Catherine: A Story | Page 3

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This etext was prepared by Les Bowler, St. Ives, Dorset.

Catherine: A Story
by William Makepeace Thackeray

Catherine, A Story by Ikey Solomons, Esq., Junior.

Contents
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1. Introducing to the reader the chief personages of this narrative.
2. In which are depicted the pleasures of a sentimental attachment.
3. In which a narcotic is administered, and a great deal of genteel
society depicted.
4. In which Mrs. Catherine becomes an honest woman again.
5. Contains Mr. Brock's autobiography, and other matter.
6. The adventures of the ambassador, Mr. MacShane.
7. Which embraces a period of seven years.
8. Enumerates the accomplishments of Master Thomas Billings--
introduces Brock as Doctor Wood--and announces the execution of
Ensign MacShane.

9. Interview between Count Galgenstein and Master Thomas Billings,
when he informs the Count of his parentage.
10. Showing how Galgenstein and Mrs. Cat recognise each other in
Marylebone Gardens--and how the Count drives her home in his
carrige.
11. Of some domestic quarrels, and the consequence thereof.
12. Treats of love, and prepares for death.
13. Being a preparation for the end.
Chapter the
Last.
Another Last Chapter.

ADVERTISEMENT

The story of "Catherine," which appeared in Fraser's Magazine in
1839-40, was written by Mr. Thackeray, under the name of Ikey
Solomons, Jun., to counteract the injurious influence of some popular
fictions of that day, which made heroes of highwaymen and burglars,
and created a false sympathy for the vicious and criminal.
With this purpose, the author chose for the subject of his story a woman
named Catherine Hayes, who was burned at Tyburn, in 1726, for the
deliberate murder of her husband, under very revolting circumstances.
Mr. Thackeray's aim obviously was to describe the career of this
wretched woman and her associates with such fidelity to truth as to
exhibit the danger and folly of investing such persons with heroic and
romantic qualities.

CHAPTER I.
Introducing to the reader the chief personages of this narrative.

At that famous period of history, when the seventeenth century (after a
deal of quarrelling, king-killing, reforming, republicanising, restoring,
re-restoring, play-writing, sermon- writing, Oliver-Cromwellising,
Stuartising, and Orangising, to be sure) had sunk into its grave, giving
place to the lusty eighteenth; when Mr. Isaac Newton was a tutor of
Trinity, and Mr. Joseph Addison Commissioner of Appeals; when the
presiding genius that watched over the destinies of the French nation
had played out all the best cards in his hand, and his adversaries began
to pour in their trumps; when there were two kings in Spain employed
perpetually in running away from one another; when there was a queen
in England, with such rogues for Ministers as have never been seen, no,
not in our own day; and a General, of whom it may be severely argued,
whether he was the meanest miser or the greatest hero in the world;
when Mrs. Masham had not yet