"arecompletegoodstories，goodfrombeginningtoend，storiesfrombeginningtoendwithoutabreak，withoutneedlessepisode.Perhapsonemaysayasmuchfor\"OldMortality，\"andfor\"QuentinDurward.\"ButScottandDumaswerebornstory—tellers;
narrativewastheessenceoftheirgeniusatitsbest;thecurrentofromancerollsfleetlyon，bearingwithitpersonsandevents，mirroringscenes，butneverceasingtobethemainthing——thecentralinterest.Perhapsnarrativelikethisisthechiefsuccessofthenovelist.Heistriumphantwhenhecarriesuson，asWolf，thefamouscritic，wascarriedonbythetideoftheIliad，\"inthatpureandrapidcurrentofaction.\"NobodywouldclaimthisespecialmeritforThackeray.Heisoneofthegreatestofnovelists;hedisplayshumannatureandhumanconductsothatweforgetourselvesinhispersons，buthedoesnotmakeusforgetourselvesintheirfortunes.WhetherClivedoesordoesnotmarryEthel，orEsmond，Beatrix，doesnotverygreatlyexciteourcuriosity.WecannotringthebellsforClive’ssecondweddingasthevillagerscelebratedthebridalofPamela.Itisthedevelopmentofcharacter，itistheauthor’scomments，itishisownpersonalityandhisunmatchedandinimitablestyle，thatwinouradmirationandaffection.Wecantakeup\"VanityFair，\"or\"Pendennis，\"or\"TheNewcomes，\"justwherethebookopensbychance，andreadthemwithdelight，aswemayreadMontaigne.Whenonesaysonecantakeupabookanywhere，itgenerallymeansthatonecanalsolayitdownanywhere.ButitisnotsowithThackeray.Wheneverwemeethimheholdsuswithhischarm，hishumour，hiseloquence，histenderness.Ifhehasnot，inthehighestdegree，thenarrativepower，hedoespossess，inadegreeperhapsbeyondanyotherwriterofEnglish，thatkindofpoeticqualitywhichisnotincompatiblewithprosewriting.
Agreatdealhasbeensaidaboutprosepoetry.Asarule，itisverypoorstuff.Asproseithasatendencytorunintoblankverse;aspoetryitishighlyrhetoricalandself—conscious.Itwouldbeinvidiousandmightbeirritatingtoselectexamplesfrommodernmastersofprose—poetry.Theyhaveneverbeenpoets.ButtheproseofapoetlikeMiltonmaybe，andis，poeticalinthetruesense;andso，uponoccasions，wastheproseofThackeray.Someexampleslingeralwaysinthememory，anddwellwiththeirmusicinthehearing.OneIhavequotedelsewhere;thepassagein\"TheNewcomes\"whereClive，atthelectureonthePoetryoftheDomesticAffections，givenbySirBarnesNewcome，seesEthel，whomhehaslost.
\"Andthepast，anditsdearhistories，andyouthanditshopesandpassions，andtonesandlooks，foreverechoingintheheartandpresentinthememory——those，nodoubt，poorClivesawandheardashelookedacrossthegreatgulfoftimeandpartingandgrief，andbeheldthewomanhehadlovedformanyyears.\"\"Thegreatgulfoftime，andparting，andgrief，\"——someofusareonthefarthersideofit，andouroldselves，andouroldhappiness，andouroldaffectionsbeyond，grownear，growclear，nowandthen，atthesightofafacemetbychanceintheworld，atthechancesoundofavoice.Sucharehumanfortunes，andhumansorrows;nottheworst，notthegreatest，fortheseoldlovesdonotdie——theyliveinexile，andarethebetterpartsofoursouls.Notthegreatest，northeworstofsorrows，forshameisworse，andhopelesshunger，andalifeallofbarrentoilwithoutdistractions，withoutjoy，mustbefarworse.Butofthosemyriadtragediesofthelifeofthepoor，Thackeraydoesnotwrite.Howfarhewasawareofthem，howdeeplyhefeltthem，wearenotinformed.Hishighesttragedyisthatofthehungeroftheheart;hismostnobleprosesoundsinthatmeetingofHarryEsmondwithLadyCastlewood，intheimmortalspeechwhichhastheburden，\"bringingyoursheaveswithyou！\"Allthatsceneappearstomenolessunique，nolessunsurpassable，nolessperfect，thanthe\"OdetotheNightingale\"ofKeats，ortheLycidasofMilton.ItweresuperfluoustolingeroverthehumourofThackeray.OnlyShakespeareandDickenshavegracedthelanguagewithsomanyhappymemoriesofqueer，pleasantpeople，withsomanyquaintphrases，eachofwhichhasakindoffreemasonry，andwhenuttered，orrecalled，makesallfriendsofThackerayintofamilyfriendsofeachother.ThesayingsofMr.HarryFoker，ofCaptainCostigan，ofGumbo，arealllikeolddearfamilyphrases，theyliveimperishableandalwaysnew，likethewordsofSirJohn，thefatknight，orofSanchoPanza，orofDickSwiveller，orthatotherSancho，SamWeller.TheyhavethatShakespeariangiftofbeingeverappropriate，andundyinglyfresh.
TheseareamongthegracesofThackeray，theseandthatinimitablestyle，whichalwaystemptsandalwaysbafflestheadmiringanddespairingcopyist.Wheredidhefindthetrickofit，ofthewordswhichareinvariablythebestwords，andinvariablyfallexactlyinthebestplaces？\"Thebestwordsinthebestplaces，\"ispartofColeridge’sdefinitionofpoetry;itisalsotheessenceofThackeray’sprose.IntheseLetterstoMrs.Brookfieldthestyleispreciselythestyleofthenovelsandessays.Thestyle，withThackeray，wastheman.Hecouldnotwriteotherwise.Butprobably，tothelast，thisperfectionwasnotmechanical，wasnotattainedwithoutlabourandcare.InDr.JohnBrown’sworks，inhisessayonThackeray，thereisanexampleofaproof—sheetonwhichthemasterhasmadecorrections，andthosecorrectionsbringthepassageuptohisaccustomedlevel，totheoriginalityofhisrhythm.Hereisthepiece：—
\"AnotherFinis，anothersliceoflifewhichTempusedaxhasdevoured！AndImayhavetowritethewordonceortwice，perhaps，andthenanendofEnds.[FiniteiseverandInfinitebeginning.]
Oh，thetroubles，thecares，theennui，[thecomplications，]therepetitions，theoldconversationsoverandoveragain，andhereandthereallthedelightfulpassages，thedear，thebrief，theforever—
remembered！
\"[Andthen]Afewchaptersmore，andthenthelast，andbeholdFinisitselfcomingtoanend，andtheInfinitebeginning.\"
\"Howlikemusicthis，\"writesDr.JohnBrown——\"likeonetryingthesameairindifferentways，asitwere，searchingoutandsoundingallitsdepths！\"ThewordswerealmostthelastthatThackeraywrote，perhapstheverylast.Theyreply，asitwere，tootherwordswhichhehadwrittenlongbeforetoMrs.Brookfield.
\"Idon’tpityanybodywholeavestheworld;notevenafairyounggirlinherprime;Ipitythoseremaining.Onherjourney，ifitpleasesGodtosendher，dependonitthere’snocauseforgrief，that’sbutanearthlycondition.Outofourstormylife，andbroughtnearertheDivinelightandwarmth，theremustbeasereneclimate.Can’tyoufancysailingintothecalm？\"
Ah！nowhereelseshallwefindtheGoldenBride，\"passionlessbride，divineTranquillity.\"
Ashumannaturepersistentlydemandsamoral，and，as，tosaytruth，Thackeraywasconstantlymeetingthedemand，whatisthelessonofhislifeandhiswritings？Sopeoplemayask，andyethowfutileistheanswer！Lifehasadifferentmeaning，adifferentriddle，adifferentreplyforeachofus.Thereisnotonesphinx，butmanysphinxes——asmanyastherearewomenandmen.Wemustallanswerforourselves.Pascalhasoneanswer，\"Believe！\"Molierehasanother，\"Observe！\"Thackeray’sansweris，\"Begoodandenjoy！\"butamelancholyenjoymentwashis.Dr.JohnBrownsays：
\"Hispersistentstate，especiallyforthelaterhalfofhislife，wasprofoundlymorne，thereisnootherwordforit.Thisaroseinpartfromtemperament，fromaquicksenseofthelittlenessandwretchednessofmankindThisfeeling，actingonaharshandsavagenature，endedinthesaevaindignatioofSwift;actingonthekindlyandsensitivenatureofMr.Thackeray，itledonlytocompassionatesadness.\"
Agreatpartofhislife，andmostofhishappiness，layinlove.
\"Ichhabeauchvielgeliebt，\"hesays，anditisahazardouskindofhappinessthatattendsgreataffection.Yourcapitalisalwaysatthemercyoffailures，ofdeath，ofjealousy，ofestrangement.Buthehadsomuchlovetogivethathecouldnotbuttrustthoseperilousinvestments.
Othertroubleshehadthatmayhavebeendiversionsfromthose.Hedidnotalwayskeepthatmanlycommonsenseinregardtocriticism，whichheshowsinalettertoMrs.Brookfield.\"DidyoureadtheSpectator’ssarcasticnoticeof’VanityFair’？Idon’tthinkitisjust，butthinkKintoul（Rintoul？）isaveryhonestman，andratherinclinedtodealseverelywithhisprivatefriendslestheshouldfallintotheotherextreme：tobesurehekeepsoutofit，Imeantheotherextreme，verywell.\"
Thatisthewaytotakeunfavourablecriticisms——nottogodeclaringthatamanisyourenemybecausehedoesnotlikeyourbook，yourballads，youridyls，yoursermons，whatyouplease.Whycannotpeoplekeepliteratureandlikingapart？AmIboundtothinkJonesabadcitizen，abadman，abadhouseholder，becausehispoetryleavesmecold？Needheregardmeasamalevolentgreen—eyedmonster，becauseIdon’twanttoreadhim？Thackeraywasnotalwaystrueinhislateryearstotheseexcellentprinciples.Hewastroubledabouttriflesofcriticismsandgossip，bagatellesnotworthnoticing，stilllessworthrememberingandrecording.Donotletusrecordthem，then.
WecannotexpectforThackeray，wecannotevendesireforhim，apopularitylikethatofDickens.Ifeveranymanwroteforthepeople，itwasDickens.Wherecanwefindsuchabenefactor，andwhohaslightenedsomanyliveswithsuchmerrimentashe？ButThackeraywrote，likethemassofauthors，fortheliteraryclass——
forallwhohavethesenseofstyle，thedelightinthebestlanguage.HewillendurewhileEnglishliteratureendures，whileEnglishcivilisationlasts.Wecannotexpectalltheworldtoshareouraffectionforthishumouristwhosemirthspringsfromhismelancholy.Hisreligion，hiseducation，hislifeinthisunsatisfyingworld，arenotthelife，theeducation，thereligionofthegreatmajorityofhumankind.HecannotreachsomanyearsandheartsasShakespeareorDickens，andsomeofthosewhomhereacheswillalwaysandinevitablymisjudgehim.Maisc’estmonhomme，onemaysay，asLaFontainesaidofMoliere.Ofmodernwriters，puttingScottaside，heistomethemostfriendlyandsympathetic.Greatgeniusashewas，hewasalsoapenman，ajournalist;andjournalistsandpenmenwillalwayslooktohimastheirbigbrother，themanintheirownlineofwhomtheyareproudest.AsdevoutCatholicsdidnotalwaysworshipthegreatestsaints，butthefriendliestsaints，theirown，sowescribesburnourcheapincensetoSt.WilliamMakepeace.Hecoulddoallthatanyofuscoulddo，andhediditinfinitelybetter.ApieceofverseforPunch，aparagraph，acaricature，werenotbeneaththedignityoftheauthorof\"Esmond.\"HehadthekindnessandhelpfulnesswhichI，forone，havenevermetajournalistwholacked.HewasagoodEnglishman;
theboywithinhimneverdied;helovedchildren，andboys，andalittleslang，andaboxingmatch.Ifhehadfailings，whoknewthembetterthanhe？HowoftenheisatoncetheboyattheswishingblockandDr.Birchwhodoesnotsparetherod！Letusbelievewiththatbelovedphysician，ouroldfriendDr.JohnBrown，that\"Mr.
Thackeraywasmuchgreater，muchnoblerthanhisworks，greatandnobleastheyare.\"Letuspartwithhim，rememberinghisownwords：
\"Comewealthorwant，comegoodorill，Letyoungandoldaccepttheirpart，AndbowbeforetheawfulWill，Andbearitwithanhonestheart.\"
DICKENS
\"IcannotreadDickens！\"Howmanypeoplemakethisconfession，withafrontofbrass，anddonotseemtoknowhowpoorafiguretheycut！GeorgeEliotsaysthatadifferenceoftasteinjokesisagreatcauseofdomesticdiscomfort.Adifferenceoftasteinbooks，whenitisdecidedandvigorous，breaksmanyapossiblefriendship，andnipsmanyayounglikinginthebud.Iwouldnotwillinglyseemintolerant.AmanmaynotlikeSophocles，mayspeakdisrespectfullyofVirgil，andevensneeratHerodotus，andyetmaybeendured.Butheorshe（itisusuallyshe）whocontemnsScott，and\"cannotreadDickens，\"isapersonwithwhomIwouldfainhavenofurtherconverse.Ifshebealady，andifonemeetsheratdinner，shemustofcoursebebornewith，and\"sufferedgladly.\"Butshehasdugagulfthatnothingcanbridge;shemaybefair，cleverandpopular，butsheisAnathema.Ifeeltowardsher（orhimifhewearsabeard）asBucklawdidtowardsthepersonwhoshouldmakeinquiriesaboutthatbridalnightofLammermoor.
ButthisadmissiondoesnotmeanthatoneissealedofthetribeofCharles——thatoneisaDickensitepureandsimple，convincedanddevout——anymorethanMr.MatthewArnoldwasaWordsworthian.
Dickenshasmanysuchworshippers，especially（andthisisanargumentinfavourofthefaith）amongthosewhoknewhiminhislife.Hemusthavehadawonderfulcharm;forhisfriendsinlifearehisliterarypartisans，hisuncompromisingpartisans，eventothisday.Theywillhavenohalf—heartedadmiration，andscouthimwhotriestospeakofDickensasofanartistnotflawless，nolessthantheyscornhimwhocannotreadDickensatall.Atonetimethishonourableenthusiasm（asamongtheWordsworthians）tooktheshapeof\"endlessimitation.\"Thatisover;onlyhereandthereisanimitatorofthemasterleftintheland.Allhisowngeniuswasneededtocarryhismannerisms;themannerismswithoutthegeniuswereanarmourthatnodevotedDavidhadproved，thatnonecouldwearwithsuccess.
OfallgreatwriterssinceScott，Dickensisprobablythemantowhomtheworldowesmostgratitude.Nootherhascausedsomanysadheartstobeliftedupinlaughter;nootherhasaddedsomuchmirthtothetoilsomeandperplexedlifeofmen，ofpoorandrich，oflearnedandunlearned.\"Avasthopehaspassedacrosstheworld，\"
saysAlfreddeMusset;wemaysaythatwithDickensahappysmile，ajoyouslaugh，wentroundthisearth.Tohavemadeuslaughsofrequently，soinextinguishably，sokindly——thatishisgreatgooddeed.Itwillbesaid，andwithagreatdealoftruth，thathehaspurgeduswithpityandterroraswellaswithlaughter.Butitisbecomingplainthathiscommandoftearsislessassuredthanofold，andIcannothonestlyregretthatsomeofhispathos——notall，byanymeans——islosingitscharmanditscertaintyofappeal.
Dickens’shumourwasrarelytooobvious;itwasessentiallypersonal，original，quaint，unexpected，andhisown.Hispathoswasnotinfrequentlyderivedfromsourcesopentoalltheworld，andcapableofbeingdrawnfrombyverycommonplacewriters.LittleNellsandDombeys，childrenunhappy，overthrownearlyinthemeleeoftheworld，anddyingamongweepingreaders，nolongeraffectusastheyaffectedanothergeneration.Mrs.BeecherStoweandtheauthorof\"Misunderstood，\"oncemadesomepeopleweeplikeanythingbythesesimplemeans.Ouidacandoit;plentyofpeoplecandoit.
Dickenslivesbyvirtueofwhatnonebuthecando：byvirtueofSaireyGamp，andSamWeller，andDickSwiveller，andMr.Squeers，withathousandotheroldfriends，ofwhomwecanneverweary.NomorethanCleopatra’scancustomstaletheirinfinitevariety.
IdonotsaythatDickens’pathosisalwaysofthetoofacilesort，whichplaysroundchildren’sdeath—beds.Otherpathoshehas，morefineandnotlessgenuine.Itmaybemorbidandcontemptibletofeel\"agreatinclinationtocry\"overDavidCopperfield’sboyishinfatuationforSteerforth;butIfeelit.Steerforthwasa\"tiger，\"——asMajorPendenniswouldhavesaid，atigerwithhiscurlyhairandhisambrosialwhiskers.Butwhenalittleboyloseshishearttoabigboyhedoesnotthinkofthis.Traddlesthoughtofit.\"Shame，J.Steerforth！\"criedTraddles，whenSteerforthbulliedtheusher.Traddleshadnotlosthisheart，norsetupthebigboyasagodintheshrinethereof.Butboysdothesethings;mostofushavehadourSteerforths——tall，strong，handsome，brave，good—
humoured.FaroffacrosstheyearsIseethefaceofsuchanone，andrememberthatemotionwhichisdescribedin\"DavidCopperfield，\"
chap.xix.，towardstheendofthechapter.Idon’tknowanyothernovelistwhohastouchedthisyoungandabsolutelydisinterestedbeliefofalittleboyinabigone——toucheditsokindlyandseriously，thatisthereisahintofitin\"Dr.Birch’sSchoolDays.\"
ButDickensisalwaysexcellentinhisboys，ofwhomhehasdrawndozensoftypes——allcapital.ThereisTommyTraddles，forexample.
AndhowcanpeoplesaythatDickenscouldnotdrawagentleman？Theboywhoshouted，\"Shame，J.Steerforth！\"wasagentleman，ifonemaypretendtohaveanopinionaboutathemesodifficult.TheDodgerandCharleyBatesaredelightfulboys——especiallyBates.Pip，inthegoodolddays，whenhewastheprowlingboy，andfoughtHerbertPocket，wasnotlessattractive，andHerberthimself，withhistheoryandpracticeoftheartofself—defence——couldNelsonhavebeenmorebrave，orShelley（asinMr.MatthewArnold’sopinion）
more\"ineffectual\"？EventheboysatDotheboysHallareeachofthemquitedistinct.Dickens’sboysarealmostasdeartomeasThackeray’s——aslittleRawdonhimself.Thereisoneexception.I
cannotinterestmyselfinLittleDombey.LittleDavidCopperfieldisajewelofaboywithaturnforbooks.DoubtlessheiscreatedoutofDickens’smemoriesofhimselfasachild.Thatistruepathosagain，andnotoverwrought，whenDavidissenttoCreakle’s，andhispoortroubledmotherdarehardlysayfarewelltohim.
Andthisbringsusbacktothatdebatablething——thepathosofDickens——fromwhichonehasbeenwithdrawnbytheattractionsofhisboys.LittleDombeyisaprizeexampleofhispathos.LittleNellisanother.Jeffrey，oftheEdinburghReview，whocriticised\"Marmion\"andthe\"LadyoftheLake\"sovindictively，shedtearsoverLittleNell.Itisamatteroftaste，or，asSciencemightsay，ofthelachrymalglandsasdevelopedineachindividual.Butthelachrymalglandsofthisamateurarenotdevelopedinthatdirection.LittleDombeyandLittleNellleavemewithapairofdryeyes.Idonot\"meltvisibly\"overLittleDombey，liketheweak—eyedyoungmanwhotookouthisbooksandtrunktothecoach.
Thepoorlittlechapwasfeebleandfeverish，andhaddreamsoftryingtostopariverwithhischildishhands，ortochokeitwithsand.Itmaybeverygoodpathology，butIcannotseethatitisatallrightpathos.Onedoesnotlikecopytobemadeoutofthesufferingsofchildrenorofanimals.One’shearthardens：theobjectistoomanifest，thetrickistooeasy.ConceiveachildofDombey’sageremarking，withhislatestbreath，\"TellthemthatthepictureonthestairsatschoolisnotDivineenough！\"Thatisnotthedeliriumofinfancy，thatisart—criticism：itistheAthenaeumonMr.HolmanHunt.Itisnottruetonature;itisnotgoodinart：itisthekindofthingthatappearsinSunday—schoolbooksaboutthevirtuouslittleboywhodied.Thereismoretruepathosinmanyapageof\"HuckleberryFinn.\"YetthisiswhatJeffreygushedover.\"TherehasbeennothingliketheactualdyingofthatsweetPaul.\"Somuchcanageenfeebletheintellect，thathewhohadknownScott，andyetnibbledathisfame，descendedtoadmiringthefeeblestoffalsesentiment.AsforLittleNell，whoalsohascausedfloodsoftearstobeshed，hercaseissufficientlyillustratedbythepictureinthefirstedition（\"MasterHumphrey’sClock，\"，1840，p.210）：
\"’WhenIdiePutnearmesomethingthathaslovedthelight，Andhadtheskyaboveitalways.’ThoseWereherwords.\"
\"Dear，gentle，patient，nobleNellwasdead！\"
Thepathosisaboutasgoodastheprose，andTHATisblankverse.
Arethewordsintheformerquotationintheleastlikeanythingthatalittlegirlwouldsay？AGermansentimentalistmighthavesaidthem;Obermannmighthavemurmuredtheminhisweakermoments.
Letustryapieceofdomesticpathosbyanotherhand.ItisthedawnofWaterloo.
\"Heart—stainedandshame—stricken，hestoodatthebed’sfoot，andlookedatthesleepinggirl.Howdaredhe——whowashe——toprayforonesospotless！Godblessher！Godblessher！Hecametothebedside，andlookedatthehand，thelittlesofthand，lyingasleep，andhebentoverthepillownoiselesslytowardsthegentlepaleface.Twofairarmsclosedtenderlyroundhisneckashestoopeddown.’Iamawake，George，’thepoorchildsaid，withasob.\"
IknowIammakingenemiesofalargeproportionofthereadersofthispage.\"Odious，sneeringbeast！\"isthequotationwhichtheywillapply，perhapsunconsciousofitsorigin，toacriticwhoishumblebutwouldfainbehonest，toacriticwhothinksthatDickenshashisweakplaces，andthathispathosisoneofthese.Itcannotbehelped.Eachofushashisauthorwhoisafavourite，afriend，anidol，whoseimmaculateperfectionhemaintainsagainstallcomers.Forexample，thingsareurgedagainstScott;IreceivethemintheattitudeofthedeafadderofSt.Augustine，whostopsoneearwithhistailandpressestheotheragainstthedust.ThesamewithMoliere：M.SchererutterscomplaintsagainstMoliere！Hewouldnotconvinceme，evenifIwereconvinced.So，withregardtoDickens，thetruebelieverwillnotlisten，hewillnotbepersuaded.Butifanyonefeelsalittleshaken，lethimtryitanotherway.ThereisacharacterinM.AlphonseDaudet’s\"FromentJeuneetRisslerAine\"——acharacterwho，peoplesay，istakenbodilyfromDickens.ThisisDesireeDelobelle，thedeformedgirl，thedaughterofunrate，apretentiousimbecileactor.Sheispoor，stunted，laborious，toilingatasmallindustry;sheisinlove，isrejected，shetriestodrownherself，shedies.ThesequenceofideasisinDickens’svein;butreadthetale，andIthinkyouwillseehowlittlethethingisoverdone，howsimpleandunforceditis，comparedwithanalogouspersonsandscenesintheworkoftheEnglishmaster.Theidioticyellof\"plagiarism\"hasbeenraised，ofcourse，bycriticalcretins.M.Daudet，asIunderstandwhathesaysin\"TrenteAnsdeParis，\"hadnotreadDickensatall，whenhewrote\"FromentJeune\"——certainlyhadnotread\"OurMutualFriend.\"
ButthereissomethingofDickens’sgeniusinM.Daudet’s，andthatsomethingiskeptmuchbetterinhandbytheFrenchman，ismoresubordinatedtotheprinciplesoftasteandoftruth.
Ontheotherhand，tobedonewiththispoint，lookatDelobelle，thefatherofDesiree，andcomparehimwithDickens’ssplendidstrollers，withMr.VincentCrummles，andMr.Lenville，andtherest.AsinDesireesoinDelobelle，M.Daudet’spictureismuchthemoretruthful.Butitistruthfulwithabitterkindoftruth.
Now，thereisnothingnotgenialanddelightfulinCrummlesandMrs.
CrummlesandtheInfantPhenomenon.HereDickenshasgotintoaregionunliketheregionofthepathetic，intoaworldthatwelcomeschargeorcaricature，theworldofhumour.Wedonotknow，wenevermeetCrummlesesquitesounsophisticatedasVincent，whois\"notaPrussian，\"who\"can’tthinkwhoputsthesethingsintothepapers.\"
Butwedomeetstagepeoplewhocomeveryneartothisnaiveteofself—advertisement，andsomeofwhomarejustasdismalasCrummlesisdelightful.
Here，nodoubt，isDickens’sforte.Herehisgeniusisallpuregold，inhissuccessfulstudiesorinventionsofthehumorous，ofcharacterparts.Oneliterallydoesnotknowwheretobeginorendinone’sadmirationforthiscreativepowerthatpeopledourfancieswithsuchtroopsofdearandimpossiblefriends.\"Pickwick\"comespracticallyfirst，andheneversurpassed\"Pickwick.\"Hewasapoorstory—teller，andin\"Pickwick\"hehadnostorytotell;hemerelywanderedatadventureinthatmerrierEnglandwhichwasbeforerailwayswere.\"Pickwick\"isthelastofthestoriesoftheroadthatbegininthewandering，aimless，adventurousromancesofGreece，orinPetroniusArbiter，andthatlivewiththelifeof\"GilBlas\"and\"DonQuixote，\"of\"LeRomanComique，\"of\"TomJonesand\"JosephAndrews.\"Thesetalesareprogressesalonghighwaysbristlingwithadventure，andamonginnsfullofconfusion，Mr.
Pickwick’saffairwiththeladywithyellowcurl—papersbeingamildexample.Though\"TomJones\"hasaplotsoexcellent，noplotisneededhere，andnoconsecutivestoryisrequired.Detachedexperiences，vagrantsofeveryrankthatcomeandgo，asinreallife，areallthematerialoftheartist.WithsuchmaterialsDickenswasexactlysuited;hewasathomeonhigh—roadandlane，streetandfield—path，ininnsandyeomen’swarmhospitablehouses.
Neverahumourescapedhim，andhehadsuchawealthoffunandhighspiritsinthesegladdaysasneveranyotherpossessedbefore.Hewasnotintheleastabookishman，notinanydegreeascholar;butNaturetaughthim，andwhilehewrotewithNatureforhisteacher，withmenandwomenforhismatter，withdiversionforhisaim，hewasunsurpassable——nay，hewasunapproachable.
Hecouldnotresthere;hewas，afterall，achildofanagethatgrewsad，andearnest，andthoughtful.Hesawabusesroundhim——
injustice，andoppression，andcruelty.Hehadahearttowhichthosethingswerenotonlyabhorrent，but，asitwere，maddening.
Heknewhowgreataninfluencehewielded，andwhocanblamehimforusingitinanycausehethoughtgood？Verypossiblyhemighthavebeenagreaterartistifhehadbeenlessofaman，ifhehadbeenquitedisinterested，andhadneverwritten\"withapurpose.\"Thatiscommon，andevenratherobsoletecriticaltalk.ButwhenwerememberthatFielding，too，veryoftenwrote\"withapurpose，\"andthatpurposetheprotectionofthepoorandunfriended;andwhenwerememberwhatanartistFieldingwas，IdonotseehowwecanblameDickens.Occasionallyhemadehisartandhispurposeblendsohappilythathisworkwasallthebetterforhisbenevolentintentions.WeoweMr.Squeers，Mrs.Squeers，FannySqueers，Wackfordandall，toDickens’sindignationagainstthenefariousschoolpiratesofhistime.IfheislesssuccessfulinattackingtheCourtofChancery，andverymuchlesssuccessfulstillwiththeRedTapeandCircumlocutionOfficeaffairs，thatmaybemerelybecausehewaslessinthehumour，andnotbecausehehadapurposeinhismind.Everyoneofaman’sbookscannotbehismasterpiece.
Thereisnothinginliterarytalksoannoyingasthespitefuljoywithwhichmanypeopledeclarethatanauthoris\"workedout，\"
becausehislastbookislesshappythansomethatwentbefore.
TherecameatimeinDickens’careerwhenhisworks，tomyowntasteandthatofmanypeople，seemedlaboured，artificial——infact，moreorlessfailures.Thesebooksrangefrom\"DombeyandSon，\"through\"LittleDorrit，\"Idarenotsayto\"OurMutualFriend.\"Oneisafraidthat\"EdwinDrood，\"too，suggeststhemaladywhichSirWalteralreadydetectedinhisown\"PeverilofthePeak.\"TheintensestrainonthefacultiesofDickens——asauthor，editor，reader，andmanoftheworld——couldnotbuttellonhim;andyearsmusttell.
\"Philip\"isnotworthyoftheauthorof\"Esmond，\"nor\"DanielDeronda\"oftheauthorof\"SilasMarner.\"Atthattime——thetimeoftheDorritsandDombeys——Blackwood’sMagazinepublisheda\"RemonstrancewithBoz\";norwasitquitesuperfluous.ButDickenshadabundanceoftalentstilltodisplay——aboveallin\"GreatExpectations\"and\"ATaleofTwoCities.\"Theformeris，after\"Pickwick，\"\"Copperfield，\"\"MartinChuzzlewit，\"and\"NicholasNickleby\"——aftertheclassics，infact——themostdelightfulofDickens’sbooks.Thestoryisembroiled，nodoubt.WhatarewetothinkofEstelle？Hastheminxanypurpose？IssheakindofEthelNewcomeofoddlife？Itisnoteasytosay;still，forastoryofDickens’stheplotiscomparativelyclearandintelligible.Forastudyofachild’slife，ofthenatureDickensdrewbest——theriverandthemarshes——andforplentyofhonestexplosivefun，thereisnolaterbookofDickens’slike\"GreatExpectations.\"MissHavisham，too，inhermouldybridalsplendour，isreallyimpressive;notlikeRalphNicklebyandMonkin\"OliverTwist\"——abookofwhichtheplotremainstomeamystery.{4}PipandPumblechookandMr.WopsleandJoareallimmortal，andcauselaughterinextinguishable.Therarityofthisbook，bytheway，initsfirstedition——theusuallibrarythreevolumes——isratherdifficulttoexplain.Oneveryseldomseesitcomeintothemarket，andthenitishighlypriced.
IhavementionedmorethanoncetheobscurityofDickens’splots.
Thisdifficultymaybeaccountedforinaveryflatteringmanner.
Wheredoweloseourselves？Notinthebarehigh—road，butamonglanes，betweenhedgeshungwithroses，blackberries，morningglories，whereallaboutusissofullofpleasurethatourattentionisdistractedandwemissourway.Now，inDickens——in\"OliverTwist，\"in\"MartinChuzzlewit，\"in\"NicholasNickleby\"——
thereis，asinthelanes，somuchtodivertandbeguile，thatweceasetocareverymuchwheretheroadleads——aroadsofullofhappymarvels.Thedark，plottingvillains——likethetrampwhofrightenedSirWalterScottsoterribly，ashecamefromMissBaillie’satHampstead——peeroutfrombehindthehedgesnowandthen.Butwearetoomuchamusedbythelightheartsthatgoalltheway，bytheDodgerandCrummlesandMrs.Gamp，tocaremuchforwhatRalph，andMonk，andJonasChuzzlewitareplotting.Itmaynotbethattheplotissoconfused，butthatwearetoomuchdivertedtocarefortheplot，fortheincrediblemachinationsofUriahHeap，tochooseanotherexample.Mr.Micawberclearedtheseup;butitisMr.Micawberthathindersusfromheedingthem.
This，atleast，isanotunfriendlyexplanation.YetIcannotbutbelievethat，thoughDickenstookgreatpainswithhisplots，hewasnotagreatplotter.Hewasnot，anymorethanThackeray，astory—
tellerfirstandforemost.WecanholdinourmindseverythreadofMr.WilkieCollins’web，orofM.FortuneduBoisgobey’s，orofM.
Gaboriau’s——allgreatweaversofintrigues.ButDickensgoesaboutdarkeninghisintrigue，givingitanextraknot，anextratwist，hintinghere，ominouslylaughingthere，tillwegetmystifiedandbored，andgiveourselvesuptothefunofthehumours，indifferenttothedestiniesofvillainsandvictims.Lookat\"EdwinDrood.\"A
constantwarabouttheplotragesinthemagazines.Ibelieve，forone，thatEdwinDroodwasresuscitated;butitgivesmenopleasure.
Hewastoouninteresting.Dickens’shints，nods，mutterings，forebodings，donotatallimpressonelikethatdeepeninganddarkeningoftheawfulomensin\"TheBrideofLammermoor.\"HereScott——unconsciously，nodoubt——usedtheverymannerofHomerintheOdyssey，andnowherewashisgeniusmoreHomeric.Thatwasromance.
The\"TaleofTwoCities\"isagreattestofthefaith——thatisinDickensites.Ofallhisworksitisthefavouritewiththewrongsort！Ladiespreferit.ManypeoplecanreaditwhocannototherwisereadDickensatall.ThisinitselfprovesthatitisnotagoodexampleofDickens，thatitisnotcentral，thatitisanoutlyingprovincewhichheconquered.Itisnotafavouriteofmine.Thehumourofthehumorouscharactersringsfalse——forexample，thefunoftheresurrection—manwiththewifewho\"flops.\"
ButSidneyCartonhasdrawnmanytearsdowncheeksnotaccustomedtowhatMr.B.in\"Pamela\"calls\"pearlyfugitives.\"
Itsometimesstrikesonethatcertainweaknessesinourgreatnovelists，inThackerayaswellasDickens，werecausedbytheirmethodofpublication.Thegreenandyellowleavesflourishedonthetreesfortwowholeyears.Who（exceptAlexandretheGreat）
couldwritesomuch，andyetallgood？Dowenotallfeelthat\"DavidCopperfield\"shouldhavebeencompressed？Asto\"Pendennis，\"
Mr.Thackeray’sbadhealthwhenhewroteitmightwellcauseacertainlanguorinthelaterpages.Moreover，hefranklydidnotcareforthestory，andblufflysays，inthepreface，thatherespitedColonelAltamontalmostatthefootofthegallows.
Dickenstookhimselfmoreinearnest，and，havingsomanypagestofill，conscientiouslymadeUriahHeapwindandwrigglethroughthemall.
Totrytoseeblotsinthesun，andtopickholesinDickens，seemsungrateful，andisindeedanungratefultask;tonomortalmanhavemorepeopleowedmirth，pleasure，forgetfulnessofcare，knowledgeoflifeinstrangeplaces.ThereneverwassuchanotherasCharlesDickens，norshallweseehislikesoonerthanthelikeofShakespeare.Andheowedalltonativegeniusandhardwork;heowedalmostnothingtoliterature，andthatlittleweregret.HewasinfluencedbyCarlyle，headoptedhismethodofnicknames，andofhammeringwithwearisomeiterationonsomepeculiarity——forexample，onCarker’steeth，andthepatriarch’swhitehair.Bytheway，howincredibleisalltheCarkerepisodein\"Dombey\"！SurelyDickenscanneverhaveintendedEdith，fromthefirst，tobehaveasshedid！Peoplemayhaveinfluencedhim，astheyinfluencedScottabout\"St.Ronan’sWell.\"Ithasbeensaidthat，saveforCarlyle，Dickenswasinlettersaself—taughtartist，thathewasnoman’spupil，andborrowedfromnone.Nodoubtthismakeshimlessacceptabletotheliteraryclassthanamanofletters，likeThackeray——thanamaninwhosetreasurechamberofmemoryallthewealthoftheMiddleAgeswasstored，likeScott.ButthenativenakedgeniusofDickens，——hisheart，hismirth，hisobservation，hisdelightfulhighspirits，hisintrepidloathingofwrong，hischivalrousdesiretorightit，——thesethingswillmakehimforever，wehopeandbelieve，thedarlingoftheEnglishpeople.
ADVENTURESOFBUCCANEERS
Mostofus，asboys，haveenviedthebuccaneers.Thegreatestofallboys，CanonKingsley，oncewroteapleasingandregretfulpoeminwhichtheLastBuccaneerrepresentshimselfasakindofpicturesquephilanthropist：—
\"TherewerefortycraftinAvesthatwerebothswiftandstout，Allfurnishedwellwithsmallarms，andcannonsroundabout;
AndathousandmeninAvesmadelawssofairandfree，Tochoosetheirvaliantcaptainsandobeythemloyally.
ThencewesailedagainsttheSpaniardwithhishoardsofplateandgold，WhichhewrungwithcrueltorturesfromIndianfolkofold;
Likewisethemerchantcaptains，withheartsashardasstone，Whoflogmenandkeel—haulthem，andstarvethemtothebone.\"
Thebuccaneeris\"agallantsailor，\"accordingtoKingsley’spoem——aRobinHoodofthewaters，whopreysonlyonthewickedrich，orthecruelandPopishSpaniard，andtheextortionateshipowner.Forhisownpart，whenheisnotrescuingpoorIndians，thebuccaneerlivesmainly\"forclimateandtheaffections\"：—
\"Oh，sweetitwasinAvestohearthelandwardbreeze，Aswingwithgoodtobaccoinanetbetweenthetrees，Withanegrolasstofanyou，whileyoulistenedtotheroarOfthebreakersonthereefoutsidethatnevertouchedtheshore.\"
Thisisdelightfullyidyllic，likethelivesoftheTahitianshepherdsintheAnti—Jacobin——theshepherdswhoseoccupationwasasinecure，astherewerenosheepinTahiti.
Yetthevocationwasnotreallysotouchinglychivalrousasthepoetwouldhaveusdeem.OneJosephEsquemeling，himselfabuccaneer，haswrittenthehistoryanddescribedtheexploitsofhiscompanionsinplainprose，warningeageryouthsthat\"pieces—of—eightdonotgrowoneverytree，\"asmanyrawrecruitshavebelieved.Mr.
Esquemeling’saccountofthesemattersmaybepurchased，withagreatdealelsethatisinstructiveandentertaining，in\"TheHistoryoftheBuccaneersinAmerica.\"Myedition（of1810）isadumpylittlebook，inverysmalltype，andquiteacrowdofpublisherstookpartintheventure.Theoldereditionsaredifficulttoprocureifyourpocketsarenotstuffedwithpieces—of—
eight.Youdonotoftenfindeventhisvolume，but\"whenfoundmakeanoteof，\"andyouhaveareplytoCanonKingsley.
AcharitableoldScotchlady，whoheardourghostlyfoeevilspokenof，remarkedthat，\"IfwewereallasdiligentandconscientiousastheDevil，itwouldbebetterforus.\"Now，thebuccaneerswerecertainlymodelsofdiligenceandconscientiousnessintheirownindustry，whichwastotorturepeopletilltheygaveuptheirgoods，andthentorunthemthroughthebody，andspendthespoilsoverdrinkanddice.ExceptDampier，whowasacleverman，butapoorbuccaneer（Mr.ClarkRussellhaswrittenhislife），theywerethemosthideouslyruthlessmiscreantsthateverdisgracedtheearthandthesea.Buttheircourageandendurancewerenolessnotablethantheirgreedandcruelty，sothatamoralcanbesqueezedevenoutoftheseabandonedmiscreants.ThesoldiersandsailorswhomadetheirwaywithingunshotofKhartoum，overcomingthirst，hunger，heat，thedesert，andthegallantchildrenofthedesert，didnotfight，march，andsuffermorebravelythanthescoundrelswhosackedMairaiboandburnedPanama.Theirgoodqualitieswerenolessastoundingandexemplarythantheiralmostincrediblewickedness.
Theydidnotlieaboutinhammocksmuch，listeningtothelandwardwindamongthewoods——thetruebuccaneers.Totellthetruth，mostofthemhadnoparticularcausetolovethehumanspecies.TheywereoftenEuropeanswhohadbeensoldintoslaveryontheWestIndianplantations，wheretheylearnedlessonsofcrueltybysufferingit.ThusMr.JosephEsquemeling，ourhistorian，wasbeaten，tortured，andnearlystarvedtodeathinTortuga，\"soI
determined，notknowinghowtogetanyliving，toenterintotheorderofthepiratesorrobbersofthesea.\"ThepoorIndiansoftheisles，muchpitiedbyKingsley’sbuccaneer，hadahabitofstickingtheirprisonersalloverwiththorns，wrappedinoilycotton，wheretotheythensetfire.\"ThesecrueltiesmanyChristianshaveseenwhiletheylivedamongthesebarbarians.\"Mr.
Esquemelingwastosee，andinflict，plentyofthiskindoftorment，whichwasnotoutofthewaynorunusual.Oneplanteralonehadkilledoverahundredofhisservants——\"theEnglishdidthesamewiththeirs.\"
Abuccaneervoyagebeganinstealingaship，collectingdesperadoes，andtorturingthelocalherdsmentilltheygaveuptheirmasters’
flocks，whichweresaltedasprovisions.Articlesofservicewerethendrawnup，ontheprinciple\"noprey，nopay.\"Thespoils，whentaken，wereloyallydividedasarule，thoughCaptainMorgan，ofWales，madenomorescrupleaboutrobbinghiscrewthanaboutbarbecuingaSpanishpriest.\"Theyareverycivilandcharitabletoeachother，sothatifanyonewantswhatanotherhas，withgreatwillingnesstheygiveittooneanother.\"InothermatterstheydidnotintheleastresembletheearlyChristians.Afellownick—namedThePortuguesemaybetakenasourfirstexampleoftheircommendablequalities.
Withasmallshipoffourgunshehadtakenagreatoneoftwentyguns，with70，000pieces—of—eightHehimself，however，waspresentlycapturedbyalargervessel，andimprisonedonboard.
Beingcarelesslywatched，heescapedontwoearthenjars（forhecouldnotswim），reachedthewoodsinCampechy，andwalkedforahundredandtwentymilesthroughthebush.Hisonlyfoodwasafewshell—fish，andbywayofaknifehehadalargenail，whichhewhettedtoanedgeonastone.Havingmadeakindofraft，hestruckariver，andpaddledtoGolphoTriste，wherehefoundcongenialpirates.Withtwentyofthese，andaboat，hereturnedtoCampechy，wherehehadbeenaprisoner，andactuallycapturedthelargeshipinwhichhehadlaincaptive！Badluckpursuedhim，however：hisprizewaslostinastorm;hereachedJamaicainacanoe，andneverafterwardswasconcernedasleaderinanyaffairofdistinction.NotevenOdysseushadmoreresource，norwasmorelong—enduring;butFortunewasThePortuguese’sfoe.
Braziliano，anotherbuccaneer，servedasapiratebeforethemast，and\"wasbelovedandrespectedbyall.\"Beingraisedtocommand，hetookaplateship;butthissuccesswasofindifferentservicetohisotherwiseamiablecharacter.\"Hewouldoftenappearfoolishandbrutishwhenindrink，\"andhasbeenknowntoroastSpaniardsaliveonwoodenspits\"fornotshowinghimhogyardswherehemightstealswine.\"OnecanhardlysupposethatKingsleywouldhaveregrettedTHISbuccaneer，evenifhehadbeenthelast，whichunluckilyhewasnot.Hishabitofsittinginthestreetbesideabarrelofbeer，andshootingallpassers—bywhowouldnotdrinkwithhim，provokedremark，andwasanactdetestabletoallfriendsoftemperanceprinciples.
FrancoisL’Olonnois，fromsouthernFrance，hadbeenkidnapped，andsoldasaslaveintheCaribbeeIslands.Recoveringhisfreedom，heplunderedtheSpanish，saysmybuccaneerauthor，\"tillhisunfortunatedeath.\"Withtwocanoeshecapturedashipwhichhadbeensentafterhim，carryingtengunsandahangmanforhisexpressbenefit.Thishangman，muchtothefellow’schagrin，L’Olonnoisputtodeathliketherestofhisprisoners.HisgreatachievementswereintheGulfofVenezuelaorBayofMaracaibo.Thegulfisastrongplace;themouth，nowiderthanagun—shot，isguardedbytwoislands.FaruptheinletisMaracaibo，atownofthreethousandpeople，fortifiedandsurroundedbywoods.YetfartherupisthetownofGibraltar.Toattackthesewasadesperateenterprise;butL’Olonnoisstolepasttheforts，andfrightenedthetownsfolkintothewoods.AsaruletheSpaniardsmadethepoorestresistance;
therewereexamplesofcourage，butnoneofconduct.Withstrongforts，heavyguns，manymen，provisions，andammunition，theyquailedbeforethedesperatevalourofthepirates.Thetownsweresacked，thefugitiveshuntedoutinthewoods，andthemostabominabletortureswereappliedtomakethembetraytheirfriendsandrevealtheirtreasures.Whentheyweresilent，orhadnotreasurestodeclare，theywerehacked，twisted，burned，andstarvedtodeath.
SuchwerethemannersofL’Olonnois;andCaptainMorgan，ofWales，wasevenmoreruthless.
GibraltarwaswellfortifiedandstrengthenedafterMaracaibofell;
newbatterieswereraised，thewaythroughthewoodswasbarricaded，andnofewerthaneighthundredmenwereunderarmstoresistasmallpirateforce，exhaustedbydebauch，andhavingitsretreatcutoffbythefortsatthemouthofthegreatsalt—waterloch.ButL’Olonnoisdidnotblench：hetoldthementhataudacitywastheironehope，alsothathewouldpistolthefirstwhogaveground.Themencheeredenthusiastically，andapartyofthreehundredandfiftylanded.Thebarricadedwaytheycouldnotforce，andinanewlycutpaththeymetastrongbatterywhichfiredgrape.ButL’Olonnoiswasinvincible.Hetriedthatoldtrickwhichrarelyfails，ashamretreat，andthisluredtheSpaniardsfromtheirearthworkonthepath.Thepiratesthenturned，swordinhand，slewtwohundredoftheenemy，andcapturedeightguns.Thetownyielded，thepeoplefledtothewoods，andthenbeganthewontedsportoftorturingtheprisoners.Maracaibotheyransomedafresh，obtainedapilot，passedthefortswithease，andreturnedaftersackingasmallprovince.
Onadividendbeingdeclared，theyparted260，000pieces—of—eightamongtheband，andspentthepillageinarevelofthreeweeks.
L’Olonnois\"gotgreatrepute\"bythisconduct，butIrejoicetoaddthatinaraidonNicaraguahe\"miserablyperished，\"andmetwhatMr.Esquemelingcalls\"hisunfortunatedeath.\"ForL’Olonnoiswasreallyanungentlemanlycharacter.HewouldhackaSpaniardtopieces，tearouthisheart，and\"gnawitwithhisteethlikearavenouswolf，sayingtotherest，’Iwillserveyouallalikeifyoushowmenotanotherway’\"（toatownwhichhedesignedattacking）.InNicaraguahewastakenbytheIndians，who，beingentirelyontheSpanishside，torehimtopiecesandburnedhim.