The Life of Edward Gibbon, Esq: With Selections from His Correspondence, and ... - Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman - Google Books

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ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST EDITION.

Public; nor have I thought myself at liberty to present it, in the shape in which he left it. But when reduced to an account of his literary occupations, it forms so singular and so interesting a portrait of an indefatigable student, that I persuade myself it will be regarded as a valuable acquisition by the Literary World, and as an accession of fame to the memory of my Friend. With the extracts from Mr. Gibbon's journal will be printed, his dissertations, entitled "Extraits Raisonnés de mes Lectures :" and " Recueil de mes Observations, et Pièces détachées sur différens Sujets." A few other passages from other parts of the journals, introduced in notes, will make a curious addition to the Memoirs.

It remains only to express a wish, that in discharging this latest office of affection, my regard to the memory of my Friend may appear, as I trust it will do, proportioned to the high satisfaction which I enjoyed for many years in possessing his entire confidence, and very partial attachment.

SHEFFIELD.

SHEFFIELD-PLACE, 6th Aug. 1795.

CONTENTS.

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

Account and Anecdotes of the Author's Family. - South Sea

Scheme, and the Bill of Pains and Penalties against the

Directors; among whom was the Author's Grandfather.

Character of Mr. William Law.

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

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. Affectionate Observations on his Aunt,

Mrs. Catharine Porten. Is entered at Westminster School;

is removed on account of ill health, and afterwards placed

under the care of the Rev. Mr. Francis

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

Enters a Gentleman Commoner at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Remarks on that University. Some Account of Mag-

dalen College. Character of Dr. Waldegrave, Mr. Gibbon's

first Tutor. The Author determines to write an History;

its Subject.- Solution of a Chronological Difficulty. -

Mr. Gibbon is converted to the Roman Catholic Religion;

cites the Examples of Chillingworth and Bayle; their Cha-

racters. Mr. Gibbon obliged to leave Oxford. Farther

Remarks on the University

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

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. Makes the Tour of Switzerland; forms a Cor-

respondence 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

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

Mr. Gibbon's manner of spending his Time. He publishes

his first Work, Essai sur l'Etude de la Littérature. Some

Observations on the Plan, and the Character of the Perform-

Character of Dr. Maty. — The Author's manner of

passing his Time in the Hampshire Militia, and Reflections

He resumes his Studies; determines to write

upon some Historical Subject; considers various Subjects,

and makes Remarks upon them for that purpose

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

Mr. Gibbon sees Mallet's Elvira performed. - Character of

that Play. Passes some time at Paris, gives an Account of

the Persons with whom he chiefly associated; proceeds,

through Dijon and Besançon, to Lausanne. Characterises

a Society there, called La Société du Printems. Becomes

acquainted with Mr. Holroyd, now Lord Sheffield. - Re-

marks on their Meeting. - 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

-

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

Mr. Gibbon's Reflections upon his Situation. Some Account

of his Friend M. Deyverdun. — He writes, and commu-

dicates to his Friends, an Historical Essay upon the Liberty

of the Swiss. Their unfavourable Judgment.

Hume's Opinion. - Mr. Gibbon and M. Deyverdun engage

in a Periodical Work, as a Continuation of Dr. Maty's

Journal Britannique; entitled, Mémoires Littéraires de la

Grand Bretagne. - Account of the Work. Mr. Gibbon

publishes his Observations on the VIth Æneid 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. Reflections on his domestic

Circumstances; his Father's Death and Character. Page 211

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

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.

lishes his First Volume; its Reception. Mr. Hume's Opinion,

in a Letter to the Author

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

Mr. Gibbon makes a Second Visit to Paris. His Dispute with

the Abbé Mably. He enumerates and characterises the

Writers who wrote against his 15th and 16th Chapters.-

- By the Desire of Ministry, he writes the Mémoire Justi-

ficatif. By the Interest of Lord Loughborough is ap-

pointed one of the Lords of Trade. - Publishes his Se-

cond and Third Volumes of his History; their Reception. —

Mentions Archdeacon Travis's Attack upon him, and com-

mends Mr. Porson's Answer to the Archdeacon..

also Bishop Newton's Censure. Proceeds in his His-

Mr. Gibbon leaves London, and settles at Lausanne, in the

House of his Friend M. Deyverdun; his Reasons for doing

so. Reflections on his Change of Situation. Short Cha-

racters of Prince Henry of Prussia and of Mr. Fox, both

of whom he sees at Lausanne. · Proceeds in, and finishes

his History. Interesting Remarks on concluding it. - Pays

a Visit to Lord Sheffield in England.. Remarks on Lord

Sheffield's Writings; publishes 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 Government of

Berne, and his own Situation.-The Memoires end. Page 282

NOTES AND ADDITIONS

LETTERS FROM EDWARD GIBBON, ESQ. TO THE RIGHT HON.

LETTERS FROM EDWARD GIBBON, ESQ. TO LORD SHEffield

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