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  8。MR。HOME’SMIRACULOUSINFANT

  \"Onthe26thApril,oldstyle,or8thMay,accordingtoourstyle,atsevenintheevening,andasthesnowwasfastfalling,ourlittleboywasbornatthetownhouse,situateontheGagarinesQuay,inSt。Petersburg,wherewewerestillstaying。Afewhoursafterhisbirth,hismother,thenurse,andIheardforseveralhoursthewarblingofabirdasifsingingoverhim。Alsothatnight,andfortwoorthreenightsafterwards,abrightstarlikelight,whichwasclearlyvisiblefromthepartialdarknessoftheroom,inwhichtherewasonlyanight—lampburning,appearedseveraltimesdirectlyIoveritshead,whereitremainedforsomemoments,andthenslowlymovedinthedirectionofthedoor,whereitdisappeared。Thiswasalsoseenbyeachofusatthesametime。

  Thelightwasmorecondensedthanthosewhichhavebeensooftenseeninmypresenceuponpreviousandsubsequentoccasions。Itwasbrighterandmoredistinctlyglobular。Idonotbelievethatitcamethroughmymediumship,butratherthroughthatofthechild,whohasmanifestedonseveraloccasionsthepresenceofthegift。I

  donotliketoalludetosuchamatter,butastherearemorestrangethingsinHeavenandearththanaredreamtof,eveninmyphilosophy,Idonotfeelmyselfatlibertytoomitstating,thatduringthelatterpartofmywife’spregnancy,wethoughtitbetterthatsheshouldnotjoininSeances,becauseitwasfoundthatwhenevertherappingsoccurredintheroom,asimultaneousmovementofthechildwasdistinctlyfelt,perfectlyinunisonwiththesounds。Whentherewerethreesounds,threemovementswerefelt,andsoon,andwhenfivesoundswereheard,whichisgenerallythecallforthealphabet,shefeltthefiveinternalmovements,andshewouldfrequently,whenweweremistakeninthelatter,correctusfromwhatthechildindicated。\"

  Weshouldaskpardonofourreadersforsullyingourpaperwiththisnauseousmatter,ifwithoutittheycouldadequatelyunderstandwhatMr。Home’sbookis。

  9。CAGLIOSTRO’SSPIRITCALLSONMR。HOME

  Prudentlyavoidingthedisagreeablequestionofhisgivinghimself,bothinthisstateofexistenceandinhisspiritualcircle,anametowhichheneverhadanypretensionswhatever,andlikewiseprudentlysuppressinganyreferencetohisamiableweaknessasaswindlerandaninfamoustraffickerinhisownwife,theguilelessMr。Balsamodelivered,ina\"distinctvoice\",thisdistinctcelestialutterance——unquestionablypunctuatedinasupernaturalmanner:\"Mypowerwasthatofamesmerist,butall—misunderstoodbythoseaboutme,mybiographershaveevendonemeinjustice,butI

  carenotfortheuntruthsofearth\"。

  10。ORACULARSTATEOFMR。HOME

  \"Aftervariousmanifestations,Mr。Homewentintothetrance,andaddressingapersonpresent,said,’Youaskwhatgoodaresuchtrivialmanifestations,suchasrapping,table—moving,etc。?Godisabetterjudgethanwearewhatisfittedforhumanity,immenseresultsmayspringfromtrivialthings。Thesteamfromakettleisasmallthing,butlookatthelocomotive!Theelectricsparkfromthebackofacatisasmallthing,butseethewondersofelectricity!Therapsaresmallthings,buttheirresultswillleadyoutotheSpirit—World,andtoeternity!Whyshouldgreatresultsspringfromsuchsmallcauses?Christwasborninamanger,hewasnotbornaKing。Whenyoutellmewhyhewasborninamanger,I

  willtellyouwhythesemanifestations,sotrivial,soundignifiedastheyappeartoyou,havebeenappointedtoconvincetheworldofthetruthofspiritualism。’\"

  Wonderful!ClearlydirectInspiration!——Andyet,perhaps,hardlyworththetroubleofgoing\"intothetrance\"for,either。Amazingastherevelationis,weseemtohaveheardsomethinglikeitfrommorethanonepersonagewhowaswideawake。Aquackdoctor,inanopenbarouche(attendedbyabarrel—organandtwofootmeninbrasshelmets),deliveredjustsuchanotheraddresswithinourhearing,outsideagateofParis,nottwomonthsago。

  11。THETESTIMONYOFMR。HOME’SBOOTS

  \"Theladyofthehouseturnedtomeandsaidabruptly,’Why,youaresittingintheair’;andonlooking,wefoundthatthechairremainedinitsplace,butthatIwaselevatedtwoorthreeinchesaboveit,andmyfeetnottouchingthefloor。ThismayshowhowutterlyunconsciousIamattimestothesensationoflevitation。

  Asisusual,whenIhadnotgotabovetheleveloftheheadsofthoseaboutme,andwhentheychangetheirpositionmuch——astheyfrequentlydoinlookingwistfullyatsuchaphenomenon——Icamedownagain,butnottillIhadremainedsoraisedabouthalfaminutefromthetimeofitsbeingfirstseen。Iwasnowimpressedtoleavethetable,andwassooncarriedtotheloftyceiling。TheCountdeB—lefthisplaceatthetable,andcomingunderwhereIwas,said,’Now,youngHome,comeandletmetouchyourfeet。’ItoldhimI

  hadnovolitioninthematter,butperhapsthespiritswouldkindlyallowmetocomedowntohim。Theydidso,byfloatingmedowntohim,andmyfeetweresooninhisoutstretchedhands。Heseizedmyboots,andnowIwasagainelevated,heholdingtightly,andpullingatmyfeet,tillthebootsIwore,whichhadelasticsides,cameoffandremainedinhishands。\"

  12。THEUNCOMBATIVENATUREOFMR。HOME

  Asthereisamaudlincomplaintinthisbook,aboutmenofSciencebeinghardupon\"the’Orphan’Home\",andasthe\"gentleanduncombativenature\"ofthisMediuminamartyredpointofviewispatheticallycommentedonbytheanonymousliteraryfriendwhosupplieshimwithanintroductionandappendix——ratheratoddswithMr。Howitt,whoissomightilytriumphantaboutthesameMartyr’sreceptionbycrownedheads,andaboutthecompetencehehasbecomeendowedwith——wecullfromMr。Home’sbookoneortwolittleillustrativeflowers。SirDavidBrewster(apestilentunbeliever)

  \"hascomebeforethepublicinfewmatterswhichhavebroughtmoreshameuponhimthanhisconductandassertionsonthisoccasion,inwhichhemanifestednotonlyadisregardfortruth,butalsoadisloyaltytoscientificobservation,andtotheuseofhisowneyesightandnaturalfaculties\"。ThesameunhappySirDavidBrewster’s\"charactermaybethebetterknown,notonlyforhisuntruthfuldealingwiththissubject,butalsoinhisowndomainofscienceinwhichthesameunfaithfulnesstotruthwillbeseentobethecharacteristicofhismind\"。Again,he\"isreallynotamanoverwhomvictoryisanyhonour\"。Again,\"notonlyhe,butProfessorFaradayhavehadtimeandampleleisuretoregretthattheyshouldhavesofoolishlypledgedthemselves\",etc。AFaradayafoolinthesightofaHome!Thatunjustjudgeandwhitedwall,LordBrougham,hashisshareofthisMartyrMedium’suncombativeness。\"InorderthathemightnotbecompelledtodenySirDavid’sstatements,hefounditnecessarythatheshouldbesilent,andIhavesomereasontocomplainthathisLordshippreferredsacrificingmetohisdesirenottoimmolatehisfriend。\"

  M。AragoalsocameoffwithverydoubtfulhonoursfromawrestlewiththeuncombativeMartyr;whoisperfectlyclear(andsoarewe,letusadd)thatscientificmenarenotthemenforhispurpose。Ofcourse,heisthebuttof\"utterandacknowledgedignorance\",andof\"themostgrossandfoolishstatements\",andof\"theunjustanddishonest\",andof\"thepress—gang\",andofcrowdsofotheralienandcombativeadjectives,participles,andsubstantives。

  Nothingiswithoutitsuse,andeventhisodiousbookmaydosomeservice。NotbecauseitcoollyclaimsforthewriterandhisdisciplessuchpowersaswerewieldedbytheSaviourandtheApostles;notbecauseitseesnodifferencebetweentwelvetablerappersinthesedays,and\"twelvefishermen\"inthose;notbecauseitappealsforprecedentstostatementsextractedfromthemostignorantandwretchedofmankind,bycrueltorture,andconstantlywithdrawnwhenthetorturewaswithdrawn;notbecauseitsetsforthsuchastrangeconfusionofideasasispresentedbyoneofthefaithfulwhen,writingofacertainsprigofgeraniumhandedbyaninvisiblehand,headdsinecstasies,\"WHICHWEHAVEPLANTEDANDIT

  ISGROWING,SOTHATITISNODELUSION,NOFAIRYMONEYTURNEDINTO

  DROSSORLEAVES\"——asifitfollowedthattheconjuror’shalf—crownsreallydidbecomeinvisibleandinthatstatefly,becauseheafterwardscutsthemoutofarealorange;orasiftheconjuror’spigeon,beingafterthedischargeofhisgun,areallivepigeonflutteringonthetarget,mustthereforeconclusivelybeapigeon,fired,whole,livingandunshattered,outofthegun!——notbecauseoftheexposureofanyoftheseweaknesses,orathousandsuch,arethesemovingincidentsinthelifeoftheMartyrMedium,andsimilarproductions,likelytoproveuseful,butbecauseoftheiruniformabuseofthosewhogototesttherealityoftheseallegedphenomena,andwhocomeawayincredulous。Thereisanoldhomelyproverbconcerningpitchanditsadhesivecharacter,whichwehopethissignificantcircumstancemayimpressonmanyminds。Thewriteroftheselineshaslatelyheardovermuchtouchingyoungmenofpromiseintheimaginativearts,\"towardswhom\"MartyrMediumsassistingateveningpartiesfeelthemselves\"drawn\"。Itmaybeahinttosuchyoungmentosticktotheirowndrawing,asbeingofamuchbetterkind,andtoleaveMartyrMediumsaloneintheirglory。

  Asthereisagooddealinthesebooksabout\"lyingspirits\",wewillconcludebyputtingahypotheticalcase。SupposingthataMedium(Martyrorotherwise)wereestablishedforatimeinthehouseofanEnglishgentlemanabroad;say,somewhereinItaly。

  SupposingthatthemoremarvelloustheMediumbecame,themoresuspiciousofhimtheladyofthehousebecame。Supposingthatthelady,herdistrustoncearoused,wereparticularlystruckbytheMedium’sexhibitingapersistentdesiretocommither,somehoworother,tothedisclosureofthemannerofthedeath,tohimunknown,ofacertainperson。SupposingthatsheatlengthresolvedtotesttheMediumonthishead,and,therefore,onacertaineveningmentionedawhollysupposititiousmannerofdeath(whichwasnottherealmannerofdeath,noranythingatalllikeit)withintherangeofhislisteningears。Andsupposingthataspiritpresentlyafterwardsrappedoutitspresence,claimingtobethespiritofthatdeceasedperson,andclaimingtohavedepartedthislifeinthatsupposititiousway。Wouldthatbealyingspirit?Orwoulditheasomethingelse,taintingallthatMedium’sstatementsandsuppressions,eveniftheywerenotinthemselvesofamanifestlyoutrageouscharacter?

  THELATEMR。STANFIELD

  EveryArtist,behewriter,painter,musician,oractor,mustbearhisprivatesorrowsashebestcan,andmustseparatethemfromtheexerciseofhispublicpursuit。Butitsometimeshappens,incompensation,thathisprivatelossofadearfriendrepresentsalossonthepartofthewholecommunity。Thenhemay,withoutobtrusionofhisindividuality,stepforthtolayhislittlewreathuponthatdearfriend’sgrave。

  OnSaturday,theeighteenthofthispresentmonth,ClarksonStanfielddied。Ontheafternoonofthatday,Englandlostthegreatmarinepainterofwhomshewillbeboastfulageshence;theNationalHistorianofherspeciality,theSea;themanfamousinallcountriesforhismarvellousrenderingofthewavesthatbreakuponhershores,ofhershipsandseamen,ofhercoastsandskies,ofherstormsandsunshine,ofthemanymarvelsofthedeep。HewhoholdstheoceansinthehollowofHishandhadgiven,associatedwiththem,wonderfulgiftsintohiskeeping;hehadusedthemwellthroughthreescoreandfourteenyears;and,ontheafternoonofthatspringday,relinquishedthemforever。

  Itissuperfluoustorecordthatthepainterof\"TheBattleofTrafalgar\",ofthe\"VictorybeingtowedintoGibraltarwiththebodyofNelsononBoard\",of\"TheMorningaftertheWreck\",of\"TheAbandoned\",offiftymoresuchworks,diedinhisseventy—fourthyear,\"Mr。\"Stanfield。——HewasanEnglishman。

  Thosegrandpictureswillproclaimhispowerswhilepaintandcanvaslast。Butthewriterofthesewordshadbeenhisfriendforthirtyyears;andwhen,ashortweekortwobeforehisdeath,helaidthatoncesoskilfulhanduponthewriter’sbreastandtoldhimtheywouldmeetagain,\"butnothere\",thethoughtsofthelatterturned,forthetime,solittletohisnoblegenius,andsomuchtohisnoblenature!

  Hewasthesouloffrankness,generosity,andsimplicity。Themostgenial,themostaffectionate,themostloving,andthemostlovableofmen。Successhadneverforaninstantspoiledhim。HisinterestintheTheatreasanInstitution——thebestpicturesquenessofwhichmaybesaidtobewhollyduetohim——wasfaithfultothelast。HisbeliefinaPlay,hisdelightinone,theeasewithwhichitmovedhimtotearsortolaughter,weremostremarkableevidencesofthehearthemusthaveputintohisoldtheatricalwork,andofthethoroughpurposeandsinceritywithwhichitmusthavebeendone。

  Thewriterwasveryintimatelyassociatedwithhiminsomeamateurplays;anddayafterday,andnightafternight,therewerethesameunquenchablefreshness,enthusiasm,andimpressibilityinhim,thoughbrokeninhealth,eventhen。

  NoArtistcaneverhavestoodbyhisartwithaquieterdignitythanhealwaysdid。Nothingwouldhaveinducedhimtolayitatthefeetofanyhumancreature。Tofawn,ortotoady,ortodoundeservedhomagetoanyone,wasanabsoluteimpossibilitywithhim。Andyethischaracterwassonicelybalancedthathewasthelastmanintheworldtobesuspectedofself—assertion,andhismodestywasoneofhismostspecialqualities。

  Hewasacharitable,religious,gentle,trulygoodman。Agenuineman,incapableofpretenceorofconcealment。Hehadbeenasailoronce;andallthebestcharacteristicsthatarepopularlyattributedtosailors,beinghis,andbeinginhimrefinedbytheinfluencesofhisArt,formedawholenotlikelytobeoftenseen。Thereisnosmilethatthewritercanrecall,likehis;nomannersonaturallyconfidingandsocheerfullyengaging。Whenthewritersawhimforthelasttimeonearth,thesmileandthemannershoneoutoncethroughtheweakness,still:thebrightunchangingSoulwithinthealteredfaceandform。

  Nomanwaseverheldinhigherrespectbyhisfriends,andyethisintimatefriendsinvariablyaddressedhimandspokeofhimbyapetname。Itmayneed,perhaps,thewriter’smemoryandassociationstofindinthisatouchingexpressionofhiswinningcharacter,hisplayfulsmile,andpleasantways。\"YouknowMrs。Inchbald’sstory,NatureandArt?\"wroteThomasHood,once,inaletter:\"WhatafineEditionofNatureandArtisStanfield!\"

  Gone!Andmanyandmanyadearolddaygonewithhim!Buttheirmemoriesremain。Andhismemorywillnotsoonfadeout,forhehassethismarkupontherestlesswaters,andhisfamewilllongbesoundedintheroarofthesea。

  ASLIGHTQUESTIONOFFACT

  Itisneverwellforthepublicinterestthattheoriginatorofanysocialreformshouldbesoonforgotten。Further,itisneitherwholesomenorright(beingneithergenerousnorjust)thatthemeritofhisworkshouldbegraduallytransferredelsewhere。

  Somefewweeksago,ourcontemporary,thePallMallGazette,incertainstricturesonourTheatreswhichweareveryfarindeedfromchallenging,remarkedonthefirsteffectualdiscouragementofanoutrageupondecencywhichthelobbiesandupper—boxesofevenourbestTheatreshabituallyparadedwithinthelasttwentyorthirtyyears。FromthoseremarksitmightappearasthoughnosuchManagerofCoventGardenorDruryLaneasMr。Macreadyhadeverexisted。

  Itisafactbeyondallpossibilityofquestion,thatMr。Macready,onassumingthemanagementofCoventGardenTheatrein1837,didinstantlysethimself,regardlessofprecedentandcustomdowntothathourobtaining,rigidlytosuppressthisshamefulthing,anddidrigidlysuppressandcrushitduringhiswholemanagementofthattheatre,andduringhiswholesubsequentmanagementofDruryLane。Thathedidso,ascertainlywithoutfavouraswithoutfear;

  thathedidso,againsthisownimmediateinterests;thathedidso,againstvexationsandoppositionswhichmighthavecooledtheardourofalessearnestman,oralessdevotedartist;canbebetterknowntonoonethanthewriterofthepresentwords,whosenamestandsattheheadofthesepages。

  LANDOR’SLIFE

  PrefixedtothesecondvolumeofMr。Forster’sadmirablebiographyofWalterSavageLandor,{1}isanengravingfromaportraitofthatremarkablemanwhenseventy—sevenyearsofage,byBoxall。Thewriteroftheselinescantestifythattheoriginalpictureisasingularlygoodlikeness,theresultofcloseandsubtleobservationonthepartofthepainter;but,forthisveryreason,theengravinggivesamostinadequateideaofthemeritofthepictureandthecharacteroftheman。

  Fromtheengraving,thearmsandhandsareomitted。Inthepicture,theyare,astheywereinnature,indispensabletoacorrectreadingofthevigorousface。Thearmswereverypeculiar。Theywererathershort,andwerecuriouslyrestrainedandcheckedintheiractionattheelbows;intheactionofthehands,evenwhenseparatelyclenched,therewasthesamekindofpause,andanoticeabletendencytorelaxationonthepartofthethumb。Letthefacebeneversointenseorfierce,therewasacommentaryofgentlenessinthehands,essentialtobetakenalongwithit。LikeHamlet,Landorwouldspeakdaggers,butusenone。Intheexpressionofhishands,thoughangrilyclosed,therewasalwaysgentlenessandtenderness;justaswhentheywereopen,andthehandsomeoldgentlemanwouldwavethemwithalittlecourtlyflourishthatsatwelluponhim,asherecalledsomeclassiccomplimentthathehadrenderedtosomereigningBeauty,therewasachivalrousgraceaboutthemsuchaspervadeshissofterverses。ThusthefictitiousMr。

  Boythorn(towhomwemayreferwithoutimproprietyinthisconnexion,asMr。Forsterdoes)declaims\"withunimaginableenergy\"

  thewhilehisbirdis\"percheduponhisthumb\",andhe\"softlysmoothsitsfeatherswithhisforefinger\"。

  FromthespiritofMr。Forster’sBiographythesecharacteristichandsareneveromitted,andhence(apartfromitsliterarymerits)

  itsgreatvalue。Asthesamemasterlywriter’sLifeandTimesofOliverGoldsmithisagenerousandyetconscientiouspictureofaperiod,sothisisanotlessgenerousandyetconscientiouspictureofonelife;ofalife,withallitsaspirations,achievements,anddisappointments;allitscapabilities,opportunities,andirretrievablemistakes。Itisessentiallyasadbook,andhereinliesproofofitstruthandworth。Thelifeofalmostanymanpossessinggreatgifts,wouldbeasadbooktohimself;andthisbookenablesusnotonlytoseeitssubject,buttobeitssubject,ifwewill。

  Mr。Forsterisofopinionthat\"Landor’sfameverysurelyawaitshim\"。Thispointadmittedordoubted,thevalueofthebookremainsthesame。Itneedsnottoknowhisworks(otherwisethanthroughhisbiographer’sexposition),itneedsnottohaveknownhimself,tofindadeepinterestinthesepages。Moreorlessoftheirwarningisineveryconscience;andsomeadmirationofafinegenius,andofagreat,wild,generousnature,incapableofmeanself—extenuationordissimulation——ifunhappilyincapableofself—repressiontoo——

  shouldbeineverybreast。\"Theremaybestilllivingmanypersons\",WalterLandor’sbrother,Robert,writestoMr。Forsterofthisbook,\"whowouldcontradictanynarrativeofyoursinwhichthebestqualitieswereremembered,theworstforgotten。\"Mr。Forster’scommentis:\"Ihadnotwaitedforthisappealtoresolve,that,ifthismemoirwerewrittenatall,itshouldcontain,asfarasmightliewithinmypower,afairstatementofthetruth\"。Andthiseloquentpassageoftruthimmediatelyfollows:\"Fewofhisinfirmitiesarewithoutsomethingkindlyorgenerousaboutthem;andwearenotlongindiscoveringthereisnothingsowildlyincrediblethathewillnothimselfinperfectgoodfaithbelieve。WhenhepublishedhisfirstbookofpoemsonquittingOxford,theprofitsweretobereservedforadistressedclergyman。WhenhepublishedhisLatinpoems,thepoorofLeipzigweretohavethesumtheyrealised。Whenhiscomedywasreadytobeacted,aSpaniardwhohadshelteredhimatCastrowastobemadericherbyit。WhenhecompetedfortheprizeoftheAcademyofStockholm,itwastogotothepoorofSweden。Ifnobodygotanythingfromanyoneoftheseenterprises,thefaultatalleventswasnothis。Withhisextraordinarypowerofforgettingdisappointments,hewaspreparedateachsuccessivefailuretostartafresh,asifeachhadbeenatriumph。Ishallhavetodelineatethispeculiarityasstronglyinthelasthalfasinthefirsthalfofhislife,anditwascertainlyanamiableone。Hewasreadyatalltimestosetaside,outofhisownpossessions,somethingforsomebodywhomightpleasehimforthetime;andwhenfrailtiesoftemperandtonguearenoted,thisothereccentricityshouldnotbeomitted。Hedesiredeagerlytheloveaswellasthegoodopinionofthosewhomforthetimeheesteemed,andnoonewasmoreaffectionatewhileundersuchinfluences。Itisnotasmallvirtuetofeelsuchgenuinepleasure,ashealwaysdidingivingandreceivingpleasure。Hisgenerosity,too,wasbestowedchieflyonthosewhocouldmakesmallacknowledgmentinthanksandnoreturninkind。\"

  Someofhisearliercontemporariesmayhavethoughthimavainman。

  Mostassuredlyhewasnot,inthecommonacceptationoftheterm。A

  vainmanhaslittleornoadmirationtobestowuponcompetitors。

  Landorhadaninexhaustiblefund。Hethoughtwellofhiswritings,orhewouldnothavepreservedthem。Hesaidandwrotethathethoughtwellofthem,becausethatwashismindaboutthem,andhesaidandwrotehismind。Hewasoneofthefewmenofwhomyoumightalwaysknowthewhole:ofwhomyoumightalwaysknowtheworst,aswellasthebest。Hehadnoreservationsorduplicities。

  \"No,byHeaven!\"hewouldsay(\"withunimaginableenergy\"),ifanygoodadjectivewerecoupledwithhimwhichhedidnotdeserve:\"I

  amnothingofthekind。IwishIwere;butIdon’tdeservetheattribute,andIneverdid,andInevershall!\"Hisintenseconsciousnessofhimselfneverledtohispoorlyexcusinghimself,andseldomtohisviolentlyassertinghimself。Whenhetoldsomelittlestoryofhisbygonesocialexperiences,inFlorence,orwherenot,ashewasfondofdoing,ittooktheinnocentformofmakingalltheinterlocutors,Landors。Itwasobservable,too,thattheyalwayscalledhim\"Mr。Landor\"——ratherceremoniouslyandsubmissively。Therewasacertain\"CaroPedreAbeteMarina\"——

  invariablysoaddressedintheseanecdotes——whofiguredthroughagreatmanyofthem,andwhoalwaysexpressedhimselfinthisdeferentialtone。

  Mr。ForsterwritesofLandor’scharacterthus:

  \"Amanmustbejudged,atfirst,bywhathesaysanddoes。ButwithhimsuchextravaganceasIhavereferredtowaslittlemorethanthehabitualindulgence(onsuchthemes)ofpassionatefeelingsandlanguage,indecentindeedbututterlypurposeless;themereexplosionofwrathprovokedbytyrannyorcruelty;theirregularitiesofanoverheatedsteam—enginetooweakforitsownvapour。ItisverycertainthatnoonecoulddetestoppressionmoretrulythanLandordidinallseasonsandtimes;andifnooneexpressedthatscorn,thatabhorrenceoftyrannyandfraud,morehastilyormoreintemperately,allhisfireandfurysignifiedreallylittleelsethanill—tempertooeasilyprovoked。Nottojustifyorexcusesuchlanguage,buttoexplainit,thisconsiderationisurged。Ifnotuniformlyplacable,Landorwasalwayscompassionate。Hewastender—heartedratherthanbloody—

  mindedatalltimes,andupononlythemostpartialacquaintancewithhiswritingscouldotheropinionbeformed。Acompleterknowledgeofthemwouldsatisfyanyonethathehadaslittlerealdispositiontokillakingastokillamouse。Infactthereisnotamoremarkedpeculiarityinhisgeniusthantheunionwithitsstrengthofamostuncommongentleness,andinthepersonalwaysofthemanthiswasequallymanifest。\"——Vol。i。p。496。

  Ofhisworks,thus:

  \"Thoughhismindwascastintheantiquemould,ithadopeneditselftoeverykindofimpressionthroughalongandvariedlife;hehaswrittenwithequalexcellenceinbothpoetryandprose,whichcanhardlybesaidofanyofhiscontemporaries;andperhapsthesingleepithetbywhichhisbookswouldbebestdescribedisthatreservedexclusivelyforbooksnotcharacterisedonlybygenius,butalsobyspecialindividuality。Theyareunique。Havingpossessedthem,weshouldmissthem。Theirplacewouldbesuppliedbynoothers。Theyhavethataboutthem,moreover,whichrendersitalmostcertainthattheywillfrequentlyberesortedtoinfuturetime。Therearenoneinthelanguagemorequotable。Evenwhereimpulsivenessandwantofpatiencehaveleftthemmostfragmentary,thisrichcompensationisofferedtothereader。Thereishardlyaconceivablesubject,inlifeorliterature,whichtheydonotillustratebystrikingaphorisms,byconciseandprofoundobservations,bywisdomeverapplicabletothedeedsofmen,andbywitasavailablefortheirenjoyment。Nor,aboveall,willthereanywherebefoundamorepervadingpassionforliberty,afiercerhatredofthebase,awidersympathywiththewrongedandtheoppressed,orhelpmorereadyatalltimesforthosewhofightatoddsanddisadvantageagainstthepowerfulandthefortunate,thaninthewritingsofWalterSavageLandor。\"——Lastpageofsecondvolume。

  Theimpressionwasstronguponthepresentwriter’smind,asonMr。

  Forster’s,duringyearsofclosefriendshipwiththesubjectofthisbiography,thathisanimositieswerechieflyreferabletothesingularinabilityinhimtodissociateotherpeople’swaysofthinkingfromhisown。Hehad,tothelast,aludicrousgrievance(bothMr。Forsterandthewriterhaveoftenamusedthemselveswithit)againstagood—naturednobleman,doubtlessperfectlyunconsciousofhavingevergivenhimoffence。Theoffencewas,thatontheoccasionofsomedinnerpartyinanothernobleman’shouse,manyyearsbefore,thisinnocentlord(thenacommoner)hadpassedintodinner,throughsomedoor,beforehim,ashehimselfwasabouttopassinthroughthatsamedoorwithaladyonhisarm。Now,Landorwasagentlemanofmostscrupulouspoliteness,andinhiscarriageofhimselftowardsladiestherewasacertainmixtureofstatelinessanddeference,belongingtoquiteanothertime,and,asMr。Pepyswouldobserve,\"mightyprettytosee\"。Ifhecouldbyanyeffortimaginehimselfcommittingsuchahighcrimeandmisdemeanourasthatinquestion,hecouldonlyimaginehimselfasdoingitofasetpurpose,underthestingofsomevastinjury,toinflictagreataffront。Adeliberatelydesignedaffrontonthepartofanotherman,itthereforeremainedtotheendofhisdays。Themannerinwhich,astimewenton,hepermeatedtheunfortunatelord’sancestrywiththisoffence,waswhimsicallycharacteristicofLandor。Thewriterremembersverywellwhenonlytheindividualhimselfwasheldresponsibleinthestoryforthebreachofgoodbreeding;butinanothertenyearsorso,itbegantoappearthathisfatherhadalwaysbeenremarkableforillmanners;andinyetanothertenyearsorso,hisgrandfatherdevelopedintoquiteaprodigyofcoarsebehaviour。

  Mr。Boythorn——ifhemayagainbequoted——saidofhisadversary,SirLeicesterDedlock:\"Thatfellowis,ANDHISFATHERWAS,ANDHIS

  GRANDFATHERWAS,themoststiff—necked,arrogant,imbecile,pig—

  headednumskull,ever,bysomeinexplicablemistakeofNature,borninanystationoflifebutawalking—stick’s!\"

  ThestrengthofsomeofMr。Landor’smostcaptivatingkindqualitieswastraceabletothesamesource。Knowinghowkeenlyhehimselfwouldfeelthebeingatanysmallsocialdisadvantage,orthebeingunconsciouslyplacedinanyridiculouslight,hewaswonderfullyconsiderateofshypeople,orofsuchasmightbebelowthelevelofhisusualconversation,orotherwiseoutoftheirelement。Thewriteronceobservedhiminthekeenestdistressofmindinbehalfofamodestyoungstrangerwhocameintoadrawing—roomwithagloveonhishead。Anexpressivecommentaryonthissympatheticcondition,andonthedelicacywithwhichheadvancedtotheyoungstranger’srescue,wasafterwardsfurnishedbyhimselfatafriendlydinneratGoreHouse,whenitwasthemostdelightfulofhouses。

  Hisdress——say,hiscravatorshirt—collar——hadbecomeslightlydisarrangedonahotevening,andCountD’Orsaylaughinglycalledhisattentiontothecircumstanceaswerosefromtable。Landorbecameflushed,andgreatlyagitated:\"MydearCountD’Orsay,I

  thankyou!MydearCountD’Orsay,IthankyoufrommysoulforpointingouttometheabominableconditiontowhichIamreduced!

  IfIhadenteredtheDrawing—room,andpresentedmyselfbeforeLadyBlessingtoninsoabsurdalight,Iwouldhaveinstantlygonehome,putapistoltomyhead,andblownmybrainsout!\"

  Mr。Forstertellsasimilarstoryofhiskeepingacompanywaitingdinner,throughlosinghisway;andofhisseeingnoremedyforthatbreachofpolitenessbutcuttinghisthroat,ordrowninghimself,unlessacountrymanwhomhemetcoulddirecthimbyashortroadtothehousewherethepartywereassembled。Surelytheseareexpressivenotesonthegravityandrealityofhisexplosiveinclinationstokillkings!

  Hismannertowardsboyswascharming,andtheearnestnessofhiswishtobeonequaltermswiththemandtowintheirconfidencewasquitetouching。Few,readingMr。Forster’sbook,canfalltoseeinthis,hispensiveremembranceofthat\"studiouswilfulboyatonceshyandimpetuous\",whohadnotmanyintimaciesatRugby,butwhowas\"generallypopularandrespected,andusedhisinfluenceoftentosavetheyoungerboysfromundueharshnessorviolence\"。Theimpulsiveyearningsofhispassionatehearttowardshisownboy,ontheirmeetingatBath,afteryearsofseparation,likewiseburnthroughthisphaseofhischaracter。

  Butamorespiritual,softened,andunselfishaspectofit,wastoderivedfromhisrespectfulbeliefinhappinesswhichhehimselfhadmissed。Hismarriagehadnotbeenafelicitousone——itmaybefairlyassumedforeitherside——butnotraceofbitternessordistrustconcerningothermarriageswasinhismind。Hewasnevermoreserenethaninthemidstofadomesticcircle,andwasinvariablyremarkableforaperfectlybenignantinterestinyoungcouplesandyounglovers。That,inhisever—freshfancy,heconceivedinthisassociationinnumerablehistoriesofhimselfinvolvingfarmoreunlikelyeventsthatneverhappenedthanIsaacD’Israelieverimagined,ishardlytobedoubted;butastothispartofhisrealhistoryhewasmute,orrevealedhisnoblenessinanimpulsetobegenerouslyjust。Wevergeondelicateground,butaslightremembrancerisesinthewriterwhichcangratenowhere。

  Mr。Forsterrelateshowacertainfriend,beinginFlorence,senthimhomealeaffromthegardenofhisoldhouseatFiesole。Thatfriendhadfirstaskedhimwhatheshouldsendhimhome,andhehadstipulatedforthisgift——foundbyMr。Forsteramonghispapersafterhisdeath。Thefriend,oncomingbacktoEngland,relatedtoLandorthathehadbeenmuchembarrassed,ongoinginsearchoftheleaf,byhisdriver’ssuddenlystoppinghishorsesinanarrowlane,andpresentinghim(thefriend)to\"LaSignoraLandora\"。TheladywaswalkingaloneonabrightItalian—winter—day;andtheman,havingbeentoldtodrivetotheVillaLandora,inferredthathemustbeconveyingaguestorvisitor。\"Ipulledoffmyhat,\"saidthefriend,\"apologisedforthecoachman’smistake,anddroveon。

  Theladywaswalkingwitharapidandfirmstep,hadbrighteyes,afinefreshcolour,andlookedanimatedandagreeable。\"Landorcheckedoffeachclauseofthedescription,withastatelynodofmorethanreadyassent,andreplied,withallhistremendousenergyconcentratedintothesentence:\"AndtheLordforbidthatIshoulddootherwisethandeclarethatshealwaysWASagreeable——toeveryonebutME!\"

  Mr。Forsterstepbystepbuildsuptheevidenceonwhichhewritesthislifeandstatesthischaracter。Inlikemanner,hegivestheevidenceforhishighestimationofLandor’sworks,and——itmaybeadded——fortheirrecompenseagainstsomeneglect,infindingsosympathetic,acute,anddevotedachampion。NothinginthebookismoreremarkablethanhisexaminationofeachofLandor’ssuccessivepiecesofwriting,hisdelicatediscernmentoftheirbeauties,andhisstrongdesiretoimparthisownperceptionsinthiswisetothegreataudiencethatisyettocome。Itrarelybefallsanauthortohavesuchacommentator:tobecomethesubjectofsomuchartisticskillandknowledge,combinedwithsuchinfiniteandlovingpains。

  AlikeasapieceofBiography,andasacommentaryuponthebeautiesofagreatwriter,thebookisamassivebook;asthemanandthewriterweremassivetoo。Sometimes,whenthebalanceheldbyMr。

  Forsterhasseemedforamomenttoturnalittleheavilyagainsttheinfirmitiesoftemperamentofagrandoldfriend,wehavefeltsomethingofashock;butwehavenotoncebeenabletogainsaythejusticeofthescales。Thisfeeling,too,hasonlyflutteredoutofthedetail,hereorthere,andhasvanishedbeforethewhole。WefullyagreewithMr。Forsterthat\"judgmenthasbeenpassed\"——asitshouldbe——\"withanequaldesiretobeonlyjustonallthequalitiesofhistemperamentwhichaffectednecessarilynothisownlifeonly。But,nowthatthestoryistold,noonewillhavedifficultyinstrikingthebalancebetweenitsgoodandill;andwhatwasreallyimperishableinLandor’sgeniuswillnotbetreasuredless,orlessunderstood,forthemoreperfectknowledgeofhischaracter\"。

  Mr。Forster’ssecondvolumegivesafacsimileofLandor’swritingatseventy—five。Itmaybeinterestingtothosewhoarecuriousincalligraphy,toknowthatitsresemblancetotherecenthandwritingofthatgreatgenius,M。VictorHugo,issingularlystrong。

  Inamilitaryburial—groundinIndia,thenameofWalterLandorisassociatedwiththepresentwriter’soverthegraveofayoungofficer。Nonamecouldstandthere,moreinseparablyassociatedinthewriter’smindwiththedignityofgenerosity:withanoblescornofalllittleness,allcruelty,oppression,fraud,andfalsepretence。

  ADDRESSWHICHAPPEAREDSHORTLYPREVIOUSTOTHECOMPLETIONOFTHE

  TWENTIETHVOLUME(1868),INTIMATINGANEWSERIESOF\"ALLTHEYEAR

  ROUND\"

  IbegtoannouncetothereadersofthisJournal,thatonthecompletionoftheTwentiethVolumeontheTwenty—eighthofNovember,inthepresentyear,IshallcommenceanentirelyNewSeriesofAlltheYearRound。Thechangeisnotonlyduetotheconvenienceofthepublic(withwhichasetofsuchbooks,extendingbeyondtwentylargevolumes,wouldbequiteincompatible),butisalsoresolveduponforthepurposeofeffectingsomedesirableimprovementsinrespectoftype,paper,andsizeofpage,whichcouldnototherwisebemade。TotheLiteratureoftheNewSeriesitwouldnotbecomemetorefer,beyondglancingatthepagesofthisJournal,andofitspredecessor,throughascoreofyears;inasmuchasmyregularfellow—labourersandIwillbeatouroldposts,incompanywiththoseyoungercomrades,whomIhavehadthepleasureofenrollingfromtimetotime,andwhosenumberitisalwaysoneofmypleasantesteditorialdutiestoenlarge。

  Asitisbetterthateverykindofworkhonestlyundertakenanddischarged,shouldspeakforitselfthanbespokenfor,IwillonlyremarkfurtherononeintendedomissionintheNewSeries。TheExtraChristmasNumberhasnowbeensoextensively,andregularly,andoftenimitated,thatitisinverygreatdangerofbecomingtiresome。Ihavethereforeresolved(thoughIcannotadd,willingly)toabolishit,atthehighesttideofitssuccess。

  CHARLESDICKENS。

  Footnotes:

  {1}WalterSavageLandor:aBiography,byJohnForster,2vols。

  ChapmanandHall。

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