In the preparation of my work I have been greatly assisted by the information, and encouraged by the sympathy, of several who had personal knowledge of Patrick Branwell Brontë, and who have supported the view I have taken of his life and character, and also who had like knowledge of the other members of the Brontë family. Among these, I have to express my sincere thanks to Mr. H. Merrall and to Mr. William Wood, who were early acquaintances of Branwell; also to Mr. William Dearden. To Mr. J. H. Thompson and Mrs. Thornton I am greatly indebted for information respecting Branwell's sojourn in Bradford. I have likewise derived much information from the family of the Browns, now all deceased, except Mrs. Brown, to whom I have to express my obligation. I have also gained much reliable information from Nancy Garrs, now Mrs. Wainwright, the nurse of the Brontës, and to her I must especially express my thanks. To these, I must not omit to add my deep and sincere thanks to those who will not permit me to mention them by name, for the unwearied assistance, counsel, and literary judgment which they have as cheerfully, as they have ably, rendered. F. A. L. OAKWOOD, SKIRCOAT, HALIFAX, October, 1885. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. CHAPTER I. Brontë Genius--Patrick Brontë--His Birthplace--His early Endeavours--Ordained--Presented to Hartshead--High Town--His Courtship and Marriage--Removes to Thornton--His House--Thornton Chapel--Mrs. Brontë's failing Health--Mr. Brontë Accepts the Living of Haworth--Rudeness of the Inhabitants--Local Fights between Haworth and Heptonstall--Description of Haworth--Mrs. Brontë dies 1 CHAPTER II. The Mother of the Brontës--Her Character and Personal Appearance --Her Literary Taste--Penzance, her Native Place--Description of Penzance--The Branwell Family--Personal Traits of Maria Branwell--Her Virtues--Her Letters to Mr. Brontë--Her Domestic Experiences 33 CHAPTER III. Character of the Rev. P. Brontë--Charges against Him--Serious Allegations of Biographers--Injustice of the Charges--Mr. Brontë's indignant Denial of the Imputations--Testimony of Nancy Garrs--Mrs. Brontë and the Silk-Dress Episode--Mr. Brontë, the supposed Prototype of Mr. Helstone--The Pistol-shots Theory--Mr. Brontë on Science Knowledge--Miss Branwell 41 CHAPTER IV. Girlhood--Gravity of Character--Charlotte's Description of the Elf-land of Childhood--The Still and Solemn Moors of Haworth influence their Writings--The Present of Toys--The Plays which they Acted--Mr. Brontë on a Supposed Earthquake--The Evidence of his Care for his Children--Grammar School at Haworth--His Children under the Tuition of the Master--The Character of the School--Cowan Bridge School--Charlotte's View of Mr. Carus Wilson's Management--Deaths of Maria and Elizabeth 57 CHAPTER V.