CHAPTER I. 1812-1822.Pages 21-46.Childhood. Æt.1-10.pageBirth at Landport in Portsea21Family of John Dickens22Powers of observation in children23Two years old23In London, æt. 2-323In Chatham, æt. 4-923Vision of boyhood24The queer small child25Mother's teaching26Day-school in Rome Lane27Retrospects of childhood27David Copperfield and Charles Dickens28Access to small but good library29Tragedy-writing30Comic-song singing31Cousin James Lamert31First taken to theatre32At Mr. Giles's school32Encored in the recitations33Boyish recollections33Birthplace of his fancy35Last night in Chatham35In London36First impressions36Bayham Street, Camden-town36Faculty of early observation37His description of his father38Small theatre made for him38Sister Fanny at Royal Academy of Music39Walks about London39Biography and autobiography40At his godfather's and his uncle's41First efforts at description42"Res Angusta Domi"42Mother exerting herself43Father in the Marshalsea43Visit to the prison44Captain Porter44Old friends disposed of45At the pawnbroker's46CHAPTER II. 1822-1824.Pages 47-70.Hard Experiences in Boyhood. Æt.10-12.Mr. Dilke's half-crown48Story of boyhood told48D. C. and C. D.48Enterprise of the cousins Lamert49First employment in life51Blacking-warehouse51A poor little drudge52Bob Fagin and Poll Green52"Facilis Descensus"52Crushed hopes53The home in Gower Street53Regaling alamode54Home broken up54At Mrs. Roylance's in Camden-town55Sundays in prison55Pudding-shops and coffee-shops56What was and might have been57Thomas and Harry58A lodging in Lant Street59Meals in the Marshalsea59C. D. and the Marchioness60Originals of Garland family60Adventure with Bob Fagin61Saturday-night shows61Appraised officially62Publican and wife at Cannon Row63Marshalsea incident inCopperfield64Incident as it occurred65Materials forPickwick66Sister Fanny's musical prize66From Hungerford Stairs to Chandos Street67Father's quarrel with James Lamert68Quits the warehouse68Bitter associations of servitude69What became of the blacking business70CHAPTER III. 1824-1830.Pages 71-95.School-Days and Start In Life. Æt.12-18.Outcome of boyish trials71Disadvantage in later years72Advantages73Next move in life74Wellington House Academy74Revisited and described75Letter from a schoolfellow76C. D.'s recollections of school77Schoolfellow's recollections of C. D.77Fac-simile of schoolboy letter79Daniel Tobin81Another schoolfellow'srecollections82Writing tales and getting up plays83Master Beverley scene-painter84Street-acting84The schoolfellows after forty years85Smallness of the world86In attorneys' offices87At minor theatres88The father on the son's education89Studying short-hand90In British Museum reading-room90Preparing for the gallery91D. C. for C. D.91A real Dora in 182992The same Dora in 185593Dora changed into Flora94Ashes of youth and hope95CHAPTER IV. 1831-1835.Pages 96-106.Reporters' Gallery and Newspaper Literature.Æt.19-23.Reporting forTrue Sun96First seen by me97Reporting forMirrorandChronicle97First published piece97Discipline and experiences of reporting98Life as a reporter99John Black100Mr. Thomas Beard101A letter to his editor102Incident of reporting days102The same more correctly told103Origin of "Boz"104Captain Holland104Mr. George Hogarth105Sketches inEvening Chronicle105C. D.'s first hearty appreciator106CHAPTER V. 1836.Pages 107-115.First Book, and Origin of Pickwick. Æt.24.Sketches by Boz107Fancy-piece by N. P. Willis: a poor English author107Start ofPickwick108Marriage to Miss Hogarth108First connection with Chapman & Hall109Mr. Seymour's part inPickwick109Letters relating thereto110C. D.'s own account110False claims refuted111Pickwick's original, his figure and his name112First sprightly runnings of genius113TheSketchescharacterized114Mr. Seymour's death115New illustrator chosen115Mr. Hablot K. Browne115C. D. leaves the gallery116Strange GentlemanandVillage Coquettes116CHAPTER VI. 1837.Pages 117-140.Writing the Pickwick Papers. Æt.25.First letter from him117As he was thirty-five years ago118Mrs. Carlyle and Leigh Hunt119Birth of eldest son119From Furnival's Inn to Doughty Street119A long-remembered sorrow120I visit him120Hasty compacts with publishers121Self-sold into quasi-bondage121Agreements for editorship and writing121Mr. Macrone's scheme to reissueSketches122Attempts to prevent it123Exorbitant demand123Impatience of suspense123Purchase advised124Oliver Twist125Characters real to himself125Sense of responsibility for his writings126Criticism that satisfied him126Help given with his proofs126WritingPickwick, Nos. 14 and 15127Scenes in a debtors' prison128A recollection of Smollett128Reception ofPickwick129A popular rage129Mr. Carlyle's "dreadful" story130Secrets of success130Pickwickinferior to later books131Exception for Sam Weller and Mr. Pickwick131Personal habits of C. D.132Reliefs after writing133Natural discontents134The early agreements134Tale to followOliver Twist135Compromise with Mr. Bentley135Trip to Flanders135First visit to Broadstairs136Piracies ofPickwick137A sufferer from agreements138First visit to Brighton138What he is doing withOliver Twist139Reading De Foe139"No Thoroughfare"139Proposed help to Macready140CHAPTER VII. 1837-1838.Pages 141-151.Between Pickwick and Nickleby. Æt.25-26.EditsLife of Grimaldi141His own opinion of it142An objection answered142His recollections of 1823142Completion ofPickwick143A purpose long entertained144Relations with Chapman & Hall144Payments made forPickwick145Agreement forNicholas Nickleby145Oliver Twistcharacterized146Reasons for acceptance with every class146Nightmare of an agreement147Letter to Mr. Bentley147Proposal as toBarnaby Rudge148Result of it148Birth of eldest daughter149Young GentlemenandYoung Couples149First number ofNicholas Nickleby1502d of April, 1838150CHAPTER VIII. 1838.Pages 152-164.Oliver Twist. Æt.26.Interest in characters at close ofOliver152Writing of the last chapter153Cruikshank illustrations154Etchings for last volume154How executed154Slander respecting them exposed155Falsehood ascribed to the artist155Reputation of the new tale156Its workmanship157Social evils passed away157Living only in what destroyed them157Chief design of the story158Its principal figures158Comedy and tragedy of crime159Reply to attacks160Le Sage, Gay, and Fielding160Likeness to them161Again the shadow ofBarnaby161Appeal to Mr. Bentley for delay161A very old story162"Sic vos non vobis"162Barnabygiven up by Mr. Bentley163Resignation ofMiscellany163Parent parting from child164CHAPTER IX. 1838-1839.Pages 165-179.Nicholas Nickleby.Æt.26-27.Doubts of success dispelled165Realities of English life166Characters self-revealed167Miss Bates and Mrs. Nickleby167Smike and Dotheboys167A favorite type of humanity168Sydney Smith and Newman Noggs168Kindliness and breadth of humor169Goldsmith and Smollett169Early and later books170Biographical not critical171Characteristics171Materials for the book171Birthday letter172A difficulty at starting172Never in advance withNickleby173Always with later books173Enjoying a play174At the Adelphi174Writing Mrs. Nickleby's love-scene175Sydney Smith vanquished175Winding up the story176Parting from creatures of his fancy177The Nickleby dinner178Persons present178The Maclise portrait178CHAPTER X. 1838-1839.Pages 180-190.During and After Nickleby. Æt.26-27.The Cottage at Twickenham180Daniel Maclise180Ainsworth and other friends181Mr. Stanley of Alderley182Petersham cottage182Childish enjoyments182Writes a farce for Covent Garden183Entered at the Middle Temple183We see Wainewright in Newgate184Oliver Twistand theQuarterly184Hood'sUp the Rhine185Shakspeare Society185Birth of second daughter186House-hunting186Barnabyat his tenth page186Letter from Exeter187A landlady and her friends187A home for his father and mother188Autobiographical189Visit to an upholsterer189Visit from the same190CHAPTER XI. 1839.Pages 191-199.New Literary Project. Æt.27-28.Thoughts for the future191Doubts of old serial form192Suggestion for his publishers192My mediation with them193Proposed weekly publication193Design of it193Old favorites to be revived194Subjects to be dealt with194Chapters on Chambers194Gog and Magog Relaxations194Savage Chronicles195Others as well as himself to write195Travels to Ireland and America in view195Stipulation as to property and payments196Great hopes of success197Assent of his publishers197No planned story197Terms of agreement197Notion for his hero198A name hit upon199Sanguine of the issue199CHAPTER XII. 1840-1841.Pages 200-216.The Old Curiosity Shop. Æt.28-29.Visit to Walter Landor200First thought of Little Nell200Hopeful of Master Humphrey201A title for the child-story202First sale ofMaster Humphrey's Clock202Its original plan abandoned203Reasons for this203To be limited to one story203Disadvantages of weekly publication204A favorite description204In Bevis Marks for Sampson Brass205At Lawn House, Broadstairs205Dedication of his first volume to Rogers205Chapters 43-45206Dick Swiveller and the Marchioness207Masterpiece of kindly fun207Closing of the tale208Effect upon the writer208Making-believe very much209The end approaching209The realities of fiction209Death of Little Nell210My share in the close211A suggestion adopted by him211Success of the story211Useful lessons212Its mode of construction213Character and characteristics213The art of it213A recent tribute214Harte's "Dickens in Camp"215CHAPTER XIII. 1840.Pages 217-231.Devonshire Terrace and Broadstairs. Æt.28.A good saying217Landor mystified218The mirthful side of Dickens218Extravagant flights218Humorous despair219Riding exercise220First of the ravens220The groom Topping220The smoky chimneys221Juryman at an inquest222Practical humanity222Publication ofClock'sfirst number222Transfer ofBarnabysettled223A true prediction224Revisiting old scenes224C. D. to Chapman & Hall224Terms of sale ofBarnaby225A gift to a friend226Final escape from bondage226Published libels about him227Said to be demented227To be insane and turned Catholic228Begging letter-writers228A donkey asked for228Mr. Kindheart229Friendly meetings229Social talk229Reconciling friends230Hint for judging men230CHAPTER XIV. 1841.Pages 232-248.Barnaby Rudge. Æt.29.Advantage in beginningBarnaby232Birth of fourth child and second son233The Raven233A loss in the family234Grip's death235C. D. describes his illness235Family mourners236Apotheosis by Maclise237Grip the second239The inn at Chigwell239AClockDinner240Lord Jeffrey in London240TheLamplighter240ThePic Nic Papers241Character of Lord George Gordon241A doubtful fancy242Interest in new labor243Constraints of weekly publication243The prison-riots244A serious illness244Close ofBarnaby244Character of the tale245Defects in the plot245The No-Popery riots245Descriptive power displayed246Leading persons in story247Mr. Dennis the hangman248CHAPTER XV. 1841.Pages 249-262.Public Dinner in Edinburgh. Æt.29.His son Walter Landor249Dies in Calcutta (1863)250C. D. and the new poor-law250Moore and Rogers251Jeffrey's praise of Little Nell251Resolve to visit Scotland251Edinburgh dinner proposed252Sir David Wilkie's death252Peter Robertson253Professor Wilson253A fancy of Scott254Lionization made tolerable254Thoughts of home255The dinner and speeches255His reception256Wilson's eulogy256Home yearnings257Freedom of city voted to him257Speakers at the dinner257Politics and party influences258Whig jealousies259At the theatre260Hospitalities260Moral of it all260Proposed visit to the Highlands261Maclise and Macready261Guide to the Highlands262Mr. Angus Fletcher (Kindheart)262CHAPTER XVI. 1841.Pages 263-276.Adventures in the Highlands. Æt.29.A fright264Fletcher's eccentricities264The Trossachs264The traveler's guide265A comical picture265Highland accommodation265Grand scenery266Changes in route267A waterfall267Entrance to Glencoe267The pass of Glencoe268Loch Leven269A July evening269Postal service at Loch Earn Head269The maid of the inn270Impressions of Glencoe270An adventure271Torrents swollen with rain271Dangerous traveling272Incidents and accidents272Broken-down bridge273A fortunate resolve273Post-boy in danger274The rescue274Narrow escape274A Highland inn and inmates275English comfort at Dalmally275Dinner at Glasgow proposed276Eagerness for home276CHAPTER XVII. 1841.Pages 277-283.Again at Broadstairs. Æt.29.Peel and his party277Getting very radical278Thoughts of colonizing278Political squib by C. D.278Fine old English Tory times279Mesmerism280Metropolitan prisons280Book by a workman280An August day by the sea281Another story in prospect281Clockdiscontents281New adventure282Agreement for it signed282The book that proved to beChuzzlewit283Peel and Lord Ashley283Visions of America283CHAPTER XVIII. 1841.Pages 284-291.Eve of the Visit To America. Æt.29.Greetings from America284Reply to Washington Irving284Difficulties in the way285Resolve to go286Wish to revisit scenes of boyhood286Proposed book of travel286Arrangements for the journey287Impatience of suspense287Resolve to leave the children288Mrs. Dickens reconciled288A grave illness288Domestic griefs289The old sorrow289At Windsor290Son Walter's christening290At Liverpool with the travelers291CHAPTER XIX. 1842.Pages 292-309.First Impressions of America. Æt.30.Rough passage293A steamer in a storm293Resigned to the worst293Of himself and fellow-travelers294The Atlantic from deck294The ladies' cabin294Its occupants295Card-playing on the Atlantic295Ship-news296A wager297Halifax harbor297Ship aground297Captain Hewitt298Speaker of House of Assembly299Ovation to C. D.299Arrival at Boston300Incursion of editors300At Tremont House300The welcome301Deputations301Dr. Channing to C. D.302Public appearances302A secretary engaged303Bostonians303General characteristics304Personal notices304Perils of steamers305A home-thought305American institutions306How first impressed306Reasons for the greeting306What was welcomed in C. D.307Old World and New World308Daniel Webster as to C. D.308Channing as to C. D.308Subsequent disappointments309New York invitation to dinnerBracketFacing page309.Fac-similes of signaturesAdditional fac-similesNew York invitation to ballFac-similes of signaturesAdditional fac-similesCHAPTER XX. 1842.Pages 310-334.Second Impressions of America. Æt.30.Second letter310International copyright311Third letter311The dinner at Boston312Worcester, Springfield, and Hartford313Queer traveling313Levees at Hartford and New Haven313At Wallingford314Serenades314Cornelius C. Felton315Payment of personal expenses declined315At New York315Irving and Colden315Description of the ball316Newspaper accounts317A phase of character317Opinion in America318International copyright318American authors in regard to it319Outcry against the nation's guest319Declines to be silent on copyright319Speech at dinner320Irving in the chair320Chairman's break-down321An incident afterwards in London321Results of copyright speeches322A bookseller's demand for help322Suggestion for copyright memorial323Henry Clay's opinion323Life in New York324Distresses of popularity324Intentions for future325Refusal of invitations325Going south and west325As to return326Dangers incident to steamers326Slavery327Ladies of America327Party conflicts328Non-arrival of Cunard steamer328Copyright petition for Congress328No hope of the Caledonia329A substitute for her330Anxiety as to letters330Of distinguished Americans330Hotel bills331Thoughts of the children331Acadia takes Caledonia's place332Letter to C. D. from Carlyle332Carlyle on copyright332Argument against stealing333Rob Roy's plan worth bettering334C. D. as to Carlyle334CHAPTER XXI. 1842.Pages 335-357.Philadelphia, Washington, and the South. Æt.30.At Philadelphia335Rule in printing letters335Promise as to railroads336Experience of them337Railway-cars337Charcoal stoves337Ladies' cars338Spittoons338Massachusetts and New York339Police-cells and prisons339House of detention and inmates340Women and boy prisoners341Capital punishment342A house of correction342Four hundred single cells343Comparison with English prisons344Inns and landlords344At Washington344Hotel extortion345Philadelphia penitentiary345The solitary system345Solitary prisoners346Talk with inspectors346Bookseller Carey347Changes of temperature347Henry Clay348Proposed journeyings348Letters from England349Congress and Senate349Leading American statesmen349The people of America350Englishmen "located" there350"Surgit amari aliquid"351The copyright petition351At Richmond351Irving appointed to Spain352Experience of a slave city353Incidents of slave-life353Discussion with a slaveholder353Feeling of South to England354Levees at Richmond354One more banquet accepted355My gift ofShakspeare355Home letters and fancies356Self-reproach of a noble nature356Washington Irving's leave-taking357CHAPTER XXII. 1842.Pages 358-380.Canal-Boat Journeys: bound Far West. Æt.30.Character in the letters358TheNotesless satisfactory359Personal narrative in letters359The copyright differences360Social dissatisfactions360A fact to be remembered361Literary merits of the letters361Personal character portrayed362On board for Pittsburgh362Choicest passages ofNotes362Queer stage-coach363Something revealed on the top364At Harrisburg364Treaties with Indians365Local legislatures365A levee365Morning and night in canal-boat366At and after breakfast366Making the best of it367Hardy habits368By rail across mountain368Mountain scenery369New settlements369Original of Eden inChuzzlewit369A useful word370Party in America371Home news371Meets an early acquaintance372"Smallness of the world"372Queer customers at levees372Our anniversary373The Cincinnati steamer374Frugality in water and linen374Magnetic experiments375Life-preservers376Bores376Habits of neatness377Wearying for home377Another solitary prison378New terror to loneliness378Arrival at Cincinnati378Two judges in attendance379The city described379On the pavement380CHAPTER XXIII. 1842.Pages 381-406.The Far West: to Niagara Falls. Æt.30.Descriptions in letters and inNotes381Outline of westward travel382An Arabian-Night city383A temperance festival383A party at Judge Walker's383The party from another view384Young lady's description of C. D.384Mournful results of boredom385Down the Mississippi386Listening and watching386A levee at St. Louis386Compliments387Lord Ashburton's arrival387Talk with a judge on slavery388A negro burnt alive388Feeling of slaves themselves389American testimony389Pretty little scene390A mother and her husband390The baby391St. Louis in sight392Meeting of wife and husband392Trip to a prairie393On the prairie at sunset393General character of scenery394The prairie described394Disappointment and enjoyment394Soirée at Planter's House Inn395Good fare395No gray heads in St. Louis396Dueling396Mrs. Dickens as a traveler397From Cincinnati to Columbus397What a levee is like398From Columbus to Sandusky398The travelers alone399A log house inn400Making tidy400A monetary crisis400Americans not a humorous people401The only recreations401From Sandusky to Buffalo402On Lake Erie402Reception and consolation of a mayor403From Buffalo to Niagara403Nearing the Falls404The Horse-shoe404Effect upon him of Niagara405The old recollection405Looking forward406CHAPTER XXIV. 1842.Pages 407-418.Niagara and Montreal. Æt.30.Last two letters407Dickens vanquished407Obstacles to copyright408Two described408Value of literary popularity409Substitute for literature410The secretary described410His paintings411The lion and ——411Toryism of Toronto412Canadian attentions412Proposed theatricals413Last letter413The private play414Stage manager's report414Bill of the performance415The lady performers417A touch of Crummles417Home418