CHARLES ROBERT MATURIN
HIS LIFE AND WORKS
BY
NIILO IDMAN
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_To be presented, with the permission of the Philosophical
Faculty of the University of Helsingfors, for public criticism
in the hall of the Hist.-Philol. Section on May 12:th
1923, at 12 o’clock._
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HELSINGFORS 1923
HELSINGFORS CENTRALTRYCKERI
Preface.
The completion of this book has been retarded by circumstances
unforeseen in the winter of 1914, when I collected most of its
materials. I have not, since then, had any opportunity of visiting
England, and have thus been unable to augment and verify these
materials--which must account for what incompleteness and inaccuracy
there may be found in the text as well as in the notes. For the
same reason I have been compelled strictly to limit the range of my
study, and to desist from all inquiry into Maturin’s influence on the
romantic movement in France. Neither can my account of his connection
with English literature of the latter part of the 19:th century lay
any claim to completeness, being confined only to some of the most
obvious instances. The fact, however, of this influence’s having been
greater than is, perhaps, generally known, would seem to justify the
publication of a study of Maturin’s own works exclusively. These,
apart from the intrinsic merit of the best of them, possess, moreover,
the interest of being extremely characteristic of, I think, a most
fascinating period in the history of literature. It will possibly be
remarked that those of them whose literary value is certainly not
important, are, in my study, reviewed at rather unnecessary length; but
as they have long ago disappeared, not only from the market but also
from most libraries, the reader who may take an interest in some of
the ideas which they reflect and which are so unfamiliar to our own
times, has very few opportunities to become acquainted with the books
themselves.
During the course of my work I have received kind assistance from
many quarters, which it is my agreeable duty here to acknowledge. For
much valuable advice my gratitude is due to Mr. D. J. O’Donoghue, of
University College, Dublin, who was the first to encourage me to set
about a study of Maturin, and to Professor Yrjö Hirn, of Helsingfors,
who has, with a never-failing interest, followed my work from its
beginning. For unpublished biographical material I am under obligation
to Mr. John Murray, for having permitted me to make use of Maturin’s
letters to John Murray, the publisher; and to Miss Ella Hepworth
Dixon, who has placed Maturin’s correspondence with Sir Charles and
Lady Morgan at my disposal. I must also mention that Mr. More Adey
has favoured me with the loan of such of Maturin’s works as I do not
possess, without which kindness the completion of my study would have
been utterly impossible. Lastly, it remains to offer my best thanks to
Mr. S. Sydney Silverman for help rendered me in point of language, the
book being written in what is to me an acquired tongue.
N. I.
Helsingfors, _April 1923_.
Contents.
Page
CHAPTER I
Romanticism; Maturin’s family and descent; childhood, college
course, marriage; curacy of Loughrea, curacy of St. Peter’s 1