Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 56.djvu/99

Thackeray  from the first, and resolved to finish his education by travelling. He in 1830 went by Godesberg and Cologne, where he made some stay, to Weimar. There he spent some months. He was delighted by the homely and friendly ways of the little German court, which afterwards suggested 'Pumpernickel,' and was made welcome in all the socialities of the place. He had never been in a society more simple, charitable, courteous, gentlemanlike.' He was introduced to Goethe, whom he long afterwards described in a letter published in Lewes's 'Life of Goethe' (reprinted in 'Works,' vol. xxv.) He delighted then, as afterwards, in drawing caricatures to amuse children, and was flattered by hearing that the great man had looked at them. He seems to have preferred the poetry of Schiller, whose 'religion and morals,' as he observes, 'were unexceptionable,' and who was 'by far the favourite' at Weimar. He translated some of Schiller's and other German poems, and thought of making a book about German manners and customs. He did not, however, become a profound student of the literature. His studies at Weimar had been carried on by 'lying on a sofa, reading novels, and dreaming;' but he began to think of the future, and, after some thoughts of diplomacy, resolved to be called to the bar. He read a little civil law, which he did not find 'much to his taste.' He returned to England in 1831, entered the Middle Temple, and in November was settled in chambers in Hare Court.

The 'preparatory education' of lawyers struck him as 'one of the most cold-blooded, prejudiced pieces of invention that ever a man was slave to.' He read with Mr. Taprell, studied his Chitty, and relieved himself by occasional visits to the theatres and a trip to his old friends at Cambridge. He became intimate with Charles Buller [q. v.], who, though he had graduated a little before, was known to the later Cambridge set; and, after the passage of the Reform Bill, went to Liskeard to help in Buller's canvass for the following election. He then spent some time in Paris; and soon after his return finally gave up a profession which seems to have been always distasteful. He had formed an acquaintance with Maginn in 1832 (Diary, in Mrs. Ritchie's possession). F. S. Mahony ('Father Prout') told Blanchard Jerrold that he had given the introduction. This is irreconcilable with the dates of Mahony's life in London. Mahony further said that Thackeray paid 500l. to Maginn to edit a new magazine a statement which, though clearly erroneous, probably refers to some real transaction (B. Jerrold's 'Father Prout' in Belgravia for July 1868). In any case Thackeray was mixing in literary circles and trying to get publishers for his caricatures. A paper had been started on 5 Jan. 1833 called the 'National Standard and Journal of Literature, Science, Music, Theatricals, and the Fine Arts.' Thackeray is said (, i. 235) to have bought this from F. W. N. Bayley [q. v.] At any rate, he became editor and proprietor. He went to Paris, whence he wrote letters to the 'Standard' (end of June to August) and collected materials for articles. He returned to look after the paper about November, and at the end of the year reports that he has lost about 200l. upon it, and that at this rate he will be ruined before it has made a success. Thackeray tells his mother at the same time that he ought to 'thank heaven' for making him a poor man, as he will be 'much happier' presumably as having to work harder. The last number of the 'Standard' appeared on 1 Feb. 1834. The loss to Thackeray was clearly not sufficient to explain the change in his position, nor are the circumstances now ascertainable. A good deal of money was lost at one time by the failure of an Indian bank, and probably by other investments for which his stepfather wos more or less responsible. Thackeray had spent too much at Cambridge, and was led into occasional gambling. He told Sir Theodore Martin that his story of Deuceace (in the 'Yellowplush Papers') represented an adventure of his own. 'I have not seen that man,' he said, pointing to a gambler at Spa, 'since he drove me down in his cabriolet to my bankers in the city, where I sold out my patrimony and handed it over to him.' He added that the sum was lost at écarté, and amounted to 1,500l. ( and, p. 236). This story, which is clearly authentic, must refer to this period. In any case, Thackeray had now to work for his bread. He made up his mind that he could draw better than he could do anything else, and determined to qualify himself as an artist and to study in Paris. 'Three years' apprenticeship would be necessary. He accordingly settled at Paris in 1834. His aunt (Mrs. Ritchie) was living there, and his maternal grandmother accompanied him thither in October and made a home for him. The Smyths about the same time left Devonshire for London (some confusion as to dates has been caused by the accidental fusion of two letters into one in the 'Memorials,' p. 361). He worked in an atelier (probably that of Gros; Haunts 