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Title: Charles Bradlaugh: a Record of His Life and Work, Volume 1 (of 2)
Author: Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner
J. M. Robertson
Release date: March 14, 2014 [eBook #45130]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45130
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[Illustration: CHARLES BRADLAUGH Born Sept. 26, 1833 Died Jan. 30,
1891]
CHARLES BRADLAUGH
A Record of His Life and Work by His Daughter.
HYPATIA BRADLAUGH BONNER.
With an Account of his Parliamentary Struggle
Politics and Teachings by
JOHN M. ROBERTSON, M.P.
Seventh Edition
With Portraits and Appendices
T. Fisher Unwin
London Leipsic
Adelphi Terrace Inselstrasse 20
1908
All Rights Reserved
PREFACE.
"I wish you would tell me things, and let me write the story of your
life," I said in chatting to my father one evening about six weeks
before his death. "Perhaps I will, some day," he answered. "I believe I
could do it better than any one else," I went on, with jesting vanity.
"I believe you could," he rejoined, smiling. But to write the story of
Mr Bradlaugh's life with Mr Bradlaugh at hand to give information is
one thing: to write it after his death is quite another. The task has
been exceptionally difficult, inasmuch as my father made a point of
destroying his correspondence; consequently I have very few letters to
help me.
This book comes to the public as a record of the life and work of a
much misrepresented and much maligned man, a record which I have spared
no effort to make absolutely accurate. Beyond this it makes no claim.
For the story of the public life of Mr Bradlaugh from 1880 to 1891,
and for an exposition of his teachings and opinions, I am fortunate
in having the assistance of Mr J. M. Robertson. We both feel that
the book throughout goes more into detail and is more controversial
than is usual or generally desirable with biographies. It has,
however, been necessary to enter into details, because the most
trivial acts of Mr Bradlaugh's life have been misrepresented, and for
these misrepresentations, not for his acts, he has been condemned.
Controversy we have desired to avoid, but it has not been altogether
possible. In dealing with strictures on Mr Bradlaugh's conduct
or opinions, it is not sufficient to say that they are without
justification; one must show how and where the error lies, and where
possible, the source of error. Hence the defence to an attack, to our
regret, often unavoidably assumes a controversial aspect.
A drawback resulting from the division of labour in the composition of
the book is that there are a certain number of repetitions. We trust,
however, that readers will agree with us in thinking that the gain of
showing certain details in different relations outweighs the fault of a
few re-iterations.
In quoting Mr Bradlaugh's words from the _National Reformer_, I have
for the sake of greater clearness and directness altered the editorial
plural to the first person singular.
I desire to express here my great indebtedness to Mrs Mary Reed for her
help, more especially in searching old newspaper files with me at the
British Museum.
HYPATIA BRADLAUGH BONNER.
1894.
CONTENTS
Part 1.
BY HYPATIA BRADLAUGH BONNER.
VOL. I.
CHAPTER I.
PARENTAGE AND CHILDHOOD 1
Origin of the Bradlaugh family--James Bradlaugh--Charles
Bradlaugh, senr.--His marriage--Birth of Charles Bradlaugh--Needy
circumstances of the family--Character and tastes of his
father--Character of his mother--Schooling--Handwriting--Amusements--Early
lessons in politics.
CHAPTER II.
BOYHOOD 7
Charles Bradlaugh as office-boy--Wharf clerk and cashier--Politics
at Bonner's Fields--Sunday School--The Rev. J. G. Packer--Suspended
from duties as Sunday School teacher--Bonner's
Fields on Sunday--Mrs Sharples Carlile--The Warner Street
Temperance Hall--A teetotaller--Mr Packer's methods--An angry
father--The ultimatum--Leaving home--Mr Packer's responsibility.
CHAPTER III.
YOUTH 17
Alone in the world--B. B. Jones--A youthful "coal merchant"--The
baker's wife--Selling braces--Mrs Carlile offers a home--"A
little Hebrew and an imperfect smattering of other tongues"--Hypatia
Carlile--Brother and sister--Youthful oratory--The
_British Banner_--Austin Holyoake--George Jacob Holyoake--The
first pamphlet--A "season's campaign."
CHAPTER IV.
ARMY LIFE 25
Poverty, hunger, and debt--Enlisting for the East India service--Enrolled
in the 50th Foot--Transferred to the 7th Dragoon
Guards--Family reconciliation--The father's changed character--Troubles
at sea--Temperance advocacy under difficulties--"Leaves"--At
Rathmines Church--A right-of-way--A new
officer--Donnybrook Fair--An Irish tragedy.
CHAPTER V.
ARMY LIFE CONCLUDED 35
The father's death--Letters home--Death of Miss Elizabeth
Trimby--Mother and Daughter--Purchasing his discharge--Advantages
derived from Army life--James Thomson.
CHAPTER VI.
MARRIAGE 41
Changes at home--A soldier in search of work--With Mr
Rogers, of 70 Fenchurch Street--Anonymous busybodies again--"Iconoclast"
--The Hooper family--Old letters--Poetry--Calumnies
refuted--Common-sense justice--First recorded lawsuit--Marriage--My
sister's birth--My mother.
CHAPTER VII.
HYDE PARK MEETINGS, 1855 52
The new Sunday Bill--In Hyde Park--"Go to Church"--Hyde
Park again--The Bill abandoned--The Royal Commission--Mr
Bradlaugh's evidence.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE ORSINI ATTEMPT 62
Lecturing and writing--"The Bible: what it is"--Arrest of
Edward Truelove--Felice Orsini--Simon Bernard--Thomas
Allsop--"Thorough"--Recollections of W. E. Adams.
CHAPTER IX.
EARLY LECTURES AND DEBATES 72
Provincial lectures--First visit to Northampton--President of
the London Secular Society--Robert Owen's last pape Next |