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Account and Anecdotes of the Author's Family.-South Sea Scheme, and the Bill of
Pains and Penalties against the Directors; among whom was the Author's Grandfather.
-Character of Mr. William Law.
9
NOTES AND ADDITIONS.
19
CHAPTER II.
Mr. Gibbon's birth; he is put under the care of Mr. Kirkby; some Account of Mr. Kirkby.
-The Author is sent to Dr. Wooddeson's School, whence he is removed on the
death of his Mother.-Affectionate Observations on his Aunt, Mrs. Catharine Porten.
-Is entered at Westminster School; is removed on account of ill health, and after-
wards placed under the care of the Rev. Mr. Francis.
21
Enters a Gentleman Commoner at Magdalen College, Oxford.-Remarks on that Uni-
versity. Some Account of Magdalen College.-Character of Dr. Waldegrave, Mr.
Gibbon's first Tutor.-The Author determines to write an History; its Subject.-
Solution of a Chronological Difficulty.-Mr. Gibbon is converted to the Roman
Catholic Religion; cites the Examples of Chillingworth and Bayle; their Characters.
-Mr. Gibbon obliged to leave Oxford.-Farther Remarks on the University.
35
51
CHAPTER IV.
The Author is removed to Lausanne, and placed under the care of M. Pavilliard.-
Reflections on his change of Situation.-Character of M. Pavilliard, and an Account
of his manner of restoring Mr. Gibbon to the Protestant Church.-Mr. Gibbon
received the Sacrament in the Church of Lausanne on Christmas-day, 1754.-The
Author's Account of the Books he read, and of the Course of Study he pursued.-
Makes the Tour of Switzerland; forms a Correspondence with several Literary
Characters; is introduced to Voltaire, and sees him perform several Characters in
his own Plays.-Remarks on his Acting.-Some Account of Mademoiselle Curchod
(afterwards Madame Necker).—Reflections on his education at Lausanne.-He returns
to England PAGE 54
71
CHAPTER V.
Mr. Gibbon's manner of spending his time.-He publishes his first Work, Essai sur
l'Étude de la Littérature.-Some Observations on the Plan, and the Character of the
Performance.-Character of Dr. Maty.-The Author's manner of passing his Time in
the Hampshire Militia, and Reflections upon it. He resumes his Studies; determines
to write upon some Historical Subject; considers various Subjects, and makes Remarks
upon them for that purpose
80
100
CHAPTER VI.
Mr. Gibbon sees Mallet's Elvira performed.-Character of that Play.-Passes some time
at Paris, gives an Account of the Persons with whom he chiefly associated; proceeds,
through Dijon and Besançon, to Lausanne.-Characterises a Society there, called
La Société du Printems.-Becomes acquainted with Mr. Holroyd, now Lord Sheffield.
-Remarks on their Meeting.-Some Account of Mr. Gibbon's studies at Lausanne,
preparatory to his Italian Journey.-He travels into Italy; his Feelings and Observa-
tions upon his Arrival at Rome.-He returns to England
107
116
CHAPTER VII.
Mr. Gibbon's Reflections upon his Situation.-Some Account of his Friend M. Deyverdun.
-He writes, and communicates to his Friends, an Historical Essay upon the Liberty
of the Swiss. Their unfavourable Judgment.-Mr. Hume's Opinion.-Mr. Gibbon
and M. Deyverdun engage in a Periodical Work, intended as a Continuation of Dr.
Maty's Journal Britannique; entitled, Mémoires Littéraires de la Grande-Bretagne.—
Account of the Work.-Mr. Gibbon publishes his Observations on the VIth Æneid
of Virgil, in opposition to Bishop Warburton's Hypothesis.-Mr. Heyne's and Mr.
Hayley's Opinions of that Essay.-Mr. Gibbon determines to write the History of the
Decline and Fall.-His preparatory Studies.-Reflections on his domestic Circum-
stances; his Father's Death and Character.
136
148
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr. Gibbon settles in London.-Begins his History of the Decline and Fall.-Becomes
a Member of the House of Commons.-Characters of the principal Speakers.-
Publishes his first Volume; its Reception.-Mr. Hume's Opinion, in a Letter to the
Author.
153
157
CHAPTER IX.
Mr. Gibbon makes a Second Visit to Paris.-His dispute with the Abbé Mably.-He
enumerates and characterises the Writers who wrote against his 15th and 16th
Chapters. By the desire of Ministry, he writes the Mémoire Justificatif.-By the
Interest of Lord Loughborough is appointed one of the Lords of Trade.-Publishes
his Second and Third Volumes of his History; their reception.-Mentions Archdeacon
Travis's Attack upon him, and commends Mr. Porson's Answer to the Archdeacon.-
Notices also Bishop Newton's Censure.-Proceeds in his History.
162
172
CHAPTER X.
Mr. Gibbon leaves London, and settles at Lausanne, in the House of his Friend
M. Deyverdun; his Reasons for doing so.-Reflections on his change of Situation.-
Short Characters of Prince Henry of Prussia and of Mr. Fox, both of whom he sees at
Lausanne.-Proceeds in, and finishes his History.-Interesting Remarks on con-
cluding it.-Pays a Visit Lord Sheffield in England.-Remarks on Lord Sheffield's
Writings; publishes the remainder of his History; returns to Lausanne; his manner
of employing his time.-The Death of M. Deyverdun.-Observations of the Author
upon the French Revolution, the Government of Berne, and his own Situation.-The
Memoirs end.
} NOTES AND ADDITIONS.
186
LETTERS FROM EDWARD GIBBON, ESQ. TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD SHEFFIELD
LETTERS FROM EDWARD GIBBON, ESQ. TO LORD SHEFFIELD AND OTHERS.
239