boyish frolics and early genius; but shall we weary our
kind readers by this infantile prattle, and set down the revered British
public for an old woman? Only to two or three persons in all the world
are the reminiscences of a man's early youth interesting: to the parent
who nursed him; to the fond wife or child mayhap afterwards who loves
him; to himself always and supremely--whatever may be his actual
prosperity or ill-fortune, his present age, illness, difficulties,
renown, or disappointments, the dawn of his life still shines brightly
for him, the early griefs and delights and attachments remain with him
ever faithful and dear. I shall ask leave to say, regarding the juvenile
biography of Mr. Clive Newcome, of whose history I am the chronicler,
only so much as is sufficient to account for some peculiarities of his
character, and for his subsequent career in the world.

Although we were schoolfellows, my acquaintance with young Newcome at
the seat of learning where we first met was very brief and casual.
He had the advantage of being six years the junior of his present
biographer, and such a difference of age between lads at a public
school puts intimacy out of the question--a junior ensign being no more
familiar with the Commander-in-Chief at the Horse Guards, or a barrister
on his first circuit with my Lord Chief Justice on the bench, than the
newly breeched infant in the Petties with a senior boy in a tailed
coat. As we "knew each other at home," as our school phrase was, and our
families being somewhat acquainted, Newcome's maternal uncle, the Rev.
Charles Honeyman (the highly gifted preacher, and incumbent of Lady
Whittlesea's Chapel, Denmark Street, Mayfair), when he brought the
child, after the Christmas vacation of 182-, to the Grey Friars' school,
recommended him in a neat complimentary speech to my superintendence
and protection. My uncle, Major Pendennis, had for a while a seat in
the chapel of this sweet and popular preacher, and professed, as a
great number of persons of fashion did, a great admiration for him--an
admiration which I shared in my early youth, but which has been modified
by maturer judgment.

Mr. Honeyman told me, with an air of deep respect, that his young
nephew's father, Colonel Thomas Newcome, C.B., was a most gallant and
distinguished officer in the Bengal establishment of the Honourable East
India Company;--and that his uncles, the Colonel's half-brothers, were
the eminent bankers,