The Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. 1   By: Thomas De Quincey (1785-1859)

OF

THOMAS DE QUINCEY.

EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL MSS., WITH INTRODUCTIONS AND NOTES.

BY

ALEXANDER H. JAPP,

LLD., F.R.S.E.

VOLUME I.

LONDON:

WILLIAM HEINEMANN.

1891.

[ All rights reserved. ]

SUSPIRIA DE PROFUNDIS.

=With Other Essays,=

CRITICAL, HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, IMAGINATIVE AND HUMOROUS,

BY

THOMAS DE QUINCEY.

[Illustration]

LONDON:

WILLIAM HEINEMANN.

1891.

[ All rights reserved. ]

To Mrs. BAIRD SMITH and Miss DE QUINCEY, who put into my hands the remains in manuscript of their father, that I might select and publish from them what was deemed to be available for such a purpose, this volume is dedicated, with many and grateful thanks for their confidence and aid, by their devoted friend,

ALEXANDER H. JAPP.

PREFACE.

It only needs to be said, by way of Preface, that the articles in the present volume have been selected more with a view to variety and contrast than will be the case with those to follow. And it is right that I should thank Mr. J. R. McIlraith for friendly help in the reading of the proofs.

A. H. J.

[Transcriber's Note: This etext contains letters with macrons, and have been noted as such: =u represents "u" with a macron, and )o represents o with a breve.]

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION xi

I. SUSPIRIA DE PROFUNDIS: Introduction, with Complete List of the 'Suspiria' 1 1. The Dark Interpreter 7 2. The Solitude of Childhood 13 3. Who is this Woman that beckoneth and warneth me from the Place where she is, and in whose eyes is Woeful Remembrance? I guess who she is 16 4. The Princess who overlooked one Seed in a Pomegranate 22 5. Notes for 'Suspiria' 24

II. THE LOVELIEST SIGHT FOR WOMAN'S EYES 29

III. WHY THE PAGANS COULD NOT INVEST THEIR GODS WITH ANY IOTA OF GRANDEUR 33

IV. ON PAGAN SACRIFICES 39

V. ON THE MYTHUS 43

VI. DAVID'S NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE THE POLITICS OF THE SITUATION 47

VII. THE JEWS AS A SEPARATE PEOPLE 62

VIII. 'WHAT IS TRUTH?' THE JESTING PILATE SAID A FALSE GLOSS 68

IX. WHAT SCALIGER SAYS ABOUT THE EPISTLE TO JUDE 71

X. MURDER AS A FINE ART 77

XI. ANECDOTES JUVENAL 85

XII. ANNA LOUISA 89

XIII. SOME THOUGHTS ON BIOGRAPHY 100

XIV. GREAT FORGERS: CHATTERTON AND WALPOLE, AND 'JUNIUS' 125

XV. DANIEL O'CONNELL 132

XVI. FRANCE PAST AND FRANCE PRESENT 143

XVII. ROME'S RECRUITS AND ENGLAND'S RECRUITS 147

XVIII. NATIONAL MANNERS AND FALSE JUDGMENT OF THEM 163

XIX. INCREASED POSSIBILITIES OF SYMPATHY IN THE PRESENT AGE 165

XX. THE PRINCIPLE OF EVIL 168

XXI. ON MIRACLES 173

XXII. 'LET HIM COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS' 177

XXIII. IS THE HUMAN RACE ON THE DOWN GRADE? 180