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It was known that Lord Beaconsfield had drawn many of the characters in Endymion from prominent members of society, and much curiosity was felt as to the identification of these individuals. Notes and Queries published a conjectural list of them, but it must be borne in mind that Lord Beaconsfield was sufficiently cautious not to paint his portraits too distinctly like his originals, in fact some of his puppets represent two or three individuals merged into one
| Endymion | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Zenobia | Lady Jersey |
| Berengaria (Lady Montfort) | Hon. Mrs. Norton |
| Agrippina | Queen Hortense |
| Adriana Neufchatel | Lady Burdett Coutts |
| The Neufchatels | The Rothschilds |
| Col. Albert (Prince Florestan) | Napoleon III |
| Lord Roehampton | Lord Palmerston |
| Myra Roehampton | Empress Eugenie |
| Enoch Craggs | Co-operation. |
| Lord Montfort | The late Lord Hertford |
| Lord Rawchester | Earl Granville |
| Earl of Beaumaris | The late Earl of Derby |
| Mr. Bertie Tremaine | Lord Houghton |
| Count of Ferroll | Prince Bismarck |
| Nigel Penruddock | Cardinal Manning |
| Mr. Ferrars (the grandfather) | Rt. Hon. George Rose |
| George Waldershare | Mr. George Smythe (afterwards Lord Strangford) |
| Job Thornberry | Richard Cobden |
| Mr. Vigo | Mr. Poole |
| Mr. Jorrocks | Mr. Milner Gibson |
| Hortensius | Sir W. Vernon Harcourt |
| Sidney Wilton | Sidney Herbert |
| Mr. Sainte Barbe | W. M. Thackeray |
| Mr. Gushy | Charles Dickens |
| Topsy Turvy | Vanity Fair |
| Scaramouch | Punch |
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A curious story of a plagiarism is related of Disraeli in the Life of Mr. Abraham Hayward, Q.C., who was formerly on the staff of the Morning Chronicle.
Early in the “fifties,” Mr. Disraeli made sundry depreciatory remarks on the speeches of military members of Parliament, classing them contemptuously as effusions of “the military mind.” The men of the Morning Chronicle replied to Mr. Disraeli’s attack on the intellect of soldiers by printing a translation of a magnificent eulogium on the Maréchal de St. Cyr by M. Thiers, setting forth the qualities necessary to a military commander. Mr. Disraeli was evidently struck by the brilliancy of the counter hit, for a few years later, when the Duke of Wellington died, he interpolated the translation, errors and all, in the oration which as leader of the House of Commons it was his duty to deliver on the death of that great general. The old writers of the Chronicle secured the insertion of the speech and the translated passage in the Globe. Mr. Disraeli’s friends made every attempt to explain away the plagiarism till an article in Fraser’s Magazine, written by Mr. Hayward, showed clearly that the passage was not even taken from the French original, but directly from the translation which appeared in the Morning Chronicle. Mr. Hayward was very proud of this article of his, in which he also handled Mr. Disraeli’s “Revolutionary Epick” very roughly.
The Woman in Tights.
By Wilkie Collins.
The narrative commenced by Walter Heartbright, teacher of jig-dancing, of Fulwood’s-rents, Holborn. This is a story of what a woman’s impatience can procure, and what a man’s irresolution can achieve. If the law were not such a blundering battering-ram the events which fill these pages might have merited its attention. I live with my mother, who keeps a general shop. Events alter my life. I go to Cumberland to attend on a gentleman. The story continued by Mr. Bearly, Gummeridge House, Cumberland: I am all self, etchings, and nerves. Why? I know not. Perhaps Laura knows, or Sir Pursefull. I am asked to make a statement. Aided by a galvanic battery I make it. Laura has gone on the stage. I am worried. Why should I be? I give it up. Thank you. Don’t bang. Send Heartbright here. I would see him dance. Statement by Hester Teecloth, cook at Count Bosco’s: I remember a lady being brought to our house last June. She came in a temper and a brougham. She was laid on the sofa. She looked wildlike, and kept shouting “There they go, millions of ’em.” When the doctor saw her he winked at the count and whispered, “Delicious trimmings,” but the poor thing was plainly dressed. That’s all I know. Heartbright finishes the story: We are to be married in a week’s time. Laura’s faculties have returned. Mr. Bearly and his nerves have found Nirvana. Sir Pursefull was drowned while showing off a lifebelt of his own invention. Bosco is in an asylum. His time is occupied in plucking green mice from his beard, and chirruping to pink canaries which he fancies he sees on the wall. My mother, always of a retiring disposition, has given up business. I am heir of Gummeridge House. Thus it ends.