The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-12-25 00:00:00

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

humorously described by Cumberland. Dr. Johnson
took the head of the table, and there were present the
Burkes, Caleb Whiteford, Major Mills, &c. " I re-
member," says the relator of this anecdote, " Dr.
Goldsmith gave me an order, soon after with which I
went to see this comedy ; and the next time I saw
him he enquired of me what my opinion was of it.
I told him I would not presume to be a judge of its
merits. He then said, ' Did it make you laugh ?' I
answered, ' Exceedingly.' ' Then,' said the doctor,
' that is all I require. '
THE SULTAN.—We were ushered up the grand
staircase of the palace, towards the large reception-
room, where sovereignty was embodied in propria
rersona. This apartment is one of ample dimensions,
and its numerous windows look out on the winding
Baghaz. It is plainly yet neatly furnished ; like Res-
chid Pacha's room, it is covered with a light matting,
and divans form the prominent buttresses of four walls.
Handsome mirrors, from ceiling to floor ; wonderful
clocks ; a few chairs of ordinary stamp ; two or three
mosaic tables ; and two large globes on stands, com-
plete the rapid inventory. At one end of the room,
and the centre of all eyes on the " centre of the uni-
verse," sat the Sultan on a divan, which was raised by
a platform. His shoulders were covered with a cloak
he generally wears clasped around the neck with dia-
monds. He 'was looking better than usual, though
his general appearance is not one strongly marked.
He is a man of moderate stature, probably five feet
six inches, and delicate frame, having a slight dropping
and recession of the chin, accompanied by a laxity of the
muscles of the mouth, denoting that want of firmness
which is a point of his character. His hair is black,
and his eyes small and languid. With these personal
disadvantages, heightened in walking by the bandy-leg
movement,he has the redeeming trait of a natural good-
ness of heart, which, if cultivated and unrestrained,
would lead to a great amelioration of his people. True,
he has often shown this fact at different times and in
different actions, and he possesses a strong inclination
to deeds of charity, kindness, and liberality, which is
diminished, if not counteracted, by a selfish and in-
triguing ministry.—Correspondent of the New York
Times.

PORTRAIT OF SIDNEY SMITH.—The following is an
extract from a lecture on " Wit and Humour," by the
Rev. Sidney Smith, which constitutes, as we think, a
most happy though unintentional portrait of himself :
" The meaning of an extraordinary man is, that he,is
eight men, not one man ; that he has as much wit as
if he had no sense, and as much sense as if he had no
wit ; that his conduct is as judicious as if he were the
dullest of human beings, and his imagination as bril-
liant as if he were inextricably ruined. But when wit
is combined with sense and information, when it is
softened by benevolence and restrained by strong
principle, when it is in the hands of a man who can
use it and despise it, who can be witty, and something
much better than witty, who loves honour, justice,
decency, good nature, morality and religion ten thou-
sand times better than wit ; wit is then a beautiful
and delightful part of our nature. There is no more
interesting spectacle than to see the effects of wit upon
different characters of men ; than to observe it expand-
ing caution, relaxing dignity, unfreezing coldness,
teachinr, age, and care, and pain to smile, extorting
reluctant' gleams of pleasure from melancholy, and,
charming even the pangs of grief. It is pleasant to
observe how it penetrates through the coldness and
awkwardness of society, gradually bringing men
nearer together, and like the combined force of wine and
oil, giving every man a glad heart and-a shining coun-
tenance. Genuine and innocent wit, like this is surely
the flavour of the mind ! Man could direct his ways
by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food,
but God has given 'us wit, and flavour, and laughter,
and perfumes to enliven the days of man's pilgrimage,
and to charm his pained step over the burning marl.
A DINNER.—The ordinary books on the drawing-
room table were always removed on Sundays, and
replaced by religious ones, which, like their predeces-
sors, were never opened. People called after luncheon,
and then the Observer was put behind the sofa
cushions. As the merest boy, I was struck with the
twaddle the visitors talked. They told one another
things that had been in the papers days before, and
were especially particular in inquirinc, after persons I
knew they did not care twopence about. 6 And when
at last they said, " Well, we must go now," I won-