Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger [widger@cecomet.net]
To Francis Bennoch, Esq.,
The dear and valued friend, who, by his generous and genial hospitalityand unfailing sympathy, contributed so largely (as is attested by thebook itself) to render Mr. Hawthorne's residence in England agreeable andhomelike, these ENGLISH NOTES are dedicated, with sincere respect andregard, by The Editor.
It seems justly due to Mr. Hawthorne that the occasion of any portion ofhis private journals being brought before the Public should be madeknown, since they were originally designed for his own reference only.
There had been a constant and an urgent demand for a life or memoir ofMr. Hawthorne; yet, from the extreme delicacy and difficulty of thesubject, the Editor felt obliged to refuse compliance with this demand.Moreover, Mr. Hawthorne had frequently and emphatically expressed thehope that no one would attempt to write his Biography; and the Editorperceived that it would be impossible for any person, outside of his owndomestic circle, to succeed in doing it, on account of his extremereserve. But it was ungracious to do nothing, and therefore the Editor,believing that Mr. Hawthorne himself was alone capable of satisfactorilyanswering the affectionate call for some sketch of his life, concluded topublish as much as possible of his private records, and even extractsfrom his private letters, in order to gratify the desire of his friendsand of literary artists to become more intimately acquainted with him.The Editor has been severely blamed and wondered at, in some instances,for allowing many things now published to see the light; but it has beena matter both of conscience and courtesy to withhold nothing that couldbe given up. Many of the journals were doubtless destroyed; for theearliest date found in his American papers was that of 1835.
The Editor has transcribed the manuscripts just as they were left,without making any new arrangement or altering any sequence,—merelyomitting some passages, and being especially careful to preserve whatevercould throw any light upon his character. To persons on a quest forcharacteristics, however, each of his books reveals a great many, and itis believed that with the aid of the Notes (both American and English)the Tales and Romances will make out a very complete and true picture ofhis individuality; and the Notes are often an open sesame to the artisticworks.
Several thickly written pages of observations—fine and accurateetchings—have been omitted, sometimes because too personal with regardto himself or others, and sometimes because they were afterwards absorbedinto one or another of the Romances or papers in Our Old Home. It seemeda pity not to give these original cartoons fresh from his mind, becausethey are so carefully finished at the first stroke. Yet, as Mr.Hawthorne chose his own way of presenting them to the public, it wasthought better not to exhibit what he himself withheld. Besides, to anyother than a fellow-artist they might seem mere repetitions.
It is very earnestly hoped that these volumes of notes—American,English, and presently Italian—will dispel an often-expressed opinionthat Mr. Hawthorne was gloomy and morbid. He had the inevitablepensiveness and gravity of a person who possessed what a friend of hiscalled "the awful power of insight"; but his mood was always cheerful andequal, and his