2. In his last lecture, 3 P.M., 3 July, Thackeray turned to the controversial question of what was known as “the dignity of literature,” energetically denying that
the writer's profession was despised by society. He had long taken up a position, from the point of view of a “gentleman,”
in opposition to a well-established movement supported by numerous writers, including Isaac D'Israeli, R. H. Horne, Bulwer
Lytton, John Forster, and Dickens, to gain greater recognition for the literary profession. TC usually managed to keep apart,
though no doubt sympathizing with them. There had already been clashes with Forster because of Thackeray's parodies of fellow
novelists in Punch (1847), his satire of a memorial volume to Bulwer Lytton's and Forster's friend Laman Blanchard, who had committed suicide, and
Thackeray's attitude to writers in Pendennis, in which the Morning Chronicle and Examiner were involved (Jan. 1850). His choice of the English Humorists, including Forster's admired Goldsmith, was a challenge; and so in the Examiner, 5 July, Forster replied to his remarks in the last lecture and referred to “some vehement sallies of doubtful doctrine and more
than doubtful taste” and in the next issue, 12 July, engaged with Thack eray more directly about the social status of the writer. Somehow news reached Thackeray that JWC, a
good friend to Forster, was concerned about his remarks; and he wrote to her, [ca. 9 July], to say: “And dont you understand that there are a set of men who will be martyrs, who are painting their faces and asking
for your money, who want to make literature a chronic beggary under the name of the Guild of &c? My words were … for the literary
people in the room—ask Forster if he didn't know what I mean— In fact it was a side shot at that humbug the booth of Literature
and Art into wh I propose to plump a forty eight pounder presently. That is, if it isn't best left alone—I thought as much about the concluding
paragraph of the lecture: but I was in a rage thats the fact, and with that poor old blundering Jack Forster, for 2 years
of treason envy and foul play—the more difficult to bear because I wouldn't be offended with him until at last the wrath exploded in a letter wh is like a slap on the face, and wh I hope will be final as regards rupture or reconciliation between the poor old quack and myself.” The Guild of Literature
and Art, intended as a mutual life assurance assoc. for the benefit of writers and artists, had recently been set up by Dickens,
Forster, and their group of amateur players, who raised money for it with help from Bulwer Lytton, who had presented his idea
for it as far back as 1833. From time to time Thackeray and Forster made attempts at reconciliation, but the dispute continued to run. See K. J. Fielding,
“Thackeray and the ‘Dignity of Literature’ I and II,” TLS (19 and 26 Sept. 1958).
3. Harriet Martineau wrote Emerson, 25 Feb. 1852: “I saw the Carlyles a few months since;—just saw them, & O! dear! felt them too. They put me between them, at Thackeray's
last lecture; & both got the fidgets. After the first half half hour, C. looked at his watch, & held it across me, about once
in two minutes; & he filled up the intervals with shaking himself, & drumming his elbow into my side. Such was the interview!
They asked me to Chelsea, but my time in London was very short, & I cd not go” (MS: RWEMA). She wrote to her and JWC's friend Fanny Wedgwood, 15 May, when she was considering whether to come to London to see the Great Exhibition: “You remember my telling you of Jenny Carlyle's
outpouring to me, more than half a year ago, and of my immediate answer,— wherein I invited her to come to me, when she wanted
the rest she seemed to be pining for [see 25:271]. Do you know—she has never taken the least notice of that letter! What a queer little body she is” (Arbuckle 116–17).
4. Thackeray wrote to JWC, [9 July]: “Dont you think it was kind of you to come to the lectures? I do: and I was a coming to shake hands & thank you: but I
heard that you weren't pleased; and I thought I wouldn't like to be scolded: but that it wd be best to wait a bit and be yours and Carlyle's always gratefully / WMT.”
