Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Trollope Hangs Thackeray

To George Smith

Waltham.
July 6 1864

This morning we hung Thackeray up in our library, and we are very much obliged to you for the present*,--not only in that it is in itself so valuable, but more especially because it is so suited to our feelings. To-day we go into the [new] Garrick Club and have an initiatory dinner at which as Chairman I shall propose his memory. I heard yesterday from Shirley B[rooks] that the Dean of Westminster has consented to put up a memorial (whether bust or statue is not yet decided) and the subscription list is now opened. I have been nervous about this lest the time should slip away. The next thing will be to have a perfect edition of his works, --for which we must look to you.


*George Smith presented Trollope with a portrait of Thackeray by Samuel Laurence.

-from Trollope: A Commentary by Michael Sadlier (London: Constable & Co., 1945 {1927}) p.257.

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