CONTENTS

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME.

MEMOIRS.

THE Author's Introduction

Account and anecdotes of his family

South Sea Scheme, and the bill of pains and penalties

against the directors; among whom was the au-

thor's grandfather

Character of Mr William Law.....

Mr Gibbon's birth; he is put under the care of Mr

Kirkby; some account of Mr Kirkby.......

The author is sent to Dr Wooddeson's school, whence

he is removed on the death of his mother-Affec-

tionate observations on his aunt, Mrs Catharine

Porten..

Is entered at Westminster school; is removed on ac-

count of ill-health, and afterwards placed under

the care of the Rev. Mr Francis

Enters a gentleman commoner at Magdalen college,

Oxford-Remarks on that university-Some ac-

count of Magdalen college-Character of Dr Wal-

degrave, Mr Gibbon's first tutor

The author determines to write an history; its sub-
ject-Solution of a chronological difficulty-Mr
Gibbon is converted to the Roman Catholic
religion; cites the examples of Chillingworth

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5

12

16

19

24

28:

31

and Bayle; their characters-Mr Gibbon obliged

to leave Oxford-Farther remarks on the uni-

versity..

The author is removed to Lausanne, and placed under

the care of M. Pavilliard-Reflections on his

change of situation-Character of M. Pavilliard,

and an account of his manner of restoring Mr

Gibbon to the Protestant church-Mr Gibbon

received the Sacrament in the church of Lausanne

on Christmas-day 1754...

The author's account of the books he read, and of the

course of study he pursued

Ma Gibbon makes the tour of Switzerland; forms a
correspondence with several literary characters;
is introduced to Voltaire, and sees him perform
several characters in his own plays Remarks on

his acting

Some account of mademoiselle Curchod (afterwards

madame Necker)-Reflections on his education

at Lausanne-He returns to England-His man-

ner of spending his time.

Mr Gibbon publishes his first work, Essai sur l'Etude

de la Littérature'-Some observations on the

plan, and the character of the performance-

Character of Dr Maty

..

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44

57

61

84

90

104

The author's manner of passing his time in the Hamp-

shire militia, and reflections upon it.......... 113

Mr Gibbon resumes his studies; determines to write

upon some historical subject; considers various

subjects, and makes remarks upon them for that

purpose-Sees Mallet's Elvira performed; cha-

racter of that play

...... 124

The author passes some time at Paris, gives an ac-

count of the persons with whom he chiefly asso-

ciated-Proceeds through Dijon and Besançon to

Lausanne; characterises a society there, called

La Société du Printems-Becomes acquainted

with Mr Holroyd, now lord Sheffield-Remarks

on their meeting.

134

Some account of Mr Gibbon's studies at Lausanne,

preparatory to his Italian journey-He travels

into Italy; his feelings and observations upon his

arrival at Rome-He returns to England-His

reflections upon his situation-Some account of

his friend M. Deyverdun-He writes, and com-

municates to his friends, an historical essay upon

the liberty of the Swiss-Their unfavourable

judgment-Mr Hume's opinion..

Mr Gibbon and M. Deyverdun engage in a periodical
work, intended as a continuation of Dr Maty's
Journal Brittannique;' entitled ' Mémoires

Littéraires de la Grande Bretagne'-Account of

the work-Mr Gibbon publishes his observations

on the Sixth Eneid of Virgil, in opposition to

bishop Warburton's hypothesis-Mr Heyne's and

Mr Hayley's opinions of that essay-Mr Gibbon

determines to write the History of the Decline

and Fall-His preparatory studies-Reflectiors

on his domestic circumstances; his father's death

and character.

Mr Gibbon settles in London-Begins his History of

the Decline and Fall-Becomes a Member of the

House of Commons-Characters of the principal

speakers-Publishes his first volume; its recep-

tion-Mr Hume's opinion, in a letter to the

author-Makes a second visit to Paris-His dis-

pute with the abbé Mably-He enumerates and

characterises the writers who wrote against his

fifteenth and sixteenth chapters..

Mr Gibbon, by the desire of ministry, writes the 'Mé-

moire Justificatif'-By the interest of lord Lough-

borough is appointed one of the lords of trade-

Publishes the second and third volumes of his

History; their reception-Mentions archdeacon

Travis's attack upon him, and coinmends Mr

Porson's answer to the archdeacon-Notices also

bishop Newton's censure

The author proceeds in his History-Leaves London,
and settles at Lausanne, in the house of his

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154

202

210

224

friend M. Deyverdun; his reasons for doing so-

Reflections on his change of situation-Short

characters of prince Henry of Prussia and of Mr

Fox, both of whom he sees at Lausanne-Pro-
ceeds in and finishes his History-Interesting
remarks on concluding it.

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235

Mr Gibbon pays a visit to lord Sheffield in Eng-

land; remarks on lord Sheffield's writings-Pub-

lishes the remainder of his History-Returns to

Lausanne; his manner of employing his time-

The death of M. Deyverdun-Observations of the

author upon the French revolution, the govern-

ment of Berne, and his own situation. The Me-

moirs end.

242

Narrative of lord Sheffield, connecting the Memoirs

with Mr Gibbon's letters, forming a continuation

of his life..

259

LETTERS.

An account of his journey to and arrival at Lau-

sanne-The state of M. Deyverdun's health-Re-

ceives a visit from Mr Fox and from Mr Douglas-

Their conversation

Mirabeau's work Sur la Monarchie Prussienne'-
M. Deyverdun's death-Reflections on that event
-Mr Gibbon hesitates whether he should purchase
the perpetuity of M. Deyverdun's estate-Dis-
poses of his own at Lenborough-Private circum-
stances discussed

261

265-9

Reflections on the French revolution-The principal

characters of that nation then at Lausanne-On

his own health

Contrast of the political temper of lord North and M.
Necker-Favourable character of Mr Burke's

276