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and the tallest； and the most perfect in every part。 Emily's was a grave…looking fellow； and we called him 'Gravey。' Anne's was a queer little thing； much like herself； and we called him 'Waiting…Boy。' Branwell chose his； and called him 'Buonaparte。'〃
The foregoing extract shows something of the kind of reading in which the little Brontes were interested； but their desire for knowledge must have been excited in many directions； for I find a 〃list of painters whose works I wish to see；〃 drawn up by Charlotte when she was scarcely thirteen：…
〃Guido Reni； Julio Romano； Titian； Raphael； Michael Angelo； Correggio； Annibal Caracci； Leonardo da Vinci； Fra Bartolomeo； Carlo Cignani； Vandyke； Rubens； Bartolomeo Ramerghi。〃
Here is this little girl； in a remote Yorkshire parsonage； who has probably never seen anything worthy the name of a painting in her life； studying the names and characteristics of the great old Italian and Flemish masters； whose works she longs to see some time； in the dim future that lies before her！ There is a paper remaining which contains minute studies of； and criticisms upon； the engravings in 〃Friendship's Offering for 1829；〃 showing how she had early formed those habits of close observation； and patient analysis of cause and effect； which served so well in after…life as handmaids to her genius。
The way in which Mr。 Bronte made his children sympathise with him in his great interest in politics； must have done much to lift them above the chances of their minds being limited or tainted by petty local gossip。 I take the only other remaining personal fragment out of 〃Tales of the Islanders；〃 it is a sort of apology； contained in the introduction to the second volume； for their not having been continued before； the writers had been for a long time too busy； and latterly too much absorbed in politics。
〃Parliament was opened； and the great Catholic question was brought forward； and the Duke's measures were disclosed； and all was slander； violence； party…spirit； and confusion。 Oh； those six months； from the time of the King's speech to the end！ Nobody could write； think； or speak on any subject but the Catholic question； and the Duke of Wellington； and Mr。 Peel。 I remember the day when the Intelligence Extraordinary came with Mr。 Peel's speech in it； containing the terms on which the Catholics were to be let in！ With what eagerness Papa tore off the cover； and how we all gathered round him； and with what breathless anxiety we listened； as one by one they were disclosed； and explained； and argued upon so ably； and so well！ and then when it was all out； how aunt said that she thought it was excellent； and that the Catholics could do no harm with such good security！ I remember also the doubts as to whether it would pass the House of Lords； and the prophecies that it would not； and when the paper came which was to decide the question； the anxiety was almost dreadful with which we listened to the whole affair： the opening of the doors； the hush； the royal dukes in their robes； and the great duke in green sash and waistcoat； the rising of all the peeresses when he rose； the reading of his speechPapa saying that his words were like precious gold； and lastly； the majority of one to four （sic） in favour of the Bill。 But this is a digression；〃 &c。； &c。
This must have been written when she was between thirteen and fourteen。
It will be interesting to some of my readers to know what was the character of her purely imaginative writing at this period。 While her description of any real occurrence is； as we have seen； homely； graphic； and forcible； when she gives way to her powers of creation； her fancy and her language alike run riot； sometimes to the very borders of apparent delirium。 Of this wild weird writing； a single example will suffice。 It is a letter to the editor of one of the 〃Little Magazines。〃
〃Sir；It is well known that the Genii have declared that unless they perform certain arduous duties every year； of a mysterious nature； all the worlds in the firmament will be burnt up； and gathered together in one mighty globe； which will roll in solitary grandeur through the vast wilderness of space； inhabited only by the four high princes of the Genii； till time shall be succeeded by Eternity； and the impudence of this is only to be paralleled by another of their assertions； namely； that by their magic might they can reduce the world to a desert； the purest waters to streams of livid poison； and the clearest lakes to stagnant waters； the pestilential vapours of which shall slay all living creatures； except the blood…thirsty beast of the forest； and the ravenous bird of the rock。 But that in the midst of this desolation the palace of the Chief Genii shall rise sparkling in the wilderness； and the horrible howl of their war…cry shall spread over the land at morning； at noontide and night； but that they shall have their annual feast over the bones of the dead； and shall yearly rejoice with the joy of victors。 I think； sir； that the horrible wickedness of this needs no remark； and therefore I haste to subscribe myself； &c。
〃July 14； 1829。〃
It is not unlikely that the foregoing letter may have had some allegorical or political reference； invisible to our eyes； but very clear to the bright little minds for whom it was intended。 Politics were evidently their grand interest； the Duke of Wellington their demi…god。 All that related to him belonged to the heroic age。 Did Charlotte want a knight…errant； or a devoted lover； the Marquis of Douro； or Lord Charles Wellesley； came ready to her hand。 There is hardly one of her prose…writings at this time in which they are not the principal personages； and in which their 〃august father〃 does not appear as a sort of Jupiter Tonans； or Deus ex Machina。
As one evidence how Wellesley haunted her imagination； I copy out a few of the titles to her papers in the various magazines。
〃Liffey Castle；〃 a Tale by Lord C。 Wellesley。
〃Lines to the River Aragua；〃 by the Marquis of Douro。
〃An Extraordinary Dream；〃 by Lord C。 Wellesley。
〃The Green Dwarf； a Tale of the Perfect Tense；〃 by the Lord Charles Albert Florian Wellesley。
〃Strange Events；〃 by Lord C。 A。 F。 Wellesley。
Life in an isolated village； or a lonely country…house； presents many little occurrences which sink into the mind of childhood； there to be brooded over。 No other event may have happened； or be likely to happen； for days； to push one of these aside； before it has assumed a vague and mysterious importance。 Thus； children leading a secluded life are often thoughtful and dreamy： the impressions made upon them by the world withoutthe unusual sights of earth and skythe accidental meetings with strange faces and figures （rare occurrences in those out…of…the…way places）are sometimes magnified by them into things so deeply significant as to be almost supernatural。 This peculiarity I perceive very strongly in Charlotte's writings at this time。 Indeed； under the circumstances； it is no peculiarity。 It has been common to all； from the Chaldean shepherds〃the lonely herdsman stretched on the soft grass through half a summer's day〃… …the solitary monkto all whose impressions from wit