Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Gary Rees and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net [Transcriber's Note: Words and phrases appearing in italics in the original publication have been delimited with underscore characters in this transcription. Additional notes appear at the end of this text.] [Illustration] THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES BY WALTER BESANT 'I hearing got, who had but ears, And sight, who has but eyes before; I moments live, who lived but years, And truth discern, who knew but learning's lore. THOREAU. [Illustration] _WITH A PORTRAIT_ London CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY 1888 [_All rights reserved_] TO THE WIDOW AND THE TWO CHILDREN OF RICHARD JEFFERIES I DEDICATE THIS MEMORIAL, IN THE EARNEST HOPE THAT IT MAY NOT BE FOUND WHOLLY UNWORTHY OF ITS SUBJECT. PREFACE. In the body of this work I have sufficiently explained the reasons why I was entrusted with the task of writing this memoir of Richard Jefferies. I have only here to express my thanks, first to the publishers, who have given permission to quote from books by Jefferies issued by them, namely: Messrs. Cassell and Co., Messrs. Chapman and Hall, Messrs. Longman and Co., Messrs. Sampson Low and Co., Messrs. Smith and Elder, and Messrs. Tinsley Brothers, and next, to all those who have entrusted me with letters written by Jefferies, and have given permission to use them. These are: Mrs. Harrild, of Sydenham, Mr. Charles Longman, Mr. J.W. North, and Mr. C.P. Scott. I have also been provided with the note-books filled with Jefferies' notes made in the fields. These have enabled me to understand, and, I hope, to convey to others some understanding of, the writer's methods. I call this book the "Eulogy" of Richard Jefferies, because, in very truth, I can find nothing but admiration, pure and unalloyed, for that later work of his, on which will rest his fame and his abiding memory. W.B. UNITED UNIVERSITY CLUB, _September, 1888_. CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I. COATE FARM 1 CHAPTER II. SIXTEEN TO TWENTY 49 CHAPTER III. LETTERS FROM 1866 TO 1872 66 CHAPTER IV. GLEAMS OF LIGHT 96 CHAPTER V. FIRST YEARS OF SUCCESS 108 CHAPTER VI. FICTION, EARLY AND LATE 145 CHAPTER VII. IN FULL CAREER 163 CHAPTER VIII. THE LONGMAN LETTERS 193 CHAPTER IX. THE COUNTRY LIFE 214 CHAPTER X. "THE STORY OF MY HEART" 269