PREFATORY NOTE
IN the
"advertisement" to the original edition, the editor says: "The
reader will soon discover that this is a work requiring no
introduction to his attention. Indeed, whoever catches a glimpse of
the attractions of the interior, will not be disposed patiently to
listen to any details intended to detain him on the threshold."
While this is so, it may not be out of place in this new edition to
give the reader a brief sketch of the history of the family to which
the author of this extraordinary biography belonged. It will at
least enlighten him, at the outset, with regard to many allusions to
family associations and connections continually cropping up in the
narrative; while it will explain the author's predilection for "the
company of his superiors," which some of the parishioners of
Inveresk raised against him as unbecoming in their minister.
Dr. Carlyle did not
require, like the governess at Balcarres, who, anxious to parade a "lang
pedigree" before her "superiors," instructed her brother in the
Herald Office at Edinburgh to prepare a family tree beginning with
Fergus the First of Scotland, and indicating the several families
she wished introduced. His was without doubt a family of great
antiquity reaching back to, if not before, the Norman Conquest, and
one which was closely allied by marriage to King Robert the Bruce.
[A full account of the Carlyle family will be found in Sir J.
Balfour Paul's Scots Peerage.] The Carlyles—de Karliolo, Carleile,
or Carlisle, as the name was variously spelt —were a Cumberland
family originally, who held property there and in Yorkshire, and
were of considerable authority in the county, and the city of
Carlisle from which the name was derived. In common with other
notable families on the southern border, the Carlyles early began to
add small properties in Scotland to their English lands, and thus
acquired a dual interest in the border country. From their position
in the north they were employed by the English monarchs on service
to the Scottish Court, but such service did not prevent them
occasionally deserting their royal masters in a raid on Scotland,
for on one occasion, at least, we learn that a Robert de Carlisle
had to appear before Henry II., and pay peace money for having
joined King William of Scotland, promising at the same time
allegiance to Henry for the future.
While still holding
allegiance to the English throne, the family associated themselves
with the cause of the Bruces, Lords of Annandale, and through their
influence gradually increased the extent of their property in that
district, which till then was confined to the parish of Cummertrees,
where centuries later Dr. Carlyle's father was minister before he
was translated to Prestonpans. But it was in the days of King Robert
the Bruce that Sir William de Carlisle, having married the King's
sister, Margaret, finally threw off the English allegiance, joined
the Scots, and thereby forfeited his English estates. For this and
other services rendered to Bruce further lands in Annandale were
granted to Sir William and his lady, and the family rose to great
importance in the country. Following this valiant knight were
several generations who took no great part in public affairs, but
through mortgages, as in the case of the Limekilns property, or
otherwise, apparently added considerably to the family estates until
nearly one-half of Annandale was tinder their control.
Towards the end of
the fifteenth century the family again comes into prominence in
Scottish history in the person of Sir John de Carlisle, who was
Keeper of Threave and Lochmaben Castles; was sent on a mission to
France by James the Third; and for the active part he played in
suppressing the Douglas rebellion, was raised to the peerage as Lord
Carlyle of Torthorwald. Of his three successors in the peerage
little is recorded. On the death of the fourth Lord Carlyle the
greater part of the estates passed into the possession of his
granddaughter, but only after long litigation which greatly depleted
them. This lady married a Douglas of Parkhead, and her Carlyle
properties were ultimately merged in those of Douglas of Drumlanrig,
first Earl of Queensberry. With the loss of their property the
family did not relinquish their right to the title, although they
discontinued the use of it, until towards the end of the eighteenth
century the direct male line of the Barons Carlyle of Torthorwald
became extinct.
A great-grandson of
the Sir William de Carlisle of Bruce's day, nephew of the first Lord
Carlyle, obtained from his uncle a charter of the lands of Bridekirk,
and became the ancestor of that branch of the family which
terminated with Dr. Alexander Carlyle's death. The Bridekirk family
do not emerge in Scottish public affairs; but in the reign of
Charles i., one member of it, Ludovick, held a position at Whitehall
as Groom of the Privy Chamber, and later Keeper of Richmond Park,
while he also made some reputation as a playwright. On his
retirement from office in England, he purchased the estate of
Newpark, near Annan, and close to the Bridekirk property. His son
Ludovick, born in 1647, was the father of Mr. William Carlyle,
minister of Cummertrees and later of Prestonpans, and the
grandfather of the author of this Autobiography.
In the course of his
narrative Dr. Carlyle makes frequent reference to his relationship
to the Jardines of Annandale—his father and mother being both
related to branches of that family—and earlier in their history we
find the family became connected by marriage with the Johnstones,
who were represented in Dr. Carlyle's day, and were his great
friends, by Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall and Sir William, who,
on his marriage, assumed the name of Pulteney.
Recognising,
therefore, the position his family for centuries had occupied in the
south of Scotland, and their close association with the powerful
border clans of Douglas, Jardine, and Johnstone, we can realise his
appreciation of the "company of his superiors" in which by "right of
lineage, by culture and talent, by dignity of manner and vivacity in
conversation," Dr. Carlyle naturally took his place, and fulfilled
his part in a manner rare among the clergy of the first half of the
eighteenth century.
In the Supplementary
Chapter by John Hill Burton will be found an explanation of the
nature and conditions of the materials placed in his hands for the
original publication, and the manner in which he thought fit to
execute the trust confided in him. Every reader of the Autobiography
will regret, with Dr. Hill Burton, that the gifted author did not
live to complete his story; while at the same time, also, it will be
admitted that what he has left is a unique picture among the many
that have come down to us of the life and manners of the period in
which he lived.
The Publisher would
here wish to express his indebtedness to Colonel Bell for placing
the original MS. of the Autobiography at his service, by which he
was enabled to correct one or two minor slips in the original issue;
for the use of the first draft of the Autobiography—the
"Recollections"—from which further interesting notes have been added
to this edition; and, finally, for his kind permission to reproduce
for the first time the miniature portrait of Dr. Carlyle which forms
the frontispiece to the volume.
Contents
Chapter I
His birth —His father and the family—Precocious ministerings—Prestonpans
and its social circle—Colonel Charteris—Erskine of Grange—Lady
Grange and her adventures—Colonel Gardiner—The Murray Keith tour to
Dumfries—The social habits of the borderers—Hanging of a border
thief—Goes to the University of Edinburgh--His teachers and
companions—Dr. Witherspoon of New York—Sir John Dalrymple—M'Laurin
the mathematician.
Chapter II
Events of the Porteous mob—Sees the escape of Robertson from
church—Present at the execution of Wilson—The night of the
mob—University studies—Rise of the medical school—Anecdotes and
adventures—Reminiscences of fellow-students—Sir John Pringle—First
acquaintance with Robertson and John Home—Achievements in dancing—Ruddiman
the grammarian—Medicine—The army—The Church—An evening's adventures
with Lord Lovat and Erskine of Grange—Clerical convivialities—Last
session at Edinburgh.
Chapter III
Goes to Glasgow—Leechman, Hutcheson, and the other professors—Life
and society in Glasgow—Rise of trade—Origin of Glasgow
suppers—Clubs—Hutcheson the metaphysician—Simson and Stewart the
mathematicians—Moore—Tour among the clergy of Haddington—The author
of The Grave — Return to Glasgow — College theatricals—Travelling
adventures—News of the landing of Prince Charles—Preparations for
the defence of Edinburgh—The Provost's conduct—Adventures as a
disembodied volunteer—Adventures of John Home and
Robertson—Expedition to view Cope's army—The position of the two
armies—His last interview with Colonel Gardiner—The
battle—Incidents—Inspection of the Highland army—Prince Charles.
Chapter IV
Sets off for Holland—Adventures at Yarmouth—Leyden and the students
there—John Gregory—John Wilkes—Immateriality—Baxter—Charles Townshend—Dr. Aitken —Return to Britain—Violetti the dancer—London
Society —The Lyons—Lord Heathfield—Smollett and John Blair —Suppers
at the Golden Ball—London getting the news of the battle of
Culloden—William Guthrie and Anson's voyages—Byron's narrative—The
theatres and theatrical celebrities—Literary
society—Thomson—Armstrong—Secker.
Chapter V
Return to Scotland—Windsor—Oxford—Travelling adventures—Presented to
the church of Cockburnspath—Subsequently settled at Inveresk—His
settlement there prophesied and foreordained — Anecdotes — Anthony
Collins—Social life in Inveresk and Musselburgh—John Home.
Chapter VI
Ecclesiastical matters—The affair of George Logan—Sketches of the
clergy —Webster—Wallace—Contemporary history of the Church—The
"Moderates" and the "Wild" party—The patronage question—Riding
committees—Revolution in Church polity, and Carlyle's share in
it—Sketches of leaders in the Assembly—Lord Islay, Marchmont, Sir
Gilbert Elliot—Principal Tullidelph.
Chapter VII
Sketches of society — Lord Milton — Lady Hervey —Smollett's visit—Cu
lien's mimicries—Notices and anecdotes of David Hume, Adam Smith,
Adam Ferguson, Dr. Robertson, Dr. Blair, John Home—Foundation of the
Select Society—Completion of the tragedy of Douglas —Adventures of
its author and his friends in conveying it to London—Admiral Byng—The
Carriers' Inn.
Chapter VIII
Preparations for acting the tragedy of Douglas in Edinburgh—Carlyle
attends—A war of pamphlets—The "Libel" against Carlyle—The
ecclesiastical conflict—Characteristics of the combatants—The clergy
of Scotland and the stage—Conduct of Dundas and Wedderburn—Home and
his success—Archibald Duke of Argyle.
Chapter IX
Finds Robertson in London about his history — Home joins them—Their
friends and adventures—Chatham—John Blair the mathematician — Bishop
Douglas —Smollett and his levee of authors—A clay with Garrick at
his villa—Feats at golf there—The clergy of Scotland and the
Window-tax—Adam the architect—An expedition to Portsmouth—Adventures
by land and sea—Meeting with Lord Bute—The journey
home—Oxford—Woodstock—Blenheim—Birmingham—Lord Lyttleton —Shenstone
at the Leasowes.
Chapter X
Visit to Inverary—Charles Townshend and the hospitalities of
Dalkeith—A story of a haunch of venison—Wilkie of the Epigoniad — A
corporation row in Dumfries—Andrew Crosbie—Ossian Macpherson —The
militia pamphlet.
Chapter XI
His marriage—Adam Ferguson and Sister Peg—Death of George ii. and
the Duke of Argyle—Change in the administration of Scotch
affairs—Newcastle and its society in 1760—The Edinburgh Poker
Club—Lord Elibank's sentimental adventures—Dr. Robertson and the
leadership of the Church of Scotland—Harrogate and the company
there—Andrew Millar the bookseller—Benjamin Franklin—Lord Clive.
Chapter XII
Domestic affairs—Henry Dundas—Harrogate revisited—Adventures with a
remarkable bore—The author of Crazy Tales — Ambassador Keith —
Education of the Scots gentry—John Gregory—Mrs. Montague and her
coterie—Death of the author's father—Sudden death of his friend
Jardine—Church politics.
Chapter XIII
Visit to Lord Glasgow with Robertson—Convivialities—Synod
business—Dr. Armstrong—An excursion to Tweed-dale and across the
border—Adventures in Carlisle—The Duke of I3uccleuch and festivities
at Dalkeith—Adam Smith there—Professor Millar of Glasgow.
Chapter XIV
The clergy of Scotland and the Window-tax--Carlyle appointed their
champion—Sojourn in London—The Scotch dancing assembly—Dr. Dodd
preaching to the Magdalenes---The career of Colonel Dow—Anecdotes of
Wolfe and Quebec—Garrick and John Home's plays —Decision of the
Douglas Cause—Lord Mansfield—Conversation at Mrs. Montague's — The
return home —Back to London about the Window-tax—Anecdotes of the
formation of the North Ministry—Conclusion.
Supplementary Chapter
His correspondence on Church matters—His influence—His lighter
correspondence—The great contest of the clerkship—The augmentation
question—Politics—Collins's Ode on the superstition of the
Highlands—Carlyle and poetry—Domestic history—His personal
appearance—The composition of his autobiography—Condition and
editing of the manuscripts—His last days—His death.
Carlyle and the London Library
Account of its Foundation: Together with unpublished letters of Thomas Carlyle to W. D. Christie, C.B.
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