My elder uncle.--We go to live at Hollins.--Description of the place. --My strong attachment to it.--My first experiment in art-criticism. --The stream at Hollins.--My first catamaran.--Similarity of my life at Hollins to my life in France thirty-six years later.
Interest in the Middle Ages.--Indifference to the Greeks and Romans. --Love for Sir Walter Scott's writings.--Interest in heraldry and illuminations.--Passion for hawking.--Old books in the school library at Burnley.--Mr. Edward Alexander of Halifax.--Attempts in literary composition.--Contributions to the "Historic Times."--"Rome in 1849."--"Observations on Heraldry."
Political and religious opinions of my relations.--The Rev. James Bardsley.--Protestant controversy with Rome.--German neology.--The inspiration of the Scriptures.--Inquiry into foundation for the doctrine.--I cease to be a Protestant.--An alternative presents itself.--A provisional condition of prolonged inquiry.--Our medical adviser.--His remarkable character.--His opinions.
First visit to London in 1851.--My first impression of the place.-- Nostalgia of the country.--Westminster.--The Royal Academy.--Resolution never to go to London again.--Reason why this resolution was afterwards broken.
The lore of reading a hindrance to classical studies.--Dr. Butler becomes anxious about my success at Oxford.--An insuperable obstacle.--My indifference to degrees.--Irksome hypocrisy.--I am nearly sent to a tutor at Brighton.--I go to a tutor in Yorkshire.--His disagreeable disposition.--Incident about riding.--Disastrous effect of my tutor's intellectual influence upon me.--My private reading.--My tutor's ignorance of modern authors.--His ignorance of the fine arts.--His religious intolerance.--I declare my inability to sign the Thirty-nine Articles.
Choice of a profession.--Love of literature and art.--Decision to make trial of both.--An equestrian tour.--Windermere.--Derwentwater.--I take lessons from Mr. J. P. Pettitt.--Ulleswater.--My horse turf.--Greenock, a discovery.--My unsettled cousin.--Glasgow.--Loch Lomond.--Inverary.--Loch Awe.--Inishail.--Inmstrynich.--Oban.--A sailing excursion.--Mull and Ulva.--Solitary reading.
A journal.--Self-training.--Attempts in periodical literature.--The time given to versification well spent.--Practical studies in art.-- Beginning of Mr. Ruskin's influence.--Difficulty in finding a master in landscape-painting.--Establishment of the militia.--I accept a commission.--Our first training.--Our colonel and our adjutant.--The Grand Llama.--Paying off the men.