Tennyson's Life and Poetry Part 5

[30] C. J. Caswell, in _Notes and Queries_, March 14, 1891. Van d.y.k.e's _Poetry of Tennyson_, p. 323.

[31] Dawson's _Makers of Modern English_, p. 169.

[32] _The Graphic_, (Chicago), Nov. 14, 1891.

[33] _The Tribune_, (Chicago), March 26, 1892, p. 14.

[34] Jenkins' _Handbook of British and American Literature_, p. 400.

Emerson's _Parna.s.sus_, p. x.x.xiii. Friswell's _Modern Men of Letters_, p.

152. Collier's _History of English Literature_, p. 472. Angus' _Handbook of English Literature_, p. 274. Fogh's _Nordish Con.-Lex._, vol. v., p.

665. Hoefer's _Nouvelle Biog. Gen._, vol. 44. Lorenz _Cat. Lib. Fran._, vol. vi., p. 607. Bleibtreu's _Geschichte Eng. Lit._, p. 364. Fischer's _Ausgewahlte Gedichte v. A Tennyson_, p. 1. Waldmuller Duboc's _Freundes-Klage_, p. 6. Faccioli's _A. Tennyson--Idilli Liriche_, etc., p.

ix.

[35] _Poets and Problems_, p. 73.

I am indebted to Mr. C. J. Caswell for his thorough investigations of Tennyson's boyhood. See _Pall Mall Gazette_, June 19, 1890.

[36] Brockhaus' _Conversations-Lex._, vol. xv., p. 559.

[37] _Lives of English Authors_ (1890), p. 308.

[38] Johnson's _Cyclopedia_, vol. vii., p. 755.

[39] Cook's _Poets and Problems_, p. 73.

[40] Ca.s.sell's _Lib. Eng. Lit._, Shorter Poems, p. 465.

[41] Church's _Laureate's Country_, p. 74. Van d.y.k.e's _Poetry of Tennyson_, p. 323.

Frederick Tennyson (a co-heir of the Earls of Scarsdale) was born June 5, 1807. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he distinguished himself by writing Greek verse--winning the prize for a Sapphic ode on "Egypt." He married an Italian lady, Maria Guiliotta, now dead, by whom he had two sons--Julius and Alfred,--and three daughters--Elise, Emily, Matilda. For many years he lived at Tenby in South Wales; at present he resides in Jersey, and devotes himself to his favorite h.e.l.lenic studies and to poetry.

Charles Tennyson Turner (born July 4, 1808, died April 25, 1879) attended Louth Grammar School (1815-21), and then was fitted for college at home.

At Trinity, he did admirable work in the cla.s.sics--obtaining a Bell scholars.h.i.+p. In 1836, he became vicar of Grasby, where he pa.s.sed the greater part of his life, well-known for his good works. In 1838, he acquired property left him by his great-uncle, Rev. S. Turner, and a.s.sumed the name of Turner by royal license. He married Louisa Sellwood, youngest sister of Lady Tennyson; he died at Cheltenham.

[42] "In 1872, Mr. Tennyson purchased a small estate on the top of Blackdown."

_Laureate's Country_, ch. XVI. On the other hand, _Every Sat.u.r.day_, for Jan. 1, 1870, says:

"Mr. Tennyson has recently built himself a second residence, in a picturesque valley in Surrey." "In 1867," says Jennings in his _Lord Tennyson_ (p. 190), "it was announced that Tennyson had purchased the Greenhill estate on the borders of Suss.e.x."

This statement is corroborated by a letter of Milnes, dated July 30, 1867:

"Our expedition to Tennyson's was a moral success, but a physical failure.... The bard was very agreeable, and his wife and son delightful.

He has built himself a very handsome and commanding home in a most inaccessible site, with every comfort he can require, and every discomfort to all who approach him. What can be more poetical?"

Reid's _Life of Lord Houghton_, Vol. II, p. 176

Here the circ.u.mstances point to only one conclusion--that Tennyson was living at Aldworth in the summer of 1867. It is a satisfaction to get down to a solid substratum of truth.

[43]

Johnson's _Cyclopedia_, Vol. VII., p. 755.

Appleton's _Cyclopedia_, Vol. XV., p. 652.

Meyer's _Kon-Lex._, vol. XV., p. 589.

Hart's _Manual of English Literature_, p. 509.

Jenkins' _Handbook of British and American Literature_, p. 401.

[44] _London Times_, March 12, 1884. An item in the _Chicago Herald_, April 5, 1892, refers to Tennyson as "Baron d'Eyncourt." Thus he is called in _Lives of English Authors_ (1890). His t.i.tle is given as "baron Tennyson d'Eyncourt d'Aldworth," by Larousse (_Dictionnaire Universel_, 2d. Supplement, p. 1914); and as "Baron Tennyson von Altworth," by Brockhaus (_Con-Lex._, vol. xv., p. 559), and by Meyer (_Kon-Lex._, vol.

xv., p. 589). The _Ill.u.s.trirtes Kon-Lex._ says he was offered a Baronetcy in 1875. The _International Cyclopedia_ says he was made a baron in 1883, as does Alden's _Cyc. of Univ. Lit._ and other compilations. From this showing it would appear that French and German erudition is about on a par with English and American.

[45] Mrs. Ritchie on "Alfred Tennyson," in _Harper's Magazine_ (Dec., 1883), and Alice Maude Fenn on "The Borderlands of Surrey," in _The Century_ (Aug., 1882).

[46] Of the numerous works of reference which give Somerby as the poet's birthplace, are the following: Vapereau. _Dictionnaire des Contemporains_; Larousse. _Dictionnaire Universel du XIXe Siecle_, 2e. Supplement; Schem.

_Conversations-Lexicon_; Meyer. _Conversations-Lexicon._ Brockhaus, etc.

[47] Selections from Tennyson's "Queen Mary."

[48] "The First Quarrel."