1864.

terms at Cambridge, but left without taking a degree, for the purpose of becoming an artist. After about three years he devoted himself to literature. The Athenæum in its obituary notice on the 2nd of January, 1864, states: "During these years of gradually growing reputation, Thackeray's hand was perpetually to be traced Fraser's in Fraser's Magazine, where his 'Men's Wives,' Magazine. his 'Yellow-plush Papers,' his 'Shabby-Genteel

Punch.

Story,' his 'Great Hoggarty Diamond,' and his 'Luck of Barry Lyndon,' successively appeared. It may have been that, to suit the tone of that periodical, which was at that time sarcastic and unscrupulous, he exaggerated a humour for banter and indifference, occasional personality, and too habitual a resolution to look upon the seamy side of life and manners, which, if not born with him, certainly grew into marking characteristics of his style and purpose as an author. These were turned to better account, because tempered with feeling and taste, in the course of the close connexion formed by him with the phalanx of merry and powerful men who established Punch, and who could hit as hard as the best among the Maginns and Lockharts though, let it not be forgotten, with meanings as generous as those of the Fraser squadron were otherwise. In Punch the Book of Snobs' appeared, and some of Thackeray's

best lyrics; his ludicrous Police Ballads, not exceeded by anything of the kind in our language; and that best of table-songs, Horatian in its grace of versification and geniality of sentiment, The Mahogany Tree.' It was the publication of 'Vanity Fair,' however,—a work, 'Vanity Fair.' we have been told, perversely rejected by many publishers—that, at last, set Thackeray in his place among the first novelists of Europe...... After 'Vanity Fair' came, in due course of time, three other novels of modern society,- Pendennis,' 'The Newcomes,' and lastly 'Philip'; and two other tales belonging to an elder world of manners-'Esmond' and 'The Virginians.' The former is, to our thinking, the most finished expression of Thackeray's power as a scholar and an artist. To make up this list, possibly still incomplete, may be mentioned The Chronicle of the Drum,' an impromptu thrown off on the transfer of Napoleon's ashes to Paris; a series of Christmas books, including 'Mrs. Perkins's Ball,' 'Our Street,' 'Dr. Birch,' 'The Kickleburys on the Rhine,' 'The Rose and the Ring' (a quaint and racy fairy tale), 'Rebecca and Rowena,' that diverting continuation of 'Ivanhoe,'-lastly, the two courses of Lectures

on

'The Humourists' and on 'The Four

Georges."

On the 6th of February the death of the

Anne

Adelaide "golden tressed Adelaide," Adelaide Anne Procter. Procter, is recorded. She was born in Bedford Square on the 30th of October, 1825, and Mr. Charles Dickens relates of her: "Her love of poetry was conspicuous at so early an age, that I have before me a tiny album made of small note paper, into which her favourite passages were copied for her by her mother's hand before she herself could write. It looks as if she had carried it about, as another little girl might have carried a doll." Her verses stole out pseudonymously in Household Words, Miss Procter writing under the name of Mary Berwick, in order that Mr. Dickens might be saved the pain of refusing the verses of the daughter of his old friend should they not meet with his approval. The illness which obliged her to keep her bed for fifteen months was borne by her with cheerfulness and the greatest submission. She had been delicate from childhood, and had overtaxed her strength in works of mercy.

"At midnight on the second of February, 1864, she turned down a leaf of a little book she was reading, and shut it up. The ministering hand that had copied the verses into the tiny album was soon around her neck, and she quietly asked as the clock was on the stroke of

one :

"Do you think I am dying, mamma?'

"I think you are very, very ill to-night, my dear.'

"Send for my sister. My feet are so cold. Lift me up!'

"Her sister entering as they raised her, she said:

"It has come at last!' and with a bright and happy smile, looked upward, and departed."*

Watts.

Alaric A. Watts died on the 5th of April. Alaric A. He was born in March, 1797, and in early life was a pupil teacher under George Crabbe, author of the Technological Dictionary.' In 1822 he started upon his literary career by publishing a small volume entitled 'Poetical Sketches.' This rapidly passed through five editions. The Athenæum on April 16th, 1864, states: "Towards the end of the same year, Mr. Watts's publishers having purchased the Leeds Intelligencer, he became its editor, and commenced his vocation of journalist. Later he was editor of the Manchester Courier; was engaged in establishing the Standard, and for ten years was the editor of the United Service Gazette, in the columns of which he advocated many naval and military reforms, since carried out. For twenty years he was connected with the newspaper press, and assisted in establishing during that period some twenty Conservative journals in London and the country."

* 'Legends and Lyrics: a Book of Verses,' by Adelaide Anne Procter, with an Introduction by Charles Dickens.

Souvenir.'

'The Literary In 1824 Mr. Watts started 'The Literary Souvenir,'" one of the earliest of the Annuals,' a series of illustrated works which had an immense success, and formed, in fact, an era in the development of the English school of Art, the novelty and importance of which have, at the present day, been forgotten, and cannot be well estimated by the generation which has been born since." In 1850 was published a selection of Mr. Watts's poetical works, entitled 'Lyrics of the Heart, and other Poems.'

Frank Smedley.

William James Fox.

Note is made on the 7th of May of the death of Mr. Frank Smedley, who began "his modest career of pleasantness and grace some dozen years ago, with 'Lewis Arundel; or, the Railroad of Life.'......There is not a man who knew him who did not love him, or who will ever remember Frank but with a tender, brotherlike regard." In the following year 'Gathered Leaves being a Collection of the Poetical Writings of the late Frank E. Smedley,' was published with a memorial preface by Mr. Edmund Yates.

On June 11th a passing reference is made to the decease of William James Fox, "an old man eloquent......first known as a preacher, an agitator, and a politician; but he was also a graceful writer, a good critic, and a poetical interpreter of nature."