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    g4^ The Saturday Analyst and Leader. [Oc...

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    Contemporary Portraits.* Books Associate...

    It eanuot surely be necessary that I should enter into a description uf his appearance and featm-es , which countless portraits have made familiar to every man , woman , and child in the British Empire . In nil the Infinity " . of pictures and busts taken of him , sufficient likeness is perpetuated to transmit an accurate idea of him to posterity , and the unborn will see the type and fashion of him whose glory will last whilst England herself survives . The only thing that . struck me , When brought into personal contact with him , was that he seemed much shorter than I had fancied , and than he looked on horseback , where alone I had seen him before . My friend , who ordinarily was remarkable for the ease and gracefulneess ot her manner , on this unfortunate occasion completely lost all selt-posto stammer out

    session- and in fact was speechless—unable one articulate word . The Duke regarded her for awhile with cold and pitiless gaze , nor sought in the remotest ^ degree to remove or dissipate the confusion which so overpoweringly and really distressingly overcame her . . " Finding she did not speak , he said , m a voice of exceeding sternness , ' What paper is that you hold in your hand ? ' She faltered but that it embodied the petition , she came to request in behalf of her relative . ' Give it me ! ' he said . He took it from her and read it attentively over ; . and then in tones the most curt , most harsh , most hopelessly and inexorably decisive , said , ' I am . not the proper person to .-apply to about this . I could not do it if I wished—I do not know that I should if I could . ' ¦¦ _

    "In conveying this cruel negative , not one softening tone of manner—not one transient look of sympathy or ¦ admiration in anywise mingled with or mitigated the pain he inflicted-on his beautiful suppliant , I was petrified that a man could be so ungentle and uncourt « ous to any woman , much less to such a one-ax then stood before him . aSTor * can I now account for his severe , I may almost add tmgentlemanly , reception of her , except by the supposition that he was annoyed at her exceeding nervousness—a phase of feeling alike to hhniinknown—perhaps incomprehensible ; and possibly he thought it was assumed for effect , which it certainly was not ; and as he was known to detest anything- approximating to affectation or unreality , resolved , it might be , to jumish what he fancied an exhibition of it .

    ' But if I Avas astonished at his treatment of Mrs . — - — -, I was yet more immeasurably so wheiij as I had never opened my lips except to utter the exclamation as he entered the room , he came up to me , took hold of both my hands , and said , in the gentlest and blandest of tones , * Is there anything I can do for you ? ' ' No , thank your Grace—I merely came as this lady ' s friend , ' . -was my reply . And so our brief interview terminated ; and from the moment we entered the carriage that awaited us , to the period when we arrived at my friend's house , I way entertained with nothing but the most vehement anathemas uttered by her against the ' brutality ' of the Duke , as she called it , and wondering amazement at the cause of his extraordinarv urbanity to me . "

    Now , take the Duke's portrait when in a good temper . ' He received mo most courteously and kindly , himself rising to place ti chair for me . He looked at me with intense scrutiny , and then said— ' So you are a friend of Lord Carnarvon , Ah ! he is a £ 00 ( 1 nxan ' . Is he better P I was sorry to hear he had been ill . ' He then reverted to the subject which had led me to seek the interview , asking' me many questions about my military friend—the mime of his regiment—how long he had been in the army , & o . & c , winding up with the remark , uttored with a playful smile— ' Tho fact is , I suppose , you are goinp ; to be married to him . Is it not so P ' I gave a truthful negative to the question . ' Well , never mind—it is no business of mine . But tell me—have I not seen you

    before ? I am sure I have . ' It was said he never forgot any one ho had onco spoken to . I then roeountcd my former interview , when I aiccompaniod Mrs . —— . ' Oh ! I remember it perfectlythe little woman that was so frightened at me . I did not like her : I thought her artificial . I tuko liking * and dislikings in a moment . I thought , after you wore gone , of your refusal when . I offered to do anything for you . It is not often this occurs to mo : I assure you , it is jnuch more iror £ iiently I that have to say No '—laughing heartily us ho paid it . ' But , come now , toll me all about yourself . Aro your parents living f *—arc you a widow P-r-havo you any children P—and what mjido you literary f ' These interrogatories were spoken somewhat , rapidly . I then tmvo him a short biography of

    n » y then brief , but too eventful life , to tho details of which hohstoned with tho deepest interest—going into tho mimvtest facts—commenting with singular nhrewdnons and sagacity on some of the events narrated . He showed nn extraordinary Aptitude in discerning truth , A casual word or expression fliifiicod for him at onco to comprehend a meaning not expressed . When , in the course of my brief history , I had to tell of sorrow stiff bred , wrong inflicted , nothing ' could exceed tho kindly—J might nay tender—sympathy ho ovinecd . Of my father ho inquired much . When I told mm ho had boon identified greatly with Wilbertbree and others in writing pamphlets , » U ' ., towards tho achievement of that great and noble work , tho abolition of tho slave-trade— ' Was your father . English F You aro not tin Englishwoman p ' " ' i onr m'niei > , 1 tun u ticotoh woman . '

    • ft A . % 'Vfcl 1 * * ri t ¦ fc % % * V « % t f Kil 4 il * JkBVJ h * 1 « V ¦ * t w « Ik K ««& »^« j 4 i J . K A I . « * h . * 4 * lali * .- * . **¦ % . 1 V % ¦ 4 t W " ' Well , you may bo , though you uro not tho louwt like onoj but I am certain oft his , you lmvo Italian blood in your veins—yon are tho imtiyo of tin Itiiliun lady I onco took a groat interest in' ( I wonder who it was H ) ' I thought bo tho instant I saw you some years since . " Had he boon a Mend of years—one connected by ties of long 1 companionship and intimacy , ho could not have entered with more anxious , oa ^ or interest into nay pltm » and projects , nor iurniuhod mo with xvfavr , sulbv i'Ouum' 1 lor niy failure career . Al ' tor iv very

    long interview , during which I had several-times offered to depart , all of which proposals were met with the words—¦ " 'Sit down again , I tell you . I want to hear more . ' "' But your Grace's * . time is so valuable . ' . .. . : . " ' I should soon dismiss you if I wished it .-" I remembered , in the case of my poor friend , how abruptly he had indeed accomplished this . . " ' Will you tyke some refreshment ? Perhaps- you will like some tea , you women seem always ready for tea . ' " I laughed , and told him I had breakfasted long since . " We then commenced chatting again . ' , " ' What time do you get Up in the morning ?' "' Eight o ' clock . ' " ' Well , that is not very early—I rise much earlier than that . ' ,

    " Whilst talking with him , I could scarely imagine that in the simple , unaffected man before me , the warm and kindly sympathiser with woman ' s ' griefs , the familiar adviser in the minor occurrences of a life so different from his , it was the irritable Duke of . Wellington . I was conversing with ; the greatest warrior of the . age , the profound statesman ami legislator . He , too , who , as rumour had asserted , was entitled to his sobriquet of the Iron Duke , from bis stern invulnerability to pity , compassion , or sympathy . Never hi my experience of life hacl I met with , a man more gracious in manner . I was as perfectly at my ease whilst talking to him as if ho had been one of my oldest , most familiar friends . " At last , for even the pleasantest things must have a termination , the servant entered with a card , saying the gentleman was waiting to see him . let ot

    " 'Well , now I suppose I must really you go . . Xow , do nbo offended at what I am going to say—you literary people ^ are not always very rich . Do you want any money to bring out this book ? — -if so . I will write you a cheque for any amount you choose to name . ' "He took the pen in his hand , and placed the cheque-book before him . "' Come , what sum shall I write for r ' " I really believe if I' had said £ 500 , he would have written it but drawing myself np with a terrible air of offended dignity I answered" ' Oh I your Grace , I did not come here for money I " He looked at my Washing eyes arid kindling cheek , saying , in a good-tempered way— ¦ " ' Gome , now , do not look so angry—J would not hurt your ieclings forthe world ; but I am so anxious you should lot me do . something for you . ' , _ _ ; , , ,. , jr ¦ ¦ ' _ , __ . dedicate the bookle

    " Well , let me , then , as I asked you , , pa-sc , to you , and take a copy of it . ' " ' That you certainly may do ; only put in a paragraph to way J am not responsible for all the anecdotes narrated in it . As torn copy , I will take the whole impression if you like . I should like to see Captain - — . ' If you will name any clay when I shall find him at your house , T will call on you . ' . "An arrangement for this was effected ,.-and so our interview terminated . " . This representation of the same man in two phases ot Ins character , is as good as it can ho . It is enough of itself to give a value to these volumes . Of a different kind is a sketch of Mrs . Percy Byshc Shelley—it is a nicely tinted portrait , delicately shaded , and certainly does justice to the amiable and . gif ted original . As a companion portrait , we may accept that of L . E , Landon , whoao dentil our Contemporary thin us was intentional .

    , . ,. . Tho notice of Thomas Campbell strikes us as exceedingly . jmlioous In regard to tho poet ' s domestic affliction , tho melancholy fact ot Ins son ' s insanity , our authoress makes the following sensible remarks . " I inquired if she could trace his aberratipn of intellect to any known and specific cause , or whether it was hereditary f blio unswerod no—that ho had always been a shy , slow boy from eluKihood . The only cauno nho could atutign as posaibly tending to Ins ultimate insanity wati this : — . . " The very constant liabit of visitors , when calling , saymg to mm , ' Well , aro you , my hoy , a genius too H Aro you going to nuvko us groat a name and fame as your father ? ' . . " After those often-repeated words he would . start up , anguisii stamped in each lino of his face—* Mother , what is to become <> i mo P I shall never be a genius , i ; cannot learn —would then rwii out of tho house and bo lost sight of for hours . Tho motive poriiaiw is D-nnrl whi « b indnnos nconlo to talk thus to the children ot clovur

    and celebrated parents *—assuming and expecting that , witu tnen invino and worldly possessions , they will inherit also the morei priceless patrimony of intellectual wealth . But I think the habit most injudicious , and of great questionable advantage to tho ultimate development of tho child ' s capability . If a boy or girl possess within themselves that natural germ of genius which none can give or uua away , depend upon it sooner or later it will burst into truiwn without tho aid of adventitious culture and cultivation . It uhj , \ have it not , tho consciousness of its absence , and bemg constant ^ taunted with such absurd questions as Well , have you tho same brilliant endowments ns your father or mother P' I can quiu 1 understand oxeroishiff , over a child of brooding 1 a « d morbidly « onsitive and nmisanthrenjie temperament , so ( Jopressing 1 } . """ I " " ' that ulterior , insanity , ns in tho case of young Campbell , is on want , however to bo doulorotl . ono scarcely to be much mai'volloa at .

    The authoress in one place denominates horekotohosjp / w / o ^ w ^ f Thoy aro euoh 5 and have tho faults , as well » m tljo inonta ol JMg « erreotypo . Thoy reflect defects , as well as beauties , homo oi jiei mistakes , aj ? e , ovidontly , those of her conversationalists . AAnis hju tolls us that Dr . Jay inibrmod her that ho was acquainted witli i o Xloy . Robert Montgomery's ilithov—fclwfc hq Uv « a at Bath-thut Ho

    G4^ The Saturday Analyst And Leader. [Oc...

    g 4 ^ The Saturday Analyst and Leader . [ Oct . 6 , 1860

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 6, 1860, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06101860/page/8/