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100% found this document useful (3 votes)
33 views55 pages

(Ebook PDF) Basics of Web Design: Html5 & Css3 4th Revisedpdf Download

The document is an overview of the eBook 'Basics of Web Design: HTML5 & CSS3', which includes a comprehensive curriculum on web design skills, covering both technical (HTML5, CSS) and design principles. It emphasizes hands-on practice through exercises, case studies, and supplemental resources like VideoNotes. The text also addresses accessibility and ethics in web development, making it a well-rounded resource for students and instructors in web design education.

Uploaded by

keelahomfana
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Design for Today and Tomorrow.

The textbook prepares students to design web pages that work today in addition to being ready to take
advantage of new HTML5 coding techniques of the future.

Well-Rounded Selection of Topics.

This text includes both “hard” skills such as HTML5 and Cascading Style Sheets (Chapters 1–2 and
4–11) and “soft” skills such as web design (Chapter 3) and publishing to the Web (Chapter 12). This
well-rounded foundation will help students as they pursue careers as web professionals. Students and
instructors will find classes more interesting because they can discuss, integrate, and apply both hard
and soft skills as students create web pages and websites. The topics in each chapter are introduced on
concise two-page sections that are intended to provide quick overviews and timely practice with the
topic.

Two-Page Topic Sections.

Most topics are introduced in a concise, two-page section. Many sections also include immediate hands-
on practice of the new skill or concept. This approach is intended to appeal to your busy students—
especially the millennial multitaskers—who need to drill down to the important concepts right away.

Hands-On Practice.

Web design is a skill, and skills are best learned by hands-on practice. This text emphasizes hands-on
practice through practice exercises within the chapters, end-of-chapter exercises, and the development
of a website through ongoing real-world case studies. The variety of exercises provides instructors with
a choice of assignments for a particular course or semester.

Website Case Study.

There are case studies that continue throughout most of the text (beginning at Chapter 2). The case
studies serve to reinforce skills discussed in each chapter. Sample solutions to the case study exercises
are available on the Instructor Resource Center at http://www.pearsonhighered.com/irc.

Focus on Web Design.

Every chapter offers an additional activity that explores web design topics related to the chapter. These
activities can be used to reinforce, extend, and enhance the course topics.
FAQs.

In her web design courses, the author is frequently asked similar questions by students. They are
included in the book and are marked with the identifying FAQ icon.

Focus on Accessibility.

Developing accessible websites is more important than ever, and this text is infused with accessibility
techniques throughout. The special icon shown here makes accessibility information easy to find.

Focus on Ethics.

Ethics issues as related to web development are highlighted throughout the text with the special ethics
icon shown here.

Quick Tips.

Quick tips, which provide useful background information, or help with productivity, are indicated with this
Quick Tip icon.

Explore Further.

The special icon identifies enrichment topics along with web resources useful for delving deeper into a
concept introduced in book.

Reference Materials.

The appendices offer reference material, including an HTML5 reference, a Cascading Style Sheets
reference, a comparison of HTML5 and XHTML, a WCAG 2.0 Quick Reference, an overview of ARIA
Landmark Roles, and a brief introduction to CSS Flexible Box Layout (Flexbox).

VideoNotes.
VideoNotes are Pearson’s new visual tool designed for teaching students key programming concepts
and techniques. These short step-by-step videos demonstrate how to solve problems from design
through coding. VideoNotes allow for self-placed instruction with easy navigation including the ability to
select, play, rewind, fast-forward, and stop within each VideoNote exercise. Margin icons in your
textbook let you know when a VideoNote video is available for a particular concept or hands-on practice.

Supplemental Materials

Student Resources.

Student files for the case studies and the web page hands-on practice exercises, and access to the
book’s VideoNotes are available to all readers of this book at its companion website
www.pearsonhighered.com/cs-resources. A complimentary access code for the companion website
is available with a new copy of this book. Subscriptions may also be purchased online.

Instructor Resources.

The following supplements are available to qualified instructors only. Visit the Pearson Instructor
Resource Center (http://www.pearsonhighered.com/irc) for information on how to access them:

Solutions to the end-of-chapter exercises


Solutions for the case study assignments
Test questions
PowerPoint® presentations
Sample syllabi

Author’s Website.

In addition to the publisher’s companion website for this book, the author maintains a website at http://
www.webdevbasics.net. This website contains additional resources, including a color chart,
learning/review games, and a page for each chapter with examples, links, and updates. This website is
not supported by the publisher.

Acknowledgments

Very special thanks go to the people at Pearson, including Matt Goldstein, Kristy Alaura, and Erin Ault.
A special thank you also goes to Enrique D’Amico at Harper College for taking time to provide additional
feedback and sharing student comments about the book.

Most of all, I would like to thank my family for their patience and encouragement. My wonderful
husband, Greg Morris, has been a constant source of love, understanding, support, and
encouragement. Thank you, Greg! A big shout-out to my children, James and Karen, who grew up
thinking that everyone’s Mom had their own website. Thank you both for your understanding, patience,
and timely suggestions. Finally, a very special dedication to the memory of my father who will be greatly
missed.

About the Author

Dr. Terry Ann Felke-Morris is a Professor Emerita at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. She holds a
Doctor of Education degree, a Master of Science degree in information systems, and numerous
certifications, including Adobe Certified Dreamweaver 8 Developer, WOW Certified Associate
Webmaster, Microsoft Certified Professional, Master CIW Designer, and CIW Certified Instructor.

Dr. Felke-Morris received the Blackboard Greenhouse Exemplary Online Course Award in 2006 for use
of Internet technology in the academic environment. She is the recipient of two international awards: the
Instructional Technology Council’s Outstanding e-Learning Faculty Award for Excellence and the
MERLOT Award for Exemplary Online Learning Resources—MERLOT Business Classics.

With more than 25 years of information technology experience in business and industry, Dr. Felke-
Morris published her first website in 1996 and has been working with the Web ever since. A long-time
promoter of web standards, she was a member of the Web Standards Project Education Task Force. Dr.
Felke-Morris is the author of the popular textbook Web Development and Design Foundations with
HTML5, currently in its eighth edition. She was instrumental in developing the Web Development degree
and certificate programs at Harper College. For more information about Dr. Terry Ann Felke-Morris, visit
http://terrymorris.net.
CONTENTS

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

VideoNotes

CHAPTER 1 Internet and Web Basics 1


The Internet and the Web 2

Web Standards and Accessibility 4

Web Browsers and Web Servers 6

Internet Protocols 8

Uniform Resource Identifiers and Domain Names 10

Information on the Web 14

HTML Overview 16

Under the Hood of a Web Page 18

Your First Web Page 20

Review and Apply 24

CHAPTER 2 HTML Basics 27


Heading Element 28

Paragraph Element 30

Line Break and Horizontal Rule 32

Blockquote Element 34

Phrase Elements 36

Ordered List 38

Unordered List 40
Description List 42

Special Entity Characters 44

HTML Syntax Validation 46

Structural Elements 48

Practice with Structural Elements 50

Anchor Element 52

Practice with Hyperlinks 54

E-Mail Hyperlinks 58

Review and Apply 60

CHAPTER 3 Web Design Basics 69


Your Target Audience 70

Website Organization 72

Principles of Visual Design 74

Design to Provide for Accessibility 76

Use of Text 78

Web Color Palette 80

Design for Your Target Audience 82

Choosing a Color Scheme 84

Use of Graphics and Multimedia 88

More Design Considerations 90

Navigation Design 92

Wireframes and Page Layout 94

Fixed and Fluid Layouts 96

Design for the Mobile Web 98

Responsive Web Design 100

Web Design Best Practices Checklist 102

Review and Apply 104

CHAPTER 4 Cascading Style Sheets Basics 109


Cascading Style Sheets Overview 110

CSS Selectors and Declarations 112

CSS Syntax for Color Values 114


Configure Inline CSS 116

Configure Embedded CSS 118

Configure External CSS 120

CSS Selectors: Class, Id, and Descendant 122

Span Element 124

Practice with CSS 126

The Cascade 128

Practice with the Cascade 130

CSS Syntax Validation 132

Review and Apply 134

CHAPTER 5 Graphics & Text Styling Basics 141


Web Graphics 142

Image Element 144

Image Hyperlinks 146

Configure Background Images 148

Position Background Images 150

CSS3 Multiple Background Images 152

Fonts with CSS 154

CSS Text Properties 156

Practice with Graphics and Text 158

Configure List Markers with CSS 160

The Favorites Icon 162

Image Maps 164

Review and Apply 166

CHAPTER 6 More CSS Basics 175


Width and Height with CSS 176

The Box Model 178

Margin and Padding with CSS 180

Borders with CSS 182

CSS3 Rounded Corners 184

Center Page Content with CSS 186


CSS3 Box Shadow and Text Shadow 188

CSS3 Background Clip and Origin 190

CSS3 Background Resize and Scale 192

Practice with CSS3 Properties 194

CSS3 Opacity 196

CSS3 RGBA Color 198

CSS3 HSLA Color 200

CSS3 Gradients 202

Review and Apply 204

CHAPTER 7 Page Layout Basics 213


Normal Flow 214

Float 216

Clear a Float 218

Overflow 220

CSS Box Sizing 222

Basic Two-Column Layout 224

Vertical Navigation with an Unordered List 228

Horizontal Navigation with an Unordered List 230

CSS Interactivity with Pseudo-Classes 232

Practice with CSS Two-Column Layout 234

Positioning with CSS 236

Practice with Positioning 238

CSS Sprites 240

Review and Apply 242

CHAPTER 8 More on Links, Layout, and Mobile 247


More on Relative Linking 248

Fragment Identifiers 250

Figure and Figcaption Elements 252

Practice with Floating Figures 254

More HTML5 Elements 256


HTML5 Compatibility with Older Browsers 258

CSS for Print 260

Mobile Web Design 262

Viewport Meta Tag 264

CSS3 Media Queries 266

Practice with Media Queries 268

Flexible Images with CSS 272

Picture Element 274

Responsive Img Element Attributes 276

Testing Mobile Display 278

Review and Apply 280

CHAPTER 9 Table Basics 291


Table Overview 292

Table Rows, Cells, and Headers 294

Span Rows and Columns 296

Configure an Accessible Table 298

Style a Table with CSS 300

CSS3 Structural Pseudo-classes 302

Configure Table Sections 304

Review and Apply 306

CHAPTER 10 Form Basics 311


Form Overview 312

Text Box 314

Submit Button and Reset Button 316

Check Box and Radio Button 318

Hidden Field and Password Box 320

Textarea Element 322

Select Element and Option Element 324

Label Element 326

Fieldset Element and Legend Element 328

Style a Form with CSS 330


Server-Side Processing 332

Practice with a Form 334

HTML5 Text Form Controls 336

HTML5 Datalist Element 338

HTML5 Slider and Spinner Controls 340

HTML5 Calendar and Color-Well Controls 342

Practice with an HTML5 Form 344

Review and Apply 346

CHAPTER 11 Media and Interactivity Basics 355


Plug-ins, Containers, and Codecs 356

Configure Audio and Video 358

Flash and the HTML5 Embed Element 360

HTML5 Audio and Source Elements 362

HTML5 Video and Source Elements 364

Practice with HTML5 Video 366

Iframe Element 368

CSS3 Transform Property 370

CSS Transition Property 372

Practice with Transitions 374

CSS Drop Down Menu 376

HTML5 Details and Summary Elements 378

JavaScript & jQuery 380

HTML5 APIs 382

Review and Apply 384

CHAPTER 12 Web Publishing Basics 391


Register a Domain Name 392

Choose a Web Host 394

Publish with File Transfer Protocol 396

Search Engine Submission 398

Search Engine Optimization 400

Accessibility Testing 402


Usability Testing 404

Review and Apply 406

Appendix
Answers to Review Questions 409

HTML5 Cheat Sheet 410

CSS Cheat Sheet 415

Comparison of XHTML and HTML5 422

WCAG 2.0 Quick Reference 428

Landmark Roles with ARIA 430

CSS Flexible Box Layout 432

Index 439

Credits 455

Web Safe Color Palette 457


VideoNotes

Locations of VideoNotes

www.pearsonhighered.com/cs-resources

1. CHAPTER 1 Internet and Web Basics


Evolution of the Web 3
Your First Web Page 20

2. CHAPTER 2 HTML Basics


HTML Validation 46

3. CHAPTER 3 Web Design Basics


Principles of Visual Design 74

4. CHAPTER 4 Cascading Style Sheets Basics


External Style Sheets 120
CSS Validation 132

5. CHAPTER 5 Graphics & Text Styling Basics


Background Images 150

6. CHAPTER 6 More CSS Basics


CSS Rounded Corners 184

7. CHAPTER 7 Page Layout Basics


Interactivity with CSS Pseudo-Classes 232
8. CHAPTER 8 More on Links, Layout, and Mobile
Linking to a Named Fragment 250

9. CHAPTER 9 Table Basics


Configure a Table 294

10. CHAPTER 10 Form Basics


Connect a Form to Server-side Processing 332

11. CHAPTER 11 Media and Interactivity Basics


HTML5 Video 364
Configure an Inline Frame 369

12. CHAPTER 12 Web Publishing Basics


Choosing a Domain Name 392
Chapter 1 Internet and Web Basics

The Internet and the Web are parts of our daily lives. How did they begin? What
networking protocols and programming languages work behind the scenes to
display a web page? This chapter provides an introduction to some of these topics
and is a foundation for the information that web developers need to know. This
chapter also gets you started with your very first web page. You’ll be introduced to
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), the language used to create web pages.

You’ll learn how to...

Describe the evolution of the Internet and the Web


Explain the need for web standards
Describe universal design
Identify benefits of accessible web design
Identify reliable resources of information on the Web
Identify ethical uses of the Web
Describe the purpose of web browsers and web servers
Identify Internet protocols
Define URIs and domain names
Describe HTML, XHTML, and HTML5
Create your first web page
Use the body, head, title, and meta elements
Name, save, and test a web page
Chapter 2 HTML Basics

In the previous chapter, you created your first web page using HTML5. You
coded a web page and tested it in a browser. You used a Document Type Definition
to identify the version of HTML being used along with the <html> , <head> ,
<title> , <meta> , and <body> tags. In this chapter, you will continue your
study of HTML and configure the structure and formatting of text on a web page
using HTML elements, including the new HTML5 header, nav, and footer elements.
You’re also ready to explore hyperlinks, which make the World Wide Web into a web
of interconnected information. In this chapter, you will configure the anchor element
to connect web pages to each other with hyperlinks. As you read this chapter, be
sure to work through the examples. Coding a web page is a skill, and every skill
improves with practice.

You’ll learn how to...

Configure the body of a web page with headings, paragraphs, divs, lists, and blockquotes
Configure special entity characters, line breaks, and horizontal rules
Configure text with phrase elements
Test a web page for valid syntax
Configure a web page using new HTML5 header, nav, main, and footer elements
Use the anchor element to link from page to page
Configure absolute, relative, and e-mail hyperlinks
The Internet and the Web

The Internet

The Internet, the interconnected network of computer networks, seems to be everywhere today. You
can’t watch television or listen to the radio without being urged to visit a website. Even newspapers and
magazines have their place on the Internet. It is possible that you may be reading an electronic copy of
this book that you downloaded over the Internet. With the increased use of mobile devices such as
tablets and smartphones, being connected to the Internet has become part of our daily lives.

The Birth of the Internet

The Internet began as a network to connect computers at research facilities and universities. Messages
in this network would travel to their destinations by multiple routes or paths, allowing the network to
function even if parts of it were broken or destroyed. The message would be rerouted through a
functioning portion of the network while traveling to its destination. This network was developed by the
Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)—and the ARPAnet was born. Four computers (located at
UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah)
were connected by the end of 1969.

Growth of the Internet

As time went on, other networks, such as the National Science Foundation’s NSFnet, were created and
connected with the ARPAnet. Use of this interconnected network, or Internet, was originally limited to
government, research, and educational purposes. The ban on commercial use of the Internet was lifted
in 1991.

The growth of the Internet continues—Internet World Stats (http://www.internetworldstats .com/


stats.htm) reported that over 3.6 billion users, about 49% of the world’s population, were using the
Internet by 2016.

When the restriction on commercial use of the Internet was lifted, the stage was set for future electronic
commerce: businesses were now welcome on the Internet. However, while businesses were no longer
banned, the Internet was still text based and not easy to use. The next developments addressed this
issue.

The Birth of the Web

VideoNote

Evolution of the Web

While working at CERN, a research facility in Switzerland, Tim Berners-Lee envisioned a means of
communication for scientists by which they could easily “hyperlink” to another research paper or article
and immediately view it. Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web to fulfill this need. In 1991, Berners-
Lee posted the code in a newsgroup and made it freely available. This version of the World Wide Web
used Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to communicate between the client computer and the web
server, and it was text based, employing Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) to format the
documents.

The First Graphical Browser

In 1993, Mosaic, the first graphical web browser, became available. Marc Andreessen and graduate
students working at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed Mosaic. Some individuals in this group later created another well-
known web browser, Netscape Navigator, which is an ancestor of today’s Mozilla Firefox browser.

Convergence of Technologies

By the early 1990s, personal computers with easy-to-use graphical operating systems (such as
Microsoft’s Windows, IBM’s OS/2, and Apple’s Macintosh OS) were increasingly available and
affordable. Online service providers such as CompuServe, AOL, and Prodigy offered low-cost
connections to the Internet. Figure 1.1 depicts this convergence of available computer hardware, easy-
to-use operating systems, low-cost Internet connectivity, the HTTP protocol and HTML language, and a
graphical browser that made information on the Internet much easier to access. The World Wide
Web—the graphical user interface providing access to information stored on web servers connected to
the Internet—had arrived!

FIGURE 1.1
Convergence of technologies.
Another Random Document on
Scribd Without Any Related Topics
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Private
Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume
1 (of 2)
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United
States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the
laws of the country where you are located before using this
eBook.

Title: Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1


(of 2)

Author: Edward Gibbon

Author of introduction, etc.: Earl of Henry North Holroyd


Sheffield

Editor: Baron Ernle Rowland E. Prothero

Release date: April 22, 2013 [eBook #42578]


Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Sharon Joiner, Bryan Ness and the Online


Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
(This
file was produced from images generously made
available
by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIVATE


LETTERS OF EDWARD GIBBON (1753-1794) VOLUME 1 (OF 2) ***
PRIVATE LETTERS
OF
EDWARD GIBBON
(1753-1794).

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
THE EARL OF SHEFFIELD.

EDITED BY
ROWLAND E. PROTHERO,
18 BARRISTER-AT-LAW, SOME-TIME FELLOW OF ALL SOULS' COLLEGE, OXFORD.

VOL. I.

LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.
1896.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.
INTRODUCTION BY THE EARL OF
SHEFFIELD.
The centenary of the death of Edward Gibbon (died January, 1794,
aged fifty-six) was recorded by a public commemoration held in
London in November, 1894, at the instance of the Royal Historical
Society. The distinguished committee of English and foreign
students, who were associated on that occasion, invited me to
become their President, as representing the family with which
Gibbon had been so intimately connected, and which still retained
the portraits, manuscripts, letters, and relics of the historian. The
exhibition of these in the British Museum, and the commemoration
held on November 15, reawakened interest in the work and remains
of one of the greatest names in English literature; and a general
desire was expressed that the manuscripts should be again collated,
and that what was yet unpublished might be given to the world.
As is well known, it was my grandfather, the first Earl, who made the
historian almost his adopted brother, gave him a home both in town
and in country, was his devisee and literary executor, and edited and
published the famous Autobiography, the letters, and remains. All of
these passed under Edward Gibbon's will to Lord Sheffield; and,
together with books, relics, portraits, and various mementos, they
have been for a century preserved by my father and myself with
religions care and veneration in Sheffield Park. The original
autograph manuscripts of the Memoirs, the Diaries, Letters, Note-
books, etc., have now become the property of the British Museum,
subject to the copyright of all the unpublished parts which was
previously assigned to Mr. Murray. And it is with no little pleasure
and pride that I have acceded to the request of the publishers that I
would introduce these unpublished remains to the world, and thus
complete the task of editing the historian, to which my grandfather
devoted so great a portion of his time, not only as a testamentary
duty, but as a labour of love.
The connection of the historian with my grandfather, his early friend,
John Holroyd, and the members of the Holroyd family, forms one of
the pleasantest and also most interesting passages in literary history.
It was in no way interrupted by Lord Sheffield's public and official
duties; it was continued without a cloud to obscure their intimacy,
until it was sundered by death; and the Earl, who survived his friend
so long, continued to edit and to publish the manuscripts left in his
hands for some twenty years after the death of the historian.
By a clause in the will of Edward Gibbon, dated July 14, 1788, his
papers were entrusted to Lord Sheffield and Mr. John Batt, his
executors, in the following terms:—
"I will that all my Manuscript papers found at the time of my
decease be delivered to my executors, and that if any shall appear
sufficiently finished for the public eye, they do treat for the purchase
of the same with a Bookseller, giving the preference to Mr. Andrew
Strahan and Mr. Thomas Cadell, whose liberal spirit I have
experienced in similar transactions. And whatsoever monies may
accrue from such sale and publication I give to my much-valued
friend William Hayley, Esq., of Eastham, in the County of Sussex. But
in case he shall dye before me, I give the aforesaid monies to the
Royal Society of London and the Royal Academy of Inscriptions of
Paris, share and share alike, in trust to be by them employed in such
a manner as they shall deem most beneficial to the cause of
Learning."
In pursuance of the directions contained in the will and of many
verbal communications, Lord Sheffield, in 1799, published the
Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, with Memoirs of his Life and
Writings, in 2 vols., 4to. A third volume was added in 1815, and a
new edition of the whole, with additions, appeared during the same
year in 5 vols., 8vo. In 1837 another edition, in one large 8vo
volume, was published.
By a clause in his own will, Lord Sheffield directed that no further
publication of the historian's manuscripts should be made.
"And I request of my said trustees and my heirs that none of the
said manuscripts, papers, or books of the said Edward Gibbon be
published unless my approbation of the publication be directed by
some memorandum indorsed and written or signed by me. And I
also request the person entitled for the time being to the possession
thereof not to suffer the same to be out of his possession or to be
improperly exposed."
This direction has been strictly followed by my father, the second
Earl, and by myself; and it is believed that no person has ever had
access to any of the manuscripts for any literary purpose, excepting
the late Dean Milman, who, when editing his well-known edition of
the Decline and Fall, in 1842, was permitted to inspect the original
manuscripts of the Autobiography, on condition of not publishing any
new matter.
The commemoration of 1894, however, again raised the question
whether such an embargo on giving to the world writings of national
importance was ever meant to be, or even ought to be, regarded as
perpetual. Whilst persons named in these papers or their children
were living, whilst the bitter controversies of the last century were
still unforgotten, whilst the fame of Edward Gibbon had hardly yet
become one of our national glories, it was a matter of good feeling
and sound judgment in Lord Sheffield to exercise an editor's
discretion in publishing his friend's confession and private thoughts.
Now that more than a hundred years have passed since his death,
no such considerations have weight or meaning. And the opinion of
those whom I have consulted, both professionally and as private
friends, amply corroborates my own conclusion, that it is a duty
which I owe to my own ancestor and to the public to give to the
world all the remains of the historian which for more than a century
have been preserved in the strong room of Sheffield Park.
The unlocking of the cases in which these manuscripts were secured
was quite a revelation of literary workmanship, and has led to a
most interesting problem in literary history. The manuscripts of the
historian are all holographs—the text of the famous Memoirs being
written with extraordinary beauty of calligraphy, and studied with the
utmost care. But, singularly enough, none of the texts are prepared
for immediate, or even direct, publication. The historian wrote, at
various intervals between 1788 and 1793, no less than six different
sketches. They are not quite continuous; they partly recount the
same incidents in different form; they are written in different tones:
and yet no one of them is complete; none of them seem plainly
designed to supersede the rest. There is even a small seventh
sketch, from which one of the noblest and most famous passages
that Gibbon ever wrote has been excised, and inserted in the
published Autobiography.
Lord Sheffield executed his editorial task with extreme judgment,
singular ingenuity, but remarkable freedom. He was assisted in
preparing the manuscripts for publication by his wife and by Lady
Maria Holroyd, his eldest daughter, who became by marriage the
first Lady Stanley of Alderley. This very able and remarkable woman,
of whose abilities the historian expressed in letters his great
admiration, evidently marked the manuscripts in pencil handwriting
(now recognized as hers) for the printer's copyist. These pencil
deletions, transpositions, and even additions, correspond with the
Autobiography as published by Lord Sheffield. Quite a third of the
whole manuscript is omitted, and many of the most piquant
passages that Gibbon ever wrote were suppressed by the caution or
the delicacy of his editor and his family.
The result is a problem of singular literary interest. A piece, most
elaborately composed by one of the greatest writers who ever used
our language, an autobiography often pronounced to be the best we
possess, is now proved to be in no sense the simple work of that
illustrious pen, but to have been dexterously pieced together out of
seven fragmentary sketches and adapted into a single and coherent
narrative. The manner and the extent of this extraordinary piece of
editing has been so fully explained in the address of November 15,
published by the Centenary Committee, that it is not necessary for
me to enlarge upon it further.
No sooner had the discovery of the process by which Gibbon's
Autobiography had been concocted been made public, than a
general desire was expressed to have the originals published in the
form in which the historian left them. It was no case of incomplete
or illegible manuscripts, nor of rough drafts designed only as notes
for subsequent composition. The whole of the seven manuscripts are
written with perfect precision; the style is in Gibbon's most elaborate
manner; and each piece is perfectly ready for the printer—so far as
it goes. It was impossible to do again the task of consolidation so
admirably performed by Lord Sheffield. Nothing remained but to
print the whole of the pieces verbatim, as the historian wrote them,
not necessarily in the order of time of their apparent composition,
but so as to form a consecutive narrative of the author's life.
The reader may now rest assured that, for the first time, he has
before him the Autobiographic Sketches of Edward Gibbon in the
exact form in which he left them at his death. The portions enclosed
in dark brackets are the passages which were omitted by Lord
Sheffield, and in the notes are inserted the passages or sentences,
few and simple in themselves, which Lord Sheffield added to the
original manuscript. For various reasons it was found impracticable
to print the six sketches in parallel columns; but the admirers of the
historian and all students of English literature will find abundant
opportunity for collating the original texts with each other, and with
the text as published by the editor, and now for a century current as
one of the masterpieces of English literature.
The Letters of the historian, the bulk of which were addressed to
Lord Sheffield and his family, were published in part by my
grandfather in one or other of the editions of The Miscellaneous
Works of Edward Gibbon. But in this collection many letters were
omitted, and most of them were printed with some omissions and
variations. These omissions have now been restored; and the
Letters, like the other papers of our author, are now for the first time
given to the world in the form in which they were composed.
I cannot pretend to any rivalry with my grandfather in the matter of
the skill with which he performed the task of editing and selecting
for publication the remains of his friend. But I can assure the reader
that every piece contained in this volume as the work of Edward
Gibbon is now printed exactly as he wrote it without suppression or
emendation. And in transferring these literary treasures to the
nation, and in giving them to the world, I feel that I am fulfilling the
trust which the historian reposed in my grandfather, and am acting
in the spirit of the lifelong friendship that bound him to my family.
I cannot conclude these prefatory remarks without acknowledging to
the fullest extent the obligation I am under to Mr. Frederic Harrison
for the assistance he has given me in the preparation and
composition of this Preface.
EDITOR'S PREFACE.
This collection of Gibbon's correspondence, extending as it does
from 1753 to 1794, practically covers the whole of the historian's
life, and contains his observations on society, literature, and politics
during a period which includes such momentous events as the Seven
Years' War, the War of American Independence, and the French
Revolution.
By far the greater number of the letters now appear for the first
time; but portions of the correspondence, marked in this edition with
asterisks, were printed by Lord Sheffield shortly after Gibbon's
death. These published portions were treated by the editor with
great tact and more freedom. Lord Sheffield was giving to the world
letters which discussed recent events and criticised living persons; it
was, therefore, necessary for him to suppress some allusions and
conceal many names. Jealous of his friend's literary reputation, he
corrects errors in spelling or grammar, gives a dignified turn to the
more homely phrases, and omits as trivial the petty details of
domestic life. Sometimes, also, Lord Sheffield's editorial methods
pass beyond the exercise of these more or less legitimate powers. In
order to concentrate the interest of the correspondence, he culls a
few lines from one letter, chooses a sentence from a second,
extracts a passage from a third, and prints his patchwork as a
genuine letter from Gibbon's own hand.
In this edition the letters are printed as they were written. For the
blanks which conceal the identity of persons are substituted the real
names; the suppressed passages are restored; the spelling and
grammar of the original are preserved; the language is left as
Gibbon wrote it. If the Memoirs give us Gibbon in the full dress of a
fine gentleman of letters, the correspondence reveals to us the man
as he was known to his valet and his housekeeper.
The letters have the ease and freshness of conversations with
intimate friends, and, considering the character of the century in
which they were written, they present one feature which deserves
special notice. Only one short sentence has been omitted as too
coarse to be printed. With this solitary exception, the reader knows
the worst as well as the best of Gibbon, and there are scarcely a
dozen phrases, scattered over 800 pages, which will offend good
taste or good feeling.
The notes must speak for themselves. Though some points on which
information is needed remain obscure, it is hoped that, so far as
they go, they may be found useful. In their correction and revision,
valuable aid has been given by Mr. G. H. Holden, Assistant Librarian
at All Souls' College, Oxford.
ERRATA.
Vol. I. page 185, note, last line, for "Roslyn" read "Rosslyn."
" " 314, note 2, line 7, for "Madame du Barry" read
"Madame du Barri."
" " 386, note 2, for "Wibraham" read "Wilbraham."

Vol. II. page 4, note 1 (twice), for "Bushy" read "Bushey."


GIBBON'S CORRESPONDENCE.
1753-1794.
On June 8, 1753, Edward Gibbon, then sixteen years of age, and an
undergraduate of Magdalen College, Oxford, was received into the
Roman Catholic Church by a Jesuit named Baker, one of the
chaplains to the Sardinian Embassy. His change of religion led to his
removal from the University, and decided his father to place him
under the care of M. Pavillard, a Calvinist minister at Lausanne.
Escorted by M. Frey, a Swiss gentleman of Basle, Gibbon left
England on June 19, 1753. His first letter announces his safe arrival.
1.
To his Father.
[Lausanne], July 30th, 1753.
Dear Sir,
I must beg you to excuse my not having wrote till now, but knowing
that Mr. Frey had given you an account of my safe arrival by the first
post, I chose to stay some time, that I might be able to give you a
more exact account of my present situation. After a pretty tiresome
journey of eleven days, I got safe to Lausanne. Mr. Frey, when he
had delivered me into Mr. Pavilliard's hands, left the place and went
to Geneva. I have now been with him a month, and during the
whole time have been treated by him with the greatest civility
imaginable. I read French twice every day with him. I already
understand almost all that is said, and can ask for any common
things I want. With regard to other things, the people here are
extremely civil to strangers, and endeavour to make this town as
agreeable as possible. The English here are Mr. Townshend, nephew
to the present Lord Townshend, Lord Huntingtower, Mr. Crofts, and
Mr. Umberstone. I have also been introduced to the Earl of
Blessington, who resides here now with his family, as well as to
Madame de Brissoné, to whom you gave me a letter of
recommendation, and who is an extremely agreeable woman. This is
the chief I have to say of the place. As to the climate, I have reason
to think it will agree extremely well with me. When I was at Calais
my books were seized and sent to Paris to be examined, but a friend
there, whom Mr. Frey has wrote to, is to send them to Lausanne. I
must beg my sincere compliments to Miss Ellison.
I am, dear Sir,
With the greatest respect and sincerity,
Your most obedient and most dutiful son,
Edward Gibbon.
2.
To his Aunt, Miss Catherine Porten.[1]
February, 1755.
"Pray remember this letter was not addressed to his mother-in-law,
but his aunt, an old cat as she was to refuse his request."[2]
Dear Madam,
*I have at length good news to tell you; I am now a good
Protestant, and am extremely glad of it.[3] I have in all my letters
taken notice of the different movements of my mind. Entirely
Catholic when I came to Lausanne, wavering long time between the
two systems, and at last fixed for the Protestant, when that conflict
was over, I had still another difficulty. Brought up with all the ideas
of the Church of England, I could scarce resolve to communion with
Presbyterians, as all the people of this country are. I at last got over
it in considering that, whatever difference there may be between
their churches and ours in the government and discipline, they still
regard us as brethren, and profess the same faith as us.
Determined, then, in my design, I declared it to the ministers of the
town assembled at Mr. Pavilliard's, who, having examined me,
approved of it, and permitted me to receive the communion with
them, which I did Christmas Day, from the hands of Mr. Pavilliard,
who appeared extremely glad of it. I am so extremely myself, and do
assure you feel a joy pure, and the more so as I know it to be not
only innocent but laudable.*
Could I leave off here I should be very glad, but I have another
piece of news to acquaint you with. Mr. Pavilliard has already hinted
it in the letter you have, I suppose, already received, and which I
have translated into English. Let me tell you the whole fact as it is
really past.
One evening I went to see Mr. Gee, one of the
English now here. I found him in his room, playing A GAMBLING
SCRAPE.
at Pharaon with some other gentlemen. I would
have retired, but he desiring me to stay, I took a chair and sat down
by the fire. I continued to look at the gamesters about half an hour,
till one of them going away, Gee desired me to take his place, and I
refused; but on his assuring me that I might punt as low as I would,
at last complied, and soon lost about half a guinea; this vexed me,
and I continued upon my word. The play warmed, and about three
o'clock the next morning I found I had lost only forty guineas. Guess
my situation (which I did not dare communicate to any one); such a
loss, and an utter impossibility of paying it. I took the worst party I
could. I demanded my revenge; they gave it me, and the second
meeting was still worse than the first. It cost me 1760 francs, or 110
guineas.
Never have I felt a despair equal to that I had then. I was a great
while hesitating upon the most violent parties. At last I resolved to
go seek my money in England, not doubting to be able to raise that
sum at London. I had not forgot that step would expose me to all
the indignation of my father, but I shut my eyes on all those
considerations, to reflect that it was my only resource to pay my
debt and to disengage my word; in pursuance of this, I bought a
horse, a watch, and some other things of Mr. Gee himself, payable
with the rest in England, and set out proposing to sell those things
to carry me on my journey. Was successful as far as Geneva, but
there the difficulty I found to dispose of my horse having stopped
me some days, Pavilliard, who had perceived my evasion, ran after
me, and half entreaties, half force, brought me back to Lausanne
with him.
I am there at present, not knowing what to do; the term given me
almost out, and my creditors extremely pressing. What party can I
take? Should I acquaint my father with it? What first-fruits of a
conversion should I give him? I have then no other resource than
you. Tell me not you are poor, that you have not enough for yourself.
I do not address myself to you as the richest, but as the kindest of
my relations; nor do I ask it you as a gift, but as a loan. If you could
not furnish me the whole sum, let me have at least a part of it. I
know you have thoughts of doing something for me by your will; I
beg you only to anticipate it. I shall make no use of any other
prayers than this plain recite of my situation; if it produces no effect
on you, nothing else would. Remember only that my term finished
March 15. I tremble for your answer, but beg it may be speedy. I am
too much agitated to go on. I will tell you something of myself in my
next, i.e. very soon.
I am, dear Kitty,
Your unfortunate nephew,
E. Gibbon.
P.S.—I have enclosed a carte blanche—write there a promise for
what you send me; it may serve you with my father in case of my
death.
P.S.—You may inquire for Grand and Wombwell, bankers, who will
give you bills upon Mr. Grand, banker, at Lausanne for as much as
you will.
3.
To his Father.
March 1st, 1755.
Dear Sir,
As Mr. Pavilliard writes to you at present, I will not
let slip the occasion of sending my letter by the VOLTAIRE AT
GENEVA.
same post. Give me leave, sir, to demand of you,
once more, and to demand of you with the last earnestness, the
return of your paternal tenderness, which I have forfeited by the
unhappy step I have made. I hope to merit that return by my
behaviour. Give me leave, too, to repeat my former demands of
some masters, as for the manége for fencing and for dancing. With
regard to the last, I own that Mr. Pavilliard, overcome by
importunities, and imagining you would not disapprove of it, gave
me leave to take it about three months ago, and I actually learn. My
health still continues good, and I continue my studies in the same
manner I have already described to you. The only news I have to tell
you is that the famous Mr. de Voltaire[4] is come to spend, as he
says, the rest of his days here. He has bought an estate near
Geneva, where he proposes to spend the summer, and to pass the
winter at a country house he has hired near Lausanne.
Give me now leave, dear Sir, to finish, repeating the demand of your
former affection. If I could hope to hear from you I should think
myself completely happy.
I am, dear Sir,
Your most obedient and most dutiful son,
E. Gibbon.
4.
To Miss Catherine Porten.
September 20th, 1755.
Dear Madam,
In compliance with your request, I answer the very day I have
received it. I own you had vexed me; not so much in refusing me
the money I asked you, as by revealing the thing to my father. But
what is done cannot be undone, and as my father has forgiven me, I
think I may do as much for you. I consent, then, to the renewal of
our correspondence with all my heart. I shall begin by the tail of
your letter. My whole debt was not with Gee; a great part was with a
person of this town, who has heard reason easily enough. He has
consented to receive a note by which I own the debt, and promise
to pay him when I can. Gee has not been so easy. After having
obliged him to take back the watch and the mare, the debt was still
at fifty guineas. I bought him for twenty another watch, paying (as I
do still) two guineas a month to the watchmaker, and which Mons.
Pavilliard and I contrive to retrench out of my other expenses. Gee
left us about four months ago. Have you a mind to know his destiny?
Yes. Hear it, then. His parents had ordered him forty guineas for his
journey, but as they had allowed him to stay a fortnight at Paris, he
was to take twenty more in that place. Gee quits Lausanne in this
manner. Suppose him at Lyons. He goes immediately to the
correspondent of his banker, for whom he had a letter of
recommendation. "Sir," says he, in accosting him, "I have a letter for
you from your correspondent, Mons. Grand of Lausanne. You will
find in it that he desires you to pay me twenty-five guineas at sight."
The banker puts on his spectacles, reads the letter, but finds nothing
in it about money. Upon which he tells Gee that certainly there is
some mistake, and he cannot give him a farthing before it is cleared
up. Gee replies that he must be at Paris a certain day, and that
without money he cannot go. In a word, for I hate long stories, the
banker gives him the money, but writes to his correspondent at Paris
to stop Gee's twenty guineas. He, having some wind of the affair,
runs post, day and night, arrives at Paris four hours before the letter,
and draws the money. Gee's adventures at Paris would take up a
volume, as he played a great deal. Once he had a hundred and fifty
thousand livres, French money, in his pocket (£6700), but a week
after he was 1500 guineas in debt, thanks to the famous Mr. Taff[5]
and some others of much the same stamp. The end was that his
mother, though extremely poor, paid all his debts, and sent him into
England, where he is now, having lost his commission, having hardly
any other resource than his Majesty's highway. So much for Gee.
A tear to poor Nell; she really deserves it. Am glad
Nemmy is well married. Would write to my aunt HIS FATHER'S
SECOND
Hester,[6] but know not what to say to her. You tell MARRIAGE
me Snell and Milton are gone; where? Compliments
to Bett Gilbert and to the Darrels[7] since you are at Richmond. I
hurry over; but, à propos, who directed your letter, for it is not your
hand? I hurry over all these things to come to my father's marriage.
About a fortnight ago I received a vastly kind letter from my father
of the 18th of August (inquire the day of his marriage). He forgave
me in it all my past faults, promised never to speak of them again to
me, provided only I kept the promises I had made him about my
future behaviour; allows me to make a little tour about Switzerland,
which I had asked him, and tells me that, after having completed my
studies and my exercises, he would make me make that of France
and Italy. But not a syllable about his marriage.[8] Three days after I
heard of it by the canal of a certain Mr. Hugonin, whose father is our
neighbour in Hampshire, but without any particularities either of
name or anything else. Guess my surprise; you know he had always
protested that he never would marry again—at least, had he done it
in the time he was angry with me, I should have been less struck;
but now what can he mean by it? What frightens me most is what I
remember you told me; if my father married again, by my
grandfather's will the estate went to the children of the second bed,
and that I had only 200 a year, provided the second wife had more
fortune than my mother, who had only £1500. You may easily guess
the anxiety that has put me in. I have wrote to a friend in England,
who I think I can trust to get me a copy of that will out of Doctors'
Commons; but though sure of his discretion, I do not know whether
he will care to serve me. Could you not do it YOURSELF? and inquire
whether my father has not taken care of me by his marriage
contract.
You say that Mrs. Gibbon (Miss Patton) has set my father against the
Mallets.[9] I do not know if 'tis so very good a sign. Since she was
intimate with him when I was under Ward's[10] hands, I should think
you must have heard something of her. Do make some inquiries
about her and send them me. I wonder what will become of my
poor cousin. She will be sold at last. Since they are in France, and
that the war is going to break out, what if they should come to
Lausanne?
*Now for myself. As my father has given me leave
to make a journey round Switzerland, we set out YOUNG
TRAVELLERS.
to-morrow. Buy a map of Switzerland, 'twill cost
you but a shilling, and follow me. I go by Iverdun, Neufchâtel,
Bienne or Biel, Soleure or Solothurn, Bâle or Basil, Bade, Zurich,
Lucerne, and Bern. The voyage will be of about four weeks; so that I
hope to find a letter from you waiting for me. As my father had
given me leave to learn what I had a mind, I have learned to ride,
and learn actually to dance and draw. Besides that, I often give ten
or twelve hours a day to my studies. I find a great many agreeable
people here; see them sometimes, and can say upon the whole,
without vanity, that, tho' I am the Englishman here who spends the
least money, I am he who is the most generally liked. I told you that
my father had promised to send me into France and Italy. I have
thanked him for it. But if he would follow my plan, he won't do it yet
a while. I never liked young travellers; they go too raw to make any
great remarks, and they lose a time which is (in my opinion) the
most precious part of a man's life. My scheme would be, to spend
this winter at Lausanne—for tho' 'tis a very good place to acquire the
air of good company and the French tongue, we have no good
professors—to spend (I say) the winter at Lausanne; go into
England to see my friends a couple of months, and after that, finish
my studies, either at Cambridge (for after what's past one cannot
think of Oxford), or at a university in Holland. If you liked the
scheme, could you propose it to my father by Metcalf, or somebody
else who has a certain credit over him? I forgot to ask you whether,
in case my father writes to tell me his marriage, would you advise
me to compliment my mother-in-law? I think so. My health is so very
regular that I have nothing to say about it.
I have been the whole day writing you this letter; the preparations
for our voyage gave me a thousand interruptions. Besides that, I
was obliged to write in English. This last reason will seem a
parradox, but I assure you the French is much more familiar to me.*
À propos, do you know anything of my Lord Newnham?[11] I heard
he was in Germany.
I am, dear Kitty,
Your affectionate nephew
(Not your grave, obedient, humble servant),
E. Gibbon.
5.
To his Father.
10 juin 1756.
Mon très cher Père,
Je reçus hier votre lettre avec beaucoup de plaisir, mais qui ne fut
pas tout-à-fait sans mélange d'Inquietude. Je craignois vous avoir
encore offensé par quelque nouvelle faute. Vous savez combien une
affection vive et sincère prend facilement l'allarme aux plus grandes
minucies. Je fus frappé en ouvrant votre lettre de voir votre style
ordinaire de Dear Edward changé en un froid Monsieur. Il est vrai
que la suite me rassura; j'y voyois un Père tendre qui vouloit bien
entrer dans mes peines, les soulager, et me delivrer de toutes mes
craintes, en m'assurant que, si je me conduisois toujours d'une façon
conforme à mon devoir, le nouvel engagement qu'il avoit pris ne me
porteroit aucune prejudice. J'espère que je me connois assez à
présent pour pouvoir regarder cette condition comme une promesse
absolue. En effet si je m'en écartois, avec quels yeux pourrois-je me
regarder moi-même après m'être coupable d'une aussi noire
ingratitude pour tant de bonté? Ce trait dont vous me faites part au
sujet de votre nouvelle épouse, me la fait déjà aimer d'avance. Je
n'aurai pas beaucoup de peine à considérer comme ma mère celle
qui, ne pouvant pas me donner la vie, me l'a au moins rendu. J'aurai
l'honneur de lui en faire mes très humbles remerciemens, et de
l'assurer des vœux qui je fais pour son bonheur. Pour vous, mon très
cher Père, je puis vous protester dans la sincerité de mon cœur que
tous ceux que je fais à votre sujet ont pour unique but votre felicité
mutuelle. Puissiez-vous gouter tous les agreémens d'une Union
fondée sur l'amour et l'estime, et puisse je vous réiterer ces mêmes
souhaits pendant une longue suite d'années.
Vous me demandez compte de mes études et de mes exercises.
Pour vous en rendre il faut nécessairement que j'entre dans un
certain détail. Vos questions la-dessus peuvent se rapporter: 1. à
mon François. Je sais qu'il s'en faut de beaucoup que je ne possède
cette langue aussi bien que je pourrois le faire. Mais j'ose dire
pourtant, sans craindre d'en être démenti par Monsieur Pavilliard,
que je la sais mieux que la plupart des Anglois que j'ai vu à
Lausanne. 2. Mes Langues mortes. Vous savez mieux que personne
ma faiblesse par rapport au Latin lorsque j'ai quitté l'Angleterre. Il
n'y avoit alors point d'auteur que je pusse lire avec facilité ni par
conséquent avec plaisir. A present il n'y en aucun que je ne lise
coulamment. J'en ai lu plusieurs depuis quelque peu de tems, tels
que la plus grande partie des ouvrages de Ciceron, Virgile, Saluste,
les Epitres de Pline deux fois, les comédies de Terence autant,
Velleius Patercule, et je me propose de les lire tous avec le tems.
Pour ce qui est du Grec comme je n'ai commencé à l'aprendre que
depuis un mois, ou six semaines, vous sentez bien que j'en suis
encore aux Premiers Principes. 3. Ma Philosophie. J'ai achevé la
Logique de Monsieur de Crousaz laquelle est fort estimée dans ce
pays-ci, en partie avec Monsieur Pavilliard et en parti dans mon
Particulier. Je vais lire pour la seconde fois L'Etendement Humain, et,
aussitôt que je l'aurai fini, je commencerai l'Algèbre que vous me
recommandez tant. 4. Ma Danse et mon Dessein. Je crois que vous
ne serez pas mécontent de mes progrés dans la dernière de ces
choses. Pour ce de la première je fais tout ce que je puis. Monsieur
Pavilliard me rendra la justice de dire je ne suis pas fort dissipé. Je
ne sors pas beaucoup et alors même ce n'est que pour aller dans les
compagnies de la ville.
Je suis bien faché, mon très cher Père, de voir que
ces malheureux mots de Mons. Hugonin, lachés et HIS STUDIES.
rapportés si mal à propos, ne sont pas encore
effacés de votre esprit. Je vous en demande sincèrement excuse, et
je vous prie de les oublier totalement. Pour ce qui est de mon ...[12]
que j'avois parlé à ma Tante, je voudrois n'en avoir jamais parlé
puisqu'il vous déplait. J'avoue pourtant que l'ayant mûrement
reconsideré je n'y ai point pu decouvrir l'Incongruité dont vous me
parlez. Comme ma Tante vous a montré mes lettres je ne repeterai
point ce que j'y ai dit. Je remarquerai seulement qui ce même Locke
dont vous me conseilliez tant la Lecture, pense tout comme moi au
sujet des voyages prematures.
J'ai, l'honneur d'être,
Mon très cher Père,
Avec un profond respect et une affection sincère,
Votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur et fils,
E. Gibbon.
P.S.—Si j'osois je prierois de m'envoyer par un des voituriers qui vont
si souvent de Londres en Suisse, la Bibliothèque Oriental d'Herbellot
qui est parmi mes Livres.
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