The Press. — London, England, 1854-12-09 00:00:00

DECEMBER 9, 1854. J. G. LOCKHART. THE obituaries of last week record the death of Jous Gamow LOCKHART, at Abbotsford, aged 61. The state of Mr. Loexusar's health had long pre _ pared the public for this announcement, but it will nevertheless not be read without much emotion. lie has left numerous friends to deplore his loss, and his talents had been too long devoted to the entertainment of the public not to entitle him to their sincere regret. The chief memorabilia of his career may be thus briefly summed up. Mr. LOCKHART was born in 1793, the younger son of a Glasgow clergyman. Being destined for the law, he studied first at Glas gow University, and thence passed to Balliol College, Oxford, by obtaining an exhibition in the gift of the Senatus Academicus. Afterwards he was called to the Scotch bar, but never practised to any extent, having early devoted himself to literature. Shortly after the peace be travelled on the Continent, and visited Germany, where he made the acquaintance of GOETHE. In 1818 he first saw SCOTT, with whom he was destined to form so close relationship. In the same year he undertook to write the historical chapters in the Edinburgh Annual Register for Messrs. BALLANTYNE. Twoyears later, and in 1820, LOCKHART married SOPHIA SCOTT, the eldest daughter of the novelist. The issue of this marriage was two sons and a daughter. The elder of the sons, the "Hugh Littlejohn " of the " Tales of a Grandfather," died in childhood. The younger lived to attain manhood, but also died early and childless. Miss LOCKHART survives, having married Mr. Hors, now Mr. HOPE SCOTT, a Catholic barrister, of great wealth, into whose hands the estate of Abbotsford has now passed. For seven years after his marriage Mr. LOCKHART rem ained in Edinburgh, when he contri buted largely to the pages of Blackwood's Magazine, and published several works. In 1825 he succeeded GIFFORD as editor of the Quarterly, and then re moved to London, which continued his head-quarters for the five and twenty years that he retained the guidance of the great Conservative trimestrial. During this period, also, he succeeded to some family property, by the death of an elder brother, and was appointed Auditor of the Duchy of Lan• caster, with a salary of 3001. per annum. Health and spirits failing him, in 1853 Mr. LOCKHART travelled in Italy for some months, and returned to London somewhat better; but, relapsing in the course of the past autumn, retired about two months since to Abbotsford, where, as we have stated, he died from apoplexy on the 25th of November last. Few men entered life with fairer prospects than Mr. LOCKHART. The younger son of an ancient and honourable family, he possessed considerable natural abilities joined to great personal advantages. He was educated at Oxford, and was soon distinguished both by academical success and by his taste and skill in general literature. His early marriage with with the amiable daughter of Sir WALTER SCOTT seemed at once to secure his domestic felicity and a permanent connection with all that was most eminent and distinguished in his native country. With talents and industry that would have ensured sucess in any profession, he devoted himself exclu ssely to literature, and speedily acquired a reputation i'iferior only to that of his celebrated father in-law. His connection with the Quarterly Review fixed him permanently in London, where he was received with distinction in the best society. 111-health and domestic sorrows, however, ere long clouded these brilliant prospects. The misfortunes of Sir WALTER SCOTT, felt more keenly by his friends, per haps, than his death itself, threw a gloom over Mr. LOCKHART'S home. The subsequent death of his favourite son, a child of great sweetness and promis e, followed by those of his wife's sister, her two bro thers, and of his wife herself, reduced the circle of his family to two children only. The son expired before his father; the daughter, honourably and happily married, had the melancholy satisfaction of soothing her father's last moments and receiving his parting benediction. It is as a literary man that Mr. LOCKHART belongs to the public. His works are numerous; and it would be useless to dwell at any length upon perfor mances with which every one is familiar. We will not do more than allude to his labours in the Quar terly Review. It is well known with what zeal and intelligence he conducted that popular miscellany, and how largely his contributions promoted its circu lation. Many of the ablest articles are his own, while his pen may frequently be traced in others to which he has lent the grave interest to which they perhaps owe their best claim to attention. Though a master of sarcasm, it will be remarked that he never indulged his wit by the ludicrous exposure of ill-regulated genius, or made a butt of some un happy author for the amusement of his reader. The first of his works which attracted much notice beyond the circle which they were prin cipally calculated to interest was " Peter's Letters THE PRESS. to his Kinsfolk," the journal of a tour, contained in a' series of letters addressed to an imaginary corres pondent, descriptive of Scottish scenes and persons. He himself has described it as " a work which none " but a young and very thoughtless person would have " dreamt of publishing." We may add. however, that it is one which none but a very clever man and a very close observer could have written. It is dange rous, no doubt, to speak of living men and existing societies even in praise. Silence often passes for censure, and the warmest general approbation is fre quently insufficient to atone for the slight infusion of seventy with which it is qualified. That the picture was mainly intended to gratify we can have no dcubt, and the storm of indignation that it excited is the strongest proof of the irritable vanity of the litterati who at that time composed the beau monde of Edin burgh. We are glad to find our opinion sanctioned by that of Sir WALTER SCOTT, at that time but slightly acquainted with the author. " The general tenor of " the book," he says, "is, perhaps, too favourable, " both to the state of our public society and individual " character." "Dr. Morris,' he adds, " has maintained " his high character for force of expression, both " serious and comic, and for acuteness of observation " —rem acu tetegit--and his scalpel has not been " idle ' though his lenient hand has cut sha r p and clean " and poured balm into the wound." The novel of " Valerius," the scene of which is laid at Rome, during the reign of the Emperor Trojan, evinces much familiarity with classic literature and antiquities. Many of the descriptions are powerful, the characters are cleverly marked and discriminated, and, in spite of our slender sympathy with antique social life, many of the situations are full of interest. " Reginald Dalton," which was written on a different and more popular plan, presents the adventures of a youth of the author's own standing and situation, and is, consequently, much more generally interest , ing. It exhibits a close observation and great knowledge of life and manners ; so accurate, indeed, are some of his individual portraits that many ac quainted with the society of Oxford at the period have asserted that the author indulged in the dan gerous amusement of painting from life. " Adam Blair," a simple narrative, contained in a single volume, is in our opinion the most beautiful of his works. Written with unequalled vivacity and power, and exhibiting intense feeling, it rivets our attention, and, though the situation of the principal persons never changes, a never-flagging interest pur sues them to the close of their career. The violent passions of the hero of the tale, which lead him into error, are also the source of his deep repentance and self-humiliation. The character of the unhappy partner of his guilt, the kinswoman and friend of his departed wife, is drawn with a tenderer and more de licate pencil. The tale of her early adventures, the treachery of her youthful husband and her subsequent misfortunes—misfortunes the result rather of a gene rous and confiding temper than of thoughtlessness or levity—glanced at in a slight and judicious recapitu lation, which leaves much to the imagination of the reader, is yet amply sufficient to satisfy his judgment and to secure his indulgence. The story of Mrs. Camp bell has its prototype, we believe, in that of a beautiful young woman who was well remembered at Edinburgh when Mr. LOCKHART first entered life. The punish ment of the two lovers is detailed with unflinching scrupulosity, and morality is amply satisfied by the calamities their errors entail upon them. " Matthew Wald," the last of his novels, was, we believe, no less generally a favourite. It escaped, indeed, some of the censures with which its predeces sor was visited. " Adam Blair" gave some offence to the over-scrupulous, who thought that the punishment of guilt, however signal, was insufficient to atone for the details of its progress. These critics were propitiated by the omiseion, in subsequent editions, of the few passages which can in any degree be supposed over-coloured. "Matthew Wald " contains a wider scope of character and a greater variety and interest of situation, but it is wanting in the delicacy and purity of sentiment that distinguishes " Adam Blair," nor does it possess the same charm of style s Though he has published little original poetry his mind was eminently poetical. He has succeeded in doing what so many great poets failed to accomplish. His "Spanish Ballads" have nothing of the stiff mess of a translation, the language is purely idiomatic English, while the sentiments have all the lofty tenderness of Spanish chivalry. The " Life of Sir Walter Scott," published for the benefit of that great man's creditors, is the work upon which Mr. LOCKHART'S literary reputation must rest. By it he has secured himself a place in the literary annals of his country from which no caprice of taste or fashion can efface his name. We believe it is pretty generally admitted to be the model of bio graphical impartiality, in which, while no failure is veiled or extenuated, the affectionate admiration of the biographer is fearlessly exhibited. While pursuing with unflinch in g energy the laborious duties his editorial responsibility entailed upon him, his health was gradually undermined. His appetite forsook him, he forbore necessary elercise, 1167 he passed hours and days in the unhealthy atmo sphere of his study. His nervous excitability became excessive. In vain were reiterated the warnings of doctors, the remonstrances and entreaties of friends ; it was not till actually compelled to intermit his literary labours that he consented to try the benefit of a milder air and change of scene. After passing a winter at Rome, he returned to England in some degree revived and invigorated. These favourable appear ances were, however, fallacious—his worst symptoms recurred with increasing violenoe ; a removal from London was deemed advisable ; he retired to Abbots ford, the scene of SirWst TER SCOTT'S death-bed, and where he, too, was ordained to breathe his last. We wish we could add that his sufferings had been few and short, but we may say with more satisfaction that they were endured with patience and resignation. Mr. Loceusnr, as we have observed, was emi nently handsome. Well proportioned in figure, he was of the ordinary height. His features were regular and delicate, though strongly defined and full of character. His eye, keen and bright, glowed with additional brilliancy under a straight and well-formed eyebrow. His complexion was clear and transparent, and in early life his hair flowed in curls of the richest growth. Much of his comeliness was beyond the reach of time. If the hair was thinned, its diminished luxuriance displayed to greater advantage the finely formed head and intellectual forehead ; the fire of the eye remained unquenched, and the pallid cheek retained its monumental purity. All that was earthly had disappeared, genius and intellect alone survived. Those who were best acquainted with Mr. LOCI-. HART must have observed how rarely he made him self the subject of conversation, and with what in stinctive reserve he avoided any allusion to his own works. His keen sense of the ridiculous made him dread the reputation of egotistical vanity, so fre quently attributed to authors, and his good sense convinced him that the merits of a book cannot be discussed with advantage between the author and the critic. Little, therefore, could be learned of his lite rary history even in the most confidential intercourse ; and we have frequently been amused by the uncere monious abruptness with which he dismissed the subject when any literary admirer thought to render himself acceptable by referring to his works with praise. His conversation was as various as his powers and attainments. Apt to be silent in general society, he was eager and animated in familiar intercourse, and, though preferring to listen, he would often take the lead in conversation to which he was so well en titled, and delight and entertain by the soundness and originality of his remarks and the keenness of his wit. His silence in general society, which was often mistaken for superciliousness, was in fact the result of constitutional shyness, which no familiarity with the world could overcome. His wit, which too frequently passed for satire, was but the sprightly outpourings of a lively fancy involuntarily exhibited, and intended rather to divert than to wound. He was keenly alive, it must be admitted, to the foibles and follies of mankind, yet few men were more indul gent to the weaknesses of their friends, or less severe in their censures of their errors and defects. He dis liked censoriousness, and discouraged scandal and backbiting. Like Swirl . , perhaps, he thought ill of human nature in the aggregate, but was willing to believe his friends exempted from the vices and follies he laughed at in mankind. Punctual and honourable in all his dealings, and humanely careful not to wound the susceptibility which in his editorial capacity he was for ever en countering, firm and unshaken in his political prin ciples, and unflinchingly zealous in the assertion of them, he was most eminently fitted for the post he so long retained. Charitable and benevolent in deeds, if not always in words, he was the friend and adviser of the indigent author, and frequently, as far as his limited means permitted, his liberal patron. Though in the position he held it was impossible he should not have some enemies, his friends were numerous. Sincere and consistent in his friendships, the com• panions of his youth were the friends of his age. Hospitable, generous, high-minded, and tender hearted, his loss will be long lamented by a numerous . I host of attached and grateful admirers. stiff- An exceeding press of matter compels UR to post pone all our theatrical and musical notices for this week. Mr. Alsert Smith at the Egyptian-hall, Aggravating Sam at the Lyceum, the Sacred Har monic Society's performance on Friday evening of Handel's oratorio Deborah, ➢l. Jnllien's concerts at Drury Lane, shall all receive due notice in the en suing week. We may observe, however, that report states so successful have M. Jullien's concerts proveed this season, that it is contemplated to con tinue the series for another month at the Royal Italian Opera-house, Covent-garden. The conversazione of the Rkinion des Arts, takes place next Wednesday evening, Dec. 13, at the rooms in Harley-street