THACKERAY IN AMERICA.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 783, 15 October 1853, Page 4

THACKERAY IN AMERICA.

Mr. Thackeray has written a preface to one of the volumes of'his works, recently reprinted by the Applotons, in which he speaks of his visit to this country, his reception, the popularity of his books, &c., in terms which lead us to copy it—aS“On coming into this country, I found that the projectors"of this scries of little hooks had preceded my arrival hy publishing a number of early works, which have appeared under various pseud on vines during the last fifteen years. I was not the master to choose what stories of mine should appear or not: these miscellanies were all advertised, or in course of publication; nor have I had the good fortune to he able to draw a pen, or alter a blunder of author or printer, except in the case of the accompanying volumes, which contain contributions to Punch, whence I have been enabled to make something like a selection. In the “ Letters of Mr. Brown,” and the succeeding short essays and descriptive pieces, something graver and less burlesque was attempted than in other pieces which I here publish. My friend, the “ Fat Contributor,” accompanied Mr. Titmarsh in his “ Journey from Cornhill to Cairo.” The prize novels contain imitations, not malicious, I hope, nor unamusing, of the writings of some contemporaries who still live and flourish in the novelist’s calling. I myself had scarcely entered on it when these huresqne tales were begun, and stopped further parody from a sense that this merry task of making fun of the novelists should be left to younger hands than ray own; and in a little hook published some four years since in England, hy my fri ends Messrs. Hanny and Shirley Brooks, I saw a caricature of myself and writings to the full as ludicrous and faithful as the Prize novels of Mr. Punch. Nor was there, had I desired it, any possibility of preventing the reappearances of these performances. Other publishers besides the Messrs. Appleton, were ready to bring my hidden works to the light. Very many of the other works printed I have not scon since their appearance twelve years ago, and it was with no small feelings of curiosity (remembering under what sad circumstances the tale had been left unfinished,) that I bought the incomplete “Shabby Genteel Story” in a railway car on my first journey from Boston hither, from a rosy cheeked little peripatetic book merchant, who called out “ Thackeray’s Works,” in such a kind, gay voice, as gave me a feeling of friendship and welcome. Here is an opportunity of being cither satiric or sentimental. The careless papers written at an early period, and never seen since the printer’s hoy carried them away, are brought hack and laid at the father’s door, and he cannot, if he would, forget or disown his own children. Why were some of the little brats brought out of their obscurity? I own to a feeling of anything hut pleasure in reviewing some of these misshapen juvenile creatures which the publisher has disinterred and resuscitated. There are two performences especially, (among the critical and biographical works of the erudite Mr. YellowPlush) which I am very sorry to see reproduced, sind 1 ask pardon of the author of the Caxtons for a lampoon, which I know he himself has forgiven, and which I wish I could recall. I had never seen that eminent writer but once in public when the satire was penned, and wonder at the recklessness of the young man who could fancy such personality was harmless jocularity, and' never calculate that it might give pain* The best experiences of my life have been gained since that time of youth and gaiety and careless laughter. I allude to them, perhaps, because I would not have any kind and friendly American reader judge of me hy these wild performances of early years. Such a retrospect as the sight of these old acquaintances perforce occasioned, cannot, if it would, be gay. The old scenes return, the remembrance of the by-gone time, the chamber in which the stories were ■written; the faces that shone round the table. Some biographers in this country have been pleased to depict that homely apartment after a very strange and romantic fashion; and an author in the direct struggles of poverty waited upon hy a family domestic in “all the splendor of his menial decorations,” has been circumstantially described to the reader’s amusement as the writers’ own, I may be permitted to assure the former that the splendour and the want were alike fanciful; and that the meals were not only sufficient, hut honestly paid for. That extreme liberality with which American publishers have printed the works the English author, has had at least this beneficial result for ns, that our names and writings are known by multitudes using our common mother tongue, who never had heard of ns or our hooks hut for the speculators who have sent them all over this Continent.

It is, of course, not unnatural for the English writer to hope that some clay he may share a portion of the profits which "his works bring at present to the persons who vend them in this country; and I 'am bound gratefully to say myself, that since my arrival here I have met with several publishing houses who are willing to acknowledge our little claim to participate in the advantages arising out of our books; and the present writer having long since ascertained that a portion of a loaf is more satisfactory than no bread al all, gratefully accepts and acknowledges several slices which the book purveyors in this city have proffered to him of their free will. If we are not paid in full and in specie as yet, English writers surely ought to he thankful for the very great kindness and friendliness with which the American Republic receive them; and if we hope some day that measures may pass here to legalize our rights to profit a little Ijy the commodities which we invent, and in which we deal, I, for one, can cheerfully say that the goodwill towards us from publishers and public is undoubted, and wait for still better times with perfect confidence and humour.

If I have to complain of any special hardship, it is, not that our favourite works are reproduced, and our children introduced to the American public—children, whom he have educated with care, and in whom we have a little paternal pride; but that ancient magazines are ransacked, and shabby old articles dragged out, which we had gladly left in the wardrobes where they have lain hidden many years, There is no control, however, over a man’s thoughts—once uttered and printed, back they may come upon us on any sudden day; and in this collection, which Messrs. Appleton are publishing, I find two or three such early productions of my own that I gladly would take back, but they have long since gone out of the paternal guardianship. If not printed in this scries, they would have appeared from other presses, having not the slightest need of the authors own imprimature; and I cannot sufficiently condole with a literary gentleman of this city, who (in his voyage of professional adventure) came upon an early performance of mine, which shall be nameless, carried the news of the discovery to a publisher of hooks, and had actually done me the favour to sell my book to that liberal man, when, behold, Messrs. Appleton announced the hook in the press, and my confrere had to refund the prize money which had been paid him. And if lie is a little chagrined at finding other intrepid voyagers beforehand with him in taking posession of my island, and the American flag already floating there, he will understand the feelings of the harmless hut kindly treated aboriginal native, who makes every sign of peace, who smokes the pipe of submission, and meekly acquiesces in his own annexation.

I-i* sdcl tint tliose only who win should laugh, i in this case, my readers will not grudge the losing side its share of harmless good humour—if I have contributed to theirs, or provided them with means of amusement, I am glad to think my books have found favour with the American public, as I am proud to own the great and cordial welcome with which they have received me. W. M. Thackeray.