'Erewhon Revisited' (1901), an examination of the religion which had come into existence among the Erewhonians after the ascension of their first explorer in a balloon. This last was the most rapidly written of any of his books, and is perhaps more consecutive than its predecessor, though it lacks something of its eccentric charm. Butler's health was indifferent when he set out for Sicily on Good Friday, 1902. He returned to Clifford's Inn, but soon left for the nursing home in which he died on 18 June 1902. His body was cremated at Woking, in accordance with his instructions, and the ashes dispersed.
Two of his most seminal books, an auto-biographical novel entitled 'The Way of All Flesh' (1903) and 'Essays on Life, Art and Science,' were published posthumously, with introductions by Mr. Streatfeild, and have since been reprinted. A few of his ironic 'Notes' appeared in the 'New Quarterly Review' 1907–1910.
Church and state man, or advanced member of the broad church party, as he whimsically described himself, Butler, the most versatile of iconoclasts, attacked received opinion in religion, science, painting, archæology, literary criticism, and music; but his most determined onslaught was on the canting, conventional morality in which the genteel children of his age were reared. Commenced by 'Erewhon,' this work was carried to its conclusion in his posthumous novel, imperishably graven out of the flint of life. A spiritual autobiography, the incentive to which was supplied by a lady, Miss Savage, who appears in the book as Alethea, whom he first met in 1871, 'The Way of All Flesh' was touched and retouched down to her death in 1885, though published only in 1903. Through 'Erewhon,' 'The Way of All Flesh,' and the posthumous 'Essays' (each a masterpiece of idiosyncrasy), Butler chiefly influenced contemporary thought. His style was framed with the object of attaining the maximum of terseness, consistent with absolute lucidity.
Butler's outwardly conventional aspect, with his brick-dust complexion and bushy eyebrows, is well represented by portraits. Of those by himself there is one at Christchurch, N.Z., one at Shrewsbury School, and one at St. John's College, Cambridge. A good likeness by Paul Gaugain is in the National Portrait Gallery. An excellent photograph in 'Ex Voto' represents Butler standing by the side of one of Gaudenzio Ferrari's terra-cotta figures. A satirical picture by Butler, 'Family Prayers,' belongs to Mr. Festing Jones, who has many of the artist's delicate and highly finished water-colour drawings of the Ticino region. Other of his drawings are in the British Museum.
[The Times, 20 June 1902; Athenæum, 28 June 1902; Monthly Review, Sept. 1902; Eagle, Dec. 1902; Streatfeild's Records and Memorials, 1903 (portrait); H. Festing Jones' Italian Journey; Mr. Streatfeild's Introductions to the re-issue of Butler's Works; Marcus Hartog's preface to Unconscious Memory; Fortnightly Review, June 1912; Salter's Two Moderns, 1911; Independent Rev., Sept. 1904; Mercure de France, July 1910; Brit. Mus. Cat.; information kindly given by Mr. H. Festing Jones.]
BUTLER, Sir WILLIAM FRANCIS (1838–1910), lieut.-general and author, born on 31 Oct. 1838 at Suirville, co. Tipperary, was the seventh child of Richard and Ellen Butler of Suirville. He was of the stock of Thomas Butler, tenth earl of Ormonde [q. v.]. Among the recollections of his childhood were the great famine, the evictions, and Daniel O'Connell; while as a Roman catholic he heard much of the penal laws and English misrule. These things made a lasting impression on him. In 1847 he was sent to a Jesuit school at Tullabeg, in King's County, and afterwards to Dr. James Quinn's school in Dublin.
He obtained a commission as ensign in the 69th foot on 17 Sept. 1858, and after serving nearly two years at the depot at Fermoy he joined the headquarters of the regiment at Tonghoo in Burmah. In the spring of 1862 the regiment was moved to Madras, and in 1863 Butler spent two months' leave in a visit to the western coast, from Calicut to Cape Comorin. He also went to Vellore, and by his efforts a monument was erected there to the men of the 69th who were killed there in 1806. He was promoted lieutenant on 17 Nov. 1863. The regiment went home in the spring of 1864, and on the voyage Butler spent two days at St. Helena days 'steeped in thoughts of glory and of grief,' for he worshipped Napoleon. At first stationed at Gosport, Butler removed with the regiment to Aldershot early in 1865, and there began 'A Narrative of the Historical Events connected with the 69th Regiment,' which was published in 1870. In the summer of 1866 the regiment went to the Channel Islands, where Butler saw much of Victor Hugo, who recognised him as an enfant terrible. After five months' sojourn at the Curragh, the regiment embarked in August 1867 for
