The Note-Books of Samuel Butler Biographical Statement 1835. Dec. 4. Samuel Butler born at Langar Rectory, Nottingham, son of the Rev. Thomas Butler, who was the son of Dr. Samuel Butler, Headmaster of Shrewsbury School from 1798 to 1836, and afterwards Bishop of Lichfield. 1843-4. Spent the winter in Rome and Naples with his family. 1846. Went to school at Allesley, near Coventry. 1848. Went to school at Shrewsbury under Dr. Kennedy. Went to Italy for the second time with his family. First heard the music of Handel. 1854. Entered at St. John's College, Cambridge. 1858. Bracketed 12th in the first class of the Classical Tripos and took his degree. Went to London and began to prepare for ordination, living among the poor and doing parish work: this led to his doubting the efficacy of infant baptism and hence to his declining to take orders. 1859. Sailed for New Zealand and started sheep-farming in Canterbury Province: while in the colony he wrote much for the Press of Christchurch, N.Z. 1862. Dec. 20. "Darwin on The Origin of Species. A Dialogue," unsigned but written by Butler, appeared in the Press and was followed by correspondence to which Butler contributed. 1863. A First Year in Canterbury Settlement: made out of his letters home to his family together with two articles reprinted from the Eagle (the magazine of St. John's College, Cambridge): MS. lost. 1863. "Darwin among the Machines," a letter signed "Cellarius" written by Butler, appeared in the Press. 1864. Sold out his sheep run and returned to England in company with Charles Paine Pauli, whose acquaintance he had made in the colony. He brought back enough to enable him to live quietly, settled for good at 15 Clifford's Inn, London, and began life as a painter, studying at Cary's, Heatherley's and the South Kensington Art Schools and exhibiting pictures occasionally at the Royal Academy and other exhibitions: while studying art he made the acquaintance of, among others, Charles Gogin, William Ballard and Thomes William Gale Butler. "Family Prayers": a small painting by Butler. 1865. "Lucubratio Ebria," an article, containing variations of the view in "Darwin among the Machines," sent by Butler from England, appeared in the Press. The Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as contained in the Four Evangelists critically examined: a pamphlet of VIII+48 pp. written in New Zealand: the conclusion arrived at is that the evidence is insufficient to support the belief that Christ died and rose from the dead: MS. lost, probably used up in writing The Fair Haven. 1869-70. Was in Italy for four months, his health having broken down in consequence of over-work. 1870 or 1871. First meeting with Miss Eliza Mary Ann Savage, from whom he drew Alethea in The Way of All Flesh. 1872. Erewhon or Over the Range: a Work of Satire and Imagination: MS. in the British Museum. 1873. Erewhon translated into Dutch. The Fair Haven: an ironical work, purporting to be "in defence of the miraculous element in our Lord's ministry upon earth, both as against rationalistic impugners and certain orthodox defenders," written under the pseudonym of John Pickard Owen, with a memoir of the supposed author by his brother William Bickersteth Owen. This book reproduces. the substance of his pamphlet on the resurrection: MS. at Christchurch, New Zealand. 1874. "Mr. Heatherley's Holiday," his most important oil painting, exhibited at the Royal Academy Exhibition, now in the National Gallery of British Art. 1876. Having invested his money in various companies that failed, one of which had its works in Canada, and having spent much time during the last few years in that country, trying unsuccessfully to save part of his capital, he now returned to London, and during the next ten years experienced serious financial difficulties. First meeting with Henry Festing Jones. 1877. Life and Habit: an Essay after a Completer View of Evolution: dedicated to Charles Paine Pauli: although dated 1878 the book was published on Butler's birthday, 4th December, 1877: MS. at the Schools, Shrewsbury. 1878. "A Psalm of Montreal" in the Spectator: There are probably many MSS. of this poem in existence given by Butler to friends: one, which he gave to H. F. Jones, is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. A Portrait of Butler, painted in this year by himself, now at St. John's College, Cambridge. 1879. Evolution Old and New: A comparison of the theories of Buffon, Dr. Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck with that of Charles Darwin: MS. in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. A Clergyman's Doubts and God the Known and God the Unknown appeared in the Examiner. MS. lost. Erewhon translated into German. 1880. Unconscious Memory: A comparison between the theory of Dr. Ewald Hering, Professor of Physiology in the University of Prague, and the Philosophy of the Unconscious of Dr. Edward von Hartmann, with translations from both these authors and preliminary chapters bearing upon Life and Habit, Evolution Old and New, and Charles Darwin's Edition of Dr. Krause's Erasmus Darwin. 99 A Portrait of Butler, painted in this year by himself, now at the Schools, Shrewsbury. A third portrait of Butler, painted by himself about this time, is at Christchurch, New Zealand. |