The Evening Walk: A Poem. By the Marquis Douro 1830
A Translation into English Verse of the First Book of Voltaire’s Henriade. By Charlotte Brontë 1830
Albion and Marina: A Tale. By Lord Wellesley 1830
The Adventures of Ernest Alembert: A Fairy Tale. By Charlotte Brontë 1830
The Violet: A Poem. With several smaller Pieces. By the Marquess of Douro. Published by Seargeant Tree. Glasstown, 1830 1830
The Bridal. By C. Brontë 1832
Arthuriana; or, Odds and Ends: Being a Miscellaneous Collection of Pieces in Prose and Verse. By Lord Charles A. F. Wellesley 1833
Something about Arthur. Written by Charles Albert Florian Wellesley 1833
The Vision. By Charlotte Brontë 1833
The Secret and Lily Hart: Two Tales. By Lord Charles Wellesley
[The first page of this book is given in facsimile in vol. i. of Mrs. Gaskell’s Life of Charlotte Brontë.] 1833
Visits in Verdopolis. By the Honourable Charles Albert Florian Wellesley. Two vols. 1833
The Green Dwarf: A Tale of the Perfect Tense. By Lord Charles Albert Florian Wellesley. Charlotte Brontë. 1833
The Foundling: A Tale of our own Times. By Captain Tree 1833
Richard Cœur de Lion and Blondel. By Charlotte Brontë, 8vo, p . Signed in full Charlotte Brontë, and dated Haworth, near Bradford, Dec. 27th, 1833 1833
My Angria and the Angrians. By Lord Charles Albert Florian Wellesley 1834
A Leaf from an Unopened Volume; or, The Manuscript of an Unfortunate Author. Edited by Lord Charles Albert Florian Wellesley 1834
Corner Dishes: Being a small Collection of . . . Trifles in Prose and Verse. By Lord Charles Albert Florian Wellesley 1834
The Spell: An Extravaganza. By Lord Charles Albert Florian Wellesley. Signed Charlotte Brontë, June 21st, 1834. The contents include: 1. Preface, half page; 2. The Spell, 26 pages; 3. High Life in Verdopolis: or The Difficulties of Annexing a Suitable Title to a Work Practically Illustrated in Six Chapters. By Lord C. A. F. Wellesley, March 20, 1834, 22 pages; 4. The Scrap-Book: A Mingling of Many Things. Compiled by Lord C. A. F. Wellesley. C. Brontë, March 17th, 1835, 31 pages.
[This volume is in the British Museum.]
Death of Darius Cadomanus: A Poem. By Charlotte Brontë. P . Signed in full, and dated 1835
Saul and Memory: Two Poems. By C. Brontë. P 1835
Passing Events 1836
‘We Wove a Web in Childhood’: A poem (pp. vi.), signed C. Brontë, Haworth, Dec’br. 19th, 1835 1835
The Wounded Stag, and other Poems. Signed C. Brontë. Jan’y. 19, 1836. P 1836
Lord Douro: A Story. Signed C. Brontë. July 21st, 1837 1837
Poems. By C. Brontë. P 1838
Lettre d’Invitation à un Ecclésiastique. Signed Charlotte Brontë. Le 21 Juillet, 1842. Large 8vo, p . A French exercise written at Brussels 1842
John Henry. By Charlotte Brontë, Crown 8vo, p , written in pencil circa 1852
Willie Ellin. By Charlotte Brontë. Crown 8vo, p May and June 1853
The following, included in Charlotte’s ‘Catalogue of my Books’ printed by Mrs. Gaskell, are not now forthcoming:
Leisure Hours: A Tale, and two Fragments July 6th, 1829
The Adventures of Edward de Crak: A Tale Feb. 2nd, 1830
An Interesting Incident in the Lives of some of the most eminent Persons of the Age: A Tale June 10th, 1830
The Poetaster: A Drama. In two volumes, July 12th, 1830
A Book of Rhymes, finished December 17th, 1829
Miscellaneous Poems, finished
[These Miscellaneous Poems are probably poems written upon separate sheets, and not forming a complete book — indeed, some half dozen such separate poems are still extant. The last item given in Charlotte’s list of these Miscellaneous Poems is The Evening Walk, 1820; this is a separate book, and is included in the list above.] May 3rd, 1830
BY EMILY BRONTË
A volume of Poems, 8vo, p ; signed (at the top of the first page) E. J. B. Transcribed February 1814. Each poem is headed with the date of its composition. Of the poems included in this book four are still unprinted, the remainder were published in the Poems of 1846. The whole are written in microscopic characters 1844
A volume of Poems, square 8vo, p . Each poem is dated, and the first is signed E. J. Brontë, August 19th, 1837. Written in an ordinary, and not a minute, handwriting. All unpublished 1837-1839
A series of poems written in a minute hand upon both sides of fourteen or fifteen small slips of paper of various sizes. All unpublished 1833-1839
Lettre and Réponse. An exercise in French. Large 8vo, p . Signed E. J. Brontë, and dated 16 Juillet 1842
L’Amour Filial. An exercise in French. Small quarto, p . Signed in full Emily J. Brontë, and dated 5 Aout 1842
BY ANNE BRONTË.
Verses by Lady Geralda, and other poems. A crown 8vo volume of 28 pages. Each poem is signed (or initialled) and dated, the dates extending from 1836 to 1837. The poems are all unpublished 1836-1837
The North Wind, and other poems. A crown 8vo volume of 26 pages. Each poem is signed (or initialled) and dated, some having in addition to her own name the nom-de-guerre Alexandrina Zenobia or Olivia Vernon. The dates extend from 1838 to 1840. The poems are all unpublished 1838-1840
To Cowper, and other poems. 8vo, p . Of the nine poems contained in this volume three are signed Anne Brontë, four are signed A. Brontë, and two are initialled ‘A. B.’ All are dated. Part of these Poems are unpublished, the remainder appeared in the Poems of 1846 1842-1845
A thin 8vo volume of poems (mostly dated 1845), p , each being signed A. Brontë, or simply ‘A. B.’ — some having in addition to, or instead of, her own name the nom-de-guerre Zerona. A few of these poems are unprinted; the remainder are a portion of Anne’s contribution to the Poems of 1846 circa 1845
Song: ‘Should Life’s first feelings be forgot’ (one octavo leaf)
[A fair copy (2 p vo) of a poem by Branwell Brontë, in the hand-writing of Anne Brontë.] 1845
The Power of Love, and other poems. Post octavo, p . Each poem is signed (or initialled) and dated 1845-1846
Self Communion, a Poem. 8vo, p . Signed ‘A. B.’ and dated April 17th, 1848 1848
BY BRANWELL BRONTË.
The Battle of Washington. By P. B. Brontë. With full-page coloured illustrations
[An exceedingly childish production, and the earliest of all the Brontë manuscripts.] 1827
History of the Rebellion in my Army 1828
The Travels of Rolando Segur: Comprising his Adventures throughout the Voyage, and in America, Europe, the South Pole, etc. By Patrick Branwell Brontë. In two volumes 1829
A Collection of Poems. By Young Soult the Rhymer. Illustrated with Notes and Commentaries by Monsieur Chateaubriand. In two volumes 1829
The Liar Detected. By Captain Bud 1830
Caractacus: A Dramatic Poem. By Young Soult 1830
The Revenge: A Tragedy, in three Acts. By Young Soult. P. B. Brontë. In two volumes. Glasstown
[Although the title page reads ‘in two volumes,’ the book is complete in one volume only.] 1830
The History of the Young Men. By John Bud 1831
Letters from an Englishman. By Captain John Flower. In six volumes 1830-1832
The Monthly Intelligencer. No. 1
[The only number produced of a projected manuscript newspaper, by Branwell Brontë. The MS. consists of 4 p to, arranged in columns, precisely after the manner of an ordinary journal.] March 27, 1833
Real Life in Verdopolis: A Tale. By Captain John Flower, M.P. In two volumes. P. B. Brontë 1833
The Politics of Verdopolis: A Tale. By Captain John Flower. P. B. Brontë 1833
The Pirate: A Tale. By Captain John Flower
[The most pretentious of Branwell’s prose stories.] 1833
Thermopylae: A Poem. By P. B. Brontë. 8vo, p 1834
And the Weary are at Rest: A Tale. By P. B. Brontë 1834
/> The Wool is Rising: An Angrian Adventure. By the Right Honourable John Baron Flower 1834
Ode to the Polar Star, and other Poems. By P. B. Brontë. Quarto, p 1834
The Life of Field Marshal the Right Honourable Alexander Percy, Earl of Northangerland. In two volumes. By John Bud. P. B. Brontë 1835
The Rising of the Angrians: A Tale. By P. B. Brontë 1836
A Narrative of the First War. By P. B. Brontë 1836
The Angrian Welcome: A Tale. By P. B. Brontë 1836
Percy: A Story. By P. B. Brontë
A packet containing four small groups of Poems, of about six or eight pages each, mostly without titles, but all either signed or initialled, and dated from 1836 to 1838 1837
Love and Warfare: A Story. By P. B. Brontë 1839
Lord Nelson, and other Poems. By P. B. Brontë. Written in pencil. Small 8vo, p
[This book contains a full-page pencil portrait of Branwell Brontë, drawn by himself, as well as four carefully finished heads. These give an excellent idea of the extent of Branwell’s artistic skill.] 1844
CHAPTER III: SCHOOL AND GOVERNESS LIFE
In seeking for fresh light upon the development of Charlotte Brontë, it is not necessary to discuss further her childhood’s years at Cowan Bridge. She left the school at nine years of age, and what memories of it were carried into womanhood were, with more or less of picturesque colouring, embodied in Jane Eyre. From 1825 to 1831 Charlotte was at home with her sisters, reading and writing as we have seen, but learning nothing very systematically. In 1831-32 she was a boarder at Miss Wooler’s school at Roe Head, some twenty miles from Haworth. Miss Wooler lived to a green old age, dying in the year 1885. She would seem to have been very proud of her famous pupil, and could not have been blind to her capacity in the earlier years. Charlotte was with her as governess at Roe Head, and later at Dewsbury Moor. It is quite clear that Miss Brontë was head of the school in all intellectual pursuits, and she made two firm friends — Ellen Nussey and Mary Taylor. A very fair measure of French and some skill in drawing appear to have been the most striking accomplishments which Charlotte carried back from Roe Head to Haworth. There are some twenty drawings of about this date, and a translation into English verse of the first book of Voltaire’s Henriade. With Ellen Nussey commenced a friendship which terminated only with the pencilled notes written from Charlotte Brontë’s deathbed. The first suggestion of a regular correspondence is contained in the following letter.
TO MISS ELLEN NUSSEY
‘Haworth, July 21st, 1832.
‘My dearest Ellen, — Your kind and interesting letter gave me the sincerest pleasure. I have been expecting to hear from you almost every day since my arrival at home, and I at length began to despair of receiving the wished-for letter. You ask me to give you a description of the manner in which I have passed every day since I left school. This is soon done, as an account of one day is an account of all. In the mornings, from nine o’clock to half-past twelve, I instruct my sisters and draw, then we walk till dinner; after dinner I sew till tea-time, and after tea I either read, write, do a little fancy-work, or draw, as I please. Thus in one delightful, though somewhat monotonous course, my life is passed. I have only been out to tea twice since I came home. We are expecting company this afternoon, and on Tuesday next we shall have all the female teachers of the Sunday school to tea. I do hope, my dearest Ellen, that you will return to school again for your own sake, though for mine I would rather that you would remain at home, as we shall then have more frequent opportunities of correspondence with each other. Should your friends decide against your returning to school, I know you have too much good-sense and right feeling not to strive earnestly for your own improvement. Your natural abilities are excellent, and under the direction of a judicious and able friend (and I know you have many such), you might acquire a decided taste for elegant literature, and even poetry, which, indeed, is included under that general term. I was very much disappointed by your not sending the hair; you may be sure, my dearest Ellen, that I would not grudge double postage to obtain it, but I must offer the same excuse for not sending you any. My aunt and sisters desire their love to you. Remember me kindly to your mother and sisters, and accept all the fondest expressions of genuine attachment, from your real friend
‘Charlotte Brontë.
‘P.S. — Remember the mutual promise we made of a regular correspondence with each other. Excuse all faults in this wretched scrawl. Give my love to the Miss Taylors when you see them. Farewell, my dear, dear, dear Ellen.’
Reading, writing, and as thorough a domestic training as the little parsonage could afford, made up the next few years. Then came the determination to be a governess — a not unnatural resolution when the size of the family and the modest stipend of its head are considered. Far more prosperous parents are content in our day that their daughters should earn their living in this manner. In 1835 Charlotte went back to Roe Head as governess, and she continued in that position when Miss Wooler removed her school to Dewsbury Moor in 1836.
TO MISS ELLEN NUSSEY
‘Dewsbury Moor, August 24th, 1837.
‘My dear Ellen, — I have determined to write lest you should begin to think I have forgotten you, and in revenge resolve to forget me. As you will perceive by the date of this letter, I am again engaged in the old business — teach, teach, teach. Miss and Mrs. Wooler are coming here next Christmas. Miss Wooler will then relinquish the school in favour of her sister Eliza, but I am happy to say worthy Miss Wooler will continue to reside in the house. I should be sorry indeed to part with her. When will you come home? Make haste, you have been at Bath long enough for all purposes. By this time you have acquired polish enough, I am sure. If the varnish is laid on much thicker, I am afraid the good wood underneath will be quite concealed, and your old Yorkshire friends won’t stand that. Come, come, I am getting really tired of your absence. Saturday after Saturday comes round, and I can have no hope of hearing your knock at the door and then being told that “Miss E. N. is come.” Oh dear! in this monotonous life of mine that was a pleasant event. I wish it would recur again, but it will take two or three interviews before the stiffness, the estrangement of this long separation will quite wear away. I have nothing at all to tell you now but that Mary Taylor is better, and that she and Martha are gone to take a tour in Wales. Patty came on her pony about a fortnight since to inform me that this important event was in contemplation. She actually began to fret about your long absence, and to express the most eager wishes for your return. My own dear Ellen, good-bye. If we are all spared I hope soon to see you again. God bless you.
‘C. Brontë.’
Things were not always going on quite so smoothly, as the following letter indicates.
TO MISS ELLEN NUSSEY
‘Dewsbury Moor, January 4th, 1838.
‘Your letter, Ellen, was a welcome surprise, though it contained something like a reprimand. I had not, however, forgotten our agreement. You were right in your conjectures respecting the cause of my sudden departure. Anne continued wretchedly ill, neither the pain nor the difficulty of breathing left her, and how could I feel otherwise than very miserable. I looked on her case in a different light to what I could wish or expect any uninterested person to view it in. Miss Wooler thought me a fool, and by way of proving her opinion treated me with marked coldness. We came to a little éclaircissement one evening. I told her one or two rather plain truths, which set her a-crying; and the next day, unknown to me, she wrote papa, telling him that I had reproached her bitterly, taken her severely to task, etc. Papa sent for us the day after he had received her letter. Meantime I had formed a firm resolution to quit Miss Wooler and her concerns for ever; but just before I went away, she took me to her room, and giving way to her feelings, which in general she restrains far too rigidly, gave me to understand that in spite of her cold, repulsive manners, she had a considerable regard for me, and would be very sorry to part with me. If any body likes me, I cannot help liking them; and remem
bering that she had in general been very kind to me, I gave in and said I would come back if she wished me. So we are settled again for the present, but I am not satisfied. I should have respected her far more if she had turned me out of doors, instead of crying for two days and two nights together. I was in a regular passion; my “warm temper” quite got the better of me, of which I don’t boast, for it was a weakness; nor am I ashamed of it, for I had reason to be angry.
‘Anne is now much better, though she still requires a great deal of care. However, I am relieved from my worst fears respecting her. I approve highly of the plan you mention, except as it regards committing a verse of the Psalms to memory. I do not see the direct advantage to be derived from that. We have entered on a new year. Will it be stained as darkly as the last with all our sins, follies, secret vanities, and uncontrolled passions and propensities? I trust not; but I feel in nothing better, neither humbler nor purer. It will want three weeks next Monday to the termination of the holidays. Come to see me, my dear Ellen, as soon as you can; however bitterly I sometimes feel towards other people, the recollection of your mild, steady friendship consoles and softens me. I am glad you are not such a passionate fool as myself. Give my best love to your mother and sisters. Excuse the most hideous scrawl that ever was penned, and — Believe me always tenderly yours,
‘C. Brontë.’
Dewsbury Moor, however, did not agree with Charlotte. That was probably the core of the matter. She returned to Haworth, but only to look around for another ‘situation.’ This time she accepted the position of private governess in the family of a Mr. Sidgwick, at Stonegappe, in the same county. Her letters from his house require no comment. A sentence from the first was quoted by Mrs. Gaskell.
TO MISS EMILY J. BRONTË
‘Stonegappe, June 8th, 1839.
‘Dearest Lavinia, — I am most exceedingly obliged to you for the trouble you have taken in seeking up my things and sending them all right. The box and its contents were most acceptable. I only wish I had asked you to send me some letter-paper. This is my last sheet but two. When you can send the other articles of raiment now manufacturing, I shall be right down glad of them.
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