登陆注册
5220400000102

第102章

No authority whatever-Interference-Wondrous farrago-Brandt and Struensee-What a life!-The hearse-Mortal relics-Great poet-Fashion and fame-What a difference-Oh,beautiful-Good for nothing.

AND now once more to my pursuits,to my Lives and Trials.However partial at first I might be to these lives and trials,it was not long before they became regular trials to me,owing to the whims and caprices of the publisher.I had not been long connected with him before I discovered that he was wonderfully fond of interfering with other people's business-at least with the business of those who were under his control.What a life did his unfortunate authors lead!He had many in his employ toiling at all kinds of subjects-I call them authors because there is something respectable in the term author,though they had little authorship in,and no authority whatever over,the works on which they were engaged.It is true the publisher interfered with some colour of reason,the plan of all and every of the works alluded to having originated with himself;and,be it observed,many of his plans were highly clever and promising,for,as I have already had occasion to say,the publisher in many points was a highly clever and sagacious person;but he ought to have been contented with planning the works originally,and have left to other people the task of executing them,instead of which he marred everything by his rage for interference.If a book of fairy tales was being compiled,he was sure to introduce some of his philosophy,explaining the fairy tale by some theory of his own.Was a book of anecdotes on hand,it was sure to be half filled with sayings and doings of himself during the time that he was common councilman of the City of London.Now,however fond the public might be of fairy tales,it by no means relished them in conjunction with the publisher's philosophy;and however fond of anecdotes in general,or even of the publisher in particular-for indeed there were a great many anecdotes in circulation about him which the public both read and listened to very readily-it took no pleasure in such anecdotes as he was disposed to relate about himself.In the compilation of my Lives and Trials I was exposed to incredible mortification,and ceaseless trouble,from this same rage for interference.It is true he could not introduce his philosophy into the work,nor was it possible for him to introduce anecdotes of himself,having never had the good or evil fortune to be tried at the bar;but he was continually introducing-what,under a less apathetic government than the one then being,would have infallibly subjected him,and perhaps myself,to a trial,-his politics;not his Oxford or pseudo politics,but the politics which he really entertained,and which were of the most republican and violent kind.But this was not all;when about a moiety of the first volume had been printed,he materially altered the plan of the work;it was no longer to be a collection of mere Newgate lives and trials,but of lives and trials of criminals in general,foreign as well as domestic.In a little time the work became a wondrous farrago,in which Konigsmark the robber figured by the side of Sam Lynn,and the Marchioness de Brinvilliers was placed in contact with a Chinese outlaw.What gave me the most trouble and annoyance was the publisher's remembering some life or trial,foreign or domestic,which he wished to be inserted,and which I was forthwith to go in quest of and purchase at my own expense:some of those lives and trials were by no means easy to find.'Where is Brandt and Struensee?'cries the publisher;'I am sure I don't know,'I replied;whereupon the publisher falls to squealing like one of Joey's rats.'Find me up Brandt and Struensee by next morning,or-''Have you found Brandt and Struensee?'cried the publisher,on my appearing before him next morning.'No,'I reply,'I can hear nothing about them';whereupon the publisher falls to bellowing like Joey's bull.By dint of incredible diligence,I at length discover the dingy volume containing the lives and trials of the celebrated two who had brooded treason dangerous to the state of Denmark.I purchase the dingy volume,and bring it in triumph to the publisher,the perspiration running down my brow.The publisher takes the dingy volume in his hand,he examines it attentively,then puts it down;his countenance is calm for a moment,almost benign.Another moment and there is a gleam in the publisher's sinister eye;he snatches up the paper containing the names of the worthies which I have intended shall figure in the forthcoming volumes-he glances rapidly over it,and his countenance once more assumes a terrific expression.'How is this?'he exclaims;'I can scarcely believe my eyes-the most important life and trial omitted to be found in the whole criminal record-what gross,what utter negligence!Where's the life of Farmer Patch?where's the trial of Yeoman Patch?'

'What a life!what a dog's life!'I would frequently exclaim,after escaping from the presence of the publisher.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 别让错过一错再错

    别让错过一错再错

    如今,我能给他的,只有现在破碎的我。沈默抱着我,我感觉到有冰凉的液体滑落到我肩上,我转身,吻上了他冰冷的唇。
  • 朱奎经典童话:马里奇昆虫国历险记

    朱奎经典童话:马里奇昆虫国历险记

    一只可恶的蟑螂从马里奇的身上爬过,他变小了。胆小的马里奇在不知所措中被一只雌蜻蜓带出了家门。从此,他的昆虫国之旅开始了。他先后遭遇了水蚂蚱、萤火虫、蚊子、蟋蟀、蝉等等小昆虫,不仅了解了它们的生活习性,在面临危险的时候还锻炼了自己的胆量。最终在又一次遇到那只蟑螂后,勇敢地战胜了它,一瞬间,他变大了,变回了从前的样子。
  • 如果当时不放手

    如果当时不放手

    落跑新郎归来,青梅竹马出现,巫方园的世界一下变得热闹起来。陈年往事被翻出,新欢绯闻曝头条,她立刻成为了记者们追逐的对象。
  • 幼科推拿秘书

    幼科推拿秘书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西方子明堂灸经

    西方子明堂灸经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 独角戏

    独角戏

    世界欠你一个余淮,却不会还你一个肖奈。你不是耿耿,更不是贝微微。开启新的纪年,命运的时钟将再次被转动。《独角戏》带你走进一个不一样的校园爱情。愿再次相见,你我都会更好。
  • 当家农女

    当家农女

    一朝穿越为农女,家里只有病榻的爷爷奶奶,还有两个小包子弟弟。挑起重担,为家里谋生,一不小心就成了小康。可是,啥这是她爹爹娘亲小叔大哥?不是死了吗?好吧,顿时成了小家闺秀,这不,俊朗又多金的未婚夫找上门来,开始了她不一样的贵妇人生!
  • 修仙狂妃

    修仙狂妃

    “哇,貌若天仙!”“呸!本神才不是天仙那种低档货色,老娘我可是正牌主神!!”要是让我知道是谁陷害本神来到这鬼地方,我非要把你千刀万剐!!啊!!一个神秘的原因,月神月然被丢到了凡界,这里是修仙的世界,炼丹、心法、符箓……看腹黑又彪悍的月神如何玩转这齐魅大陆!
  • 一分钟经理人全新修订大全集

    一分钟经理人全新修订大全集

    一分钟经理模式是当前最流行的管理、工作和生活模式之一,几乎全球一流企业都崇尚一分钟经理,并且大力推广,它被誉为21世纪的管理模式。其内涵包括简洁高效、及时处理、正确决策、快速反馈、卓越领导等,是全球众多机构奉为圭臬的一线主管培训课程。本书在一分钟经理模式的基础上,发展为四个方面的实用系列,包括:一分钟时间管理、一分钟销售训练、一分钟卓越领导、一分钟成功决策。在这个类似于寓言的商业故事中,综合了许多智者教给我们的东西和我们自己的一些感悟。
  • 兵法心要

    兵法心要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。