MihaElla ’s Reviews > An Autobiography 2 Volume Set > Status Update

“That I can read and be happy while I am reading, is a great blessing. Could I remember, as some men do, what I read, I should have been able to call myself an educated man. But that power I have never possessed. Something is always left,—something dim and inaccurate,—but still something sufficient to preserve the taste for more. I am inclined to think that it is so with most readers.”

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“Only those who have done it know how great is the labour of moving and arranging a few thousand volumes. At the present moment I own about 5000 volumes, and they are dearer to me even than the horses which are going, or than the wine in the cellar, which is very apt to go, and upon which I also pride myself.”

“Singula de nobis anni praedantur euntes;
    Eripuere jocos, venerem, convivia, ladum;
    Tendunt extorquere poemata."

   "Our years keep taking toll as they move on;
    My feasts, my frolics, are already gone,
    And now, it seems, my verses must go too."

This Is Conington's translation, but it seems to me to be a little flat.”

I went to Australia chiefly in order that I might see my son among his sheep. I did see him among his sheep, and remained with him for four or five very happy weeks. He was not making money, nor has he made money since. I grieve to say that several thousands of pounds which I had squeezed out of the pockets of perhaps too liberal publishers have been lost on the venture.

I have introduced in the Vicar of Bullhampton the character of a girl whom I will call,—for want of a truer word that shall not in its truth be offensive,—a castaway. I have endeavoured to endow her with qualities that may create sympathy, and I have brought her back at last from degradation, at least to decency. I have not married her to a wealthy lover, and I have endeavoured to explain that…

much as novels are bought & read,there exists still an idea,a feeling which is very prevalent,that novels at their best are but innocent.Men read more of them than of poetry,because such reading is easier than the reading of poetry;but they read them,as men eat pastry after dinner,not without some inward conviction that the taste is vain if not vicious.I take upon myself to say that it is neither vicious nor vain

I have before said how entirely I fail to reach the altitude of those who think that a man devoted to letters should be indifferent to the pecuniary results for which work is generally done.An easy income has always been regarded by me as a great blessing.Not to have to think of sixpences,or very much of shillings; not to be unhappy because the coals have been burned too quickly,& the house linen wants renewing…

I started for the States in August & returned in the following May.The war was raging during the time that I was there,& the country was full of soldiers. A part of the time I spent in Virginia, Kentucky,& Missouri,among the troops, along the line of attack.I visited all the States (excepting California) which had not then seceded,failing to make my way into the seceding States unless I was prepared to visit them…

Sir Charles Taylor (Thackeray) was our king at the Garrick Club, to which, however, I did not yet belong. He gave the best dinners of my time, and was,—happily I may say it—the best giver of dinners. A man rough of tongue, brusque in his manners, odious to those who dislike him, somewhat inclined to tyranny, he is the prince of friends, honest as the sun, and as openhanded as Charity itself.

That from Mr. Thackeray was as follows:—

36 ONSLOW SQUARE, S. W. October 28th.

MY DEAR MR. TROLLOPE,—Smith & Elder have sent you their proposals; and the business part done, let me come to the pleasure, and say how very glad indeed I shall be to have you as a co-operator in our new magazine. And looking over the annexed programme, you will see whether you can't help us in many other ways besides tale-telling