The Life of Sir Richard Burton | Page 8

any rate mad, or he would not be Hamlet at all.
As regards Burton's letters, I have ruthlessly struck out every sentence that might give offence.[FN#19] While I have not hesitated to expose Sir Richard's faults, I have endeavoured to avoid laying too much stress upon them. I have tried, indeed, to get an idea of the mountain not only by climbing its sides, but also by viewing it from a distance. I trust that there will be found nothing in this book to hurt the feelings of any living person or indeed of any body of persons. I have certainly tried my utmost to avoid causing pain, and if the reader will kindly bear in mind that it is as much a Christian duty to avoid taking offence as to avoid giving offence, we shall amble along pleasantly together to the very last page. Out of consideration for Catholics I have suppressed a number of passages; and if I have allowed Sir Richard in one or two instances to make a lunge at their church, I trust they will notice that I have permitted him the same licence with regard to the Church of England and Exeter Hall. Finally, my impartiality is proved by my allowing him to gird at the poet Cowper.
Wherever possible, that is to say, when I could do it without ambiguity I have also out of courtesy used the term Catholic instead of Roman Catholic; and in order to meet what I believe to be the wishes of Lady Burton's executors, I have omitted all mention of certain events that occurred after Sir Richard's death.
The various works of Mr. W. H. Wilkins have been of great help to me, and I cannot avoid paying a passing tribute to the excellent opening passages[FN#20] of the Preface of his edition of Lady Burton's Life of her husband.
The illustrations in this book are of exceptional interest. They include the Burton family portraits, the originals of which are in the possession of Mr. Mostyn Pryce and Mrs. Agg. During the lifetime of Sir Richard and Lady Burton they were the property of Lady and Miss Stisted; but, owing to her difference with these ladies, Lady Burton was not able to use them in the life of her husband; and Miss Stisted's own scheme did not include illustrations. So they are now reproduced for the first time. The most noticeable are the quaint picture of Burton, his brother and sister as children, and the oil painting of Burton and Lady Stisted made by Jacquand about 1851. Of great interest, too, is the series of photographs taken at Trieste by Dr. Grenfell Baker; while the portraits of Burton's friends, Mr. F. F. Arbuthnot, Mr. John Payne, Major St. George Burton, Dr. Baker, Mr. W. F. Kirby, Mr. A. G. Ellis, Professor J. F. Blumhardt, and others, will no doubt be appreciated by the public.
The writing of this book has been a thorough pleasure to me, not only on account of the infinite charm of the subject, but also because everyone whom I have approached has treated me with studied kindness. The representatives of Sir Richard Burton, of Lady Burton (through Mr. W. H. Wilkins) and of Miss Stisted have not only helped and permitted me to use the unpublished letters,[FN#21] but have generously given me a free hand. I am deeply indebted to them, and I can only trust that these pages will prove that their confidence in my judgment has not been misplaced.
To everyone who has assisted me I tender my sincere thanks, and I assure them that I shall never forget their abundant kindness.
Finally, in writing this work every possible care has been taken to ensure accuracy[FN#22]; but that absolute perfection has been attained is improbable. It is hoped, however,--to borrow the quaint expression of the Persian poet Jami--"that the noble disposition of the readers will induce them to pass over defects."[FN#23]
My grateful thanks are due to the following ladies and gentlemen for various services.
Arbuthnot, Mrs. F. F., 43 South Street, Park Lane, London. Ashbee, Mr. C. G., Woolstapler Hall, Chipping Cambden, Gloucestershire. Agg, Mrs. Hewletts, Cheltenham. Baddeley, Mrs., Brighton. Baker, Dr. Grenfell, 25, Southwick Street, Hyde Park, W. Birch, Mrs. G. M., Lympstone Grange, South Devon. Blumhardt, Prof. James F., British Museum. Burton, Mrs. E. J., 31, Wilbury Road, Brighton. Burton, Major St. George, The Black Watch. Burton, Mr. Frederick, Brighton. Cautley, Mr. P. P., 4, Via della Zonta, Trieste. Clayton, Mr. Arthur, South View, Ropley, Hants. Carrington, Mr. Charles, 13, Faubourg Montmartre, Paris. Chatto, Mr. Andrew, Hillside, Elstree. Codrington, Dr., Royal Asiatic Society, Albemarle Street. Committee, The, of the Central Library, Camberwell. Eales, Rev. A. R. T., The Rectory, Elstree, Herts. Ellis, Mr. A. G., British Museum. Editors, The, of the following newspapers: The Times, The Daily Telegraph,