Notes—(i) At one time the responsibility for the whole contents as well as for the editorship of the “Star Chamber” was fathered upon Disraeli. Monypenny, however, combats this theory. He says: “The 'Star Chamber' was founded by a certain Peter Hall, a friend of Meredith's at Brasenose, who, through Meredith, had become acquainted with Disraeli. Disraeli contributed some fables with a political application under the title of The Modern Aesop, and perhaps other matter. But in later life he expressly denied ('The Times,' November 3, 1871; the 'Leisure Hour,' November 4, 1871) having been editor, if indeed there ever was an editor.” This represents, of course, the most recent and authoritative opinion on the matter; but it is interesting, on p. 150 of the catalogue of the Hope collection of newspapers, etc., in the Bodleian Library at Oxford (1865), to find reasons given for the suppression by Disraeli of all copies of the “Star Chamber” upon which he could lay his hands. The Peter Hall referred to above was the Reverend Peter Hall, B.A., editor of “The Crypt.”
(ii) It is because the “Star Chamber” has come to be looked upon as a Disraeli item that I have included it here, despite the fact that in so doing I exceed the limit of these bibliographies, which take no account of magazine contributions of the authors concerned.
1849-1859
THE WORKS OF ISAAC DISRAELI. Edited with Introductions by Benjamin Disraeli.
Disraeli started work on a new edition of his father's books in 1847, but the actual publication was, for various reasons, spread over a period of ten years. The following are the dates and details in outline of the first issues of the various titles:
1849. CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE. London: Edward Moxon. 3 vols. Demy 8vo (5½ × 8¾). Dark green cloth, gilt. Yellow end-papers. Vol. I. contains “A View of the Life and Writings” of Isaac Disraeli written by his son and extending to over thirty pages.
1851. COMMENTARIES ON THE LIFE AND REIGN OF CHARLES THE FIRST, KING OF ENGLAND. London: Henry Colburn. 2 vols. Demy 8vo (5½ × 8¾). Dark green cloth, gilt. Yellow end-papers. Vol. I. contains a brief preface by Benjamin Disraeli.
1859. THE LITERARY CHARACTER Or The History of Men of Genius; and LITERARY MISCELLANIES and AN ENQUIRY INTO THE CHARACTER OF JAMES THE FIRST. 1 vol. Cr. 8vo.
1859. THE CALAMITIES AND QUARRELS OF AUTHORS. 1 Vol. Cr. 8vo.
1859. AMENITIES OF LITERATURE. 2 vols. Cr. 8vo.