"VON VELTHEIM " IN THACKERAY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF TER "SPECTATOR."'
SIR,—In reading last week's various comments on the extra- ordinary career of the blackmailer von Veltheim, I have been rather surprised that (so far as I have seen) no writer has pointed out the extraordinary resemblance in character between that worthy and Thackeray's creation, Colonel Altamont, otherwise John Amory, in " Pendennis." The similarity is most remarkable: both respectably brought up, both, taking to the sea, both spendthrifts and utterly un- scrupulous as regards getting hold of money ; both exceed- ingly attractive to a certain type of womankind, and absolutely heartless and selfish in dealing with their adorers; both possessed of pluck, and strength, and " go," and a certain sort of bonhomie which passes for good nature (and indeed not ill-natured when all is smiling round them, and they have all they want for themselves); both bigamists, and utterly reckless and desperate. Does not this history of von Veltheim bear striking evidence to Thackeray's marvellous genius in conceiving character P—I am, Sir, &c.,
W. H. E.
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