AUTHOR'S PREFACE

elaw,astohishavinggoodgroundsonwhichtorestanactionforlibelanother,hasmeditatedajourneytoLondon,fortheexpresspurposeofcommittinganassaultandbatteryonhistraducerathird,perfectlyremembersbeingwaitedon,lastJanuarytwelve-month,bytwogentlemen,oneofwhomheldhiminconversationwhiletheothertookhislikenessand,althoughMr.Squeershasbutoneeye,andhehastwo,andthepublishedsketchdoesnotresemblehim(whoeverhemaybe)inanyotherrespect,stillheandallhisfriendsandneighboursknowatonceforwhomitismeant,because—thecharacterissolikehim. “WhiletheAuthorcannotbutfeelthefullforceofthecomplimentthusconveyedtohim,heventurestosuggestthatthesecontentionsmayarisefromthefact,thatMr.Squeersistherepresentativeofaclass,andnotofanindividual.Whereimposture,ignorance,andbrutalcupidity,arethestockintradeofasmallbodyofmen,andoneisdescribedbythesecharacteristics,allhisfellowswillrecognisesomethingbelongingtothemselves,andeachwillhaveamisgivingthattheportraitishisown. “TheAuthor’sobjectincallingpublicattentiontothesystemwouldbeveryimperfectlyfulfilled,ifhedidnotstatenow,inhisownperson,emphaticallyandearnestly,thatMr.Squeersandhisschoolarefaintandfeeblepicturesofanexistingreality,purposelysubduedandkeptdownlesttheyshouldbedeemedimpossible.Thatthereare,uponrecord,trialsatlawinwhichdamageshavebeensoughtasapoorrecompenseforlastingagoniesanddisfigurementsinflicteduponchildrenbythetreatmentofthemasterintheseplaces,involvingsuchoffensiveandfouldetailsofneglect,cruelty,anddisease,asnowriteroffictionwouldhavetheboldnesstoimagine.Andthat,sincehehasbeenengagedupontheseAdventures,hehasreceived,fromprivatequartersfarbeyondthereachofsuspicionordistrust,accountsofatrocities,intheperpetrationofwhichuponneglectedorrepudiatedchildren,theseschoolshavebeenthemaininstruments,veryfarexceedinganythatappearinthesepages.” ThiscomprisesallIneedsayonthesubjectexce