Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-10-20

L
Griffin, We cxtrac, the following description Of .
dinner at Murra,'s 1.-THE great London Book Sc J.
ier) IN which IL introduced sketches OF several OF
the most distinguished writer's VI the age. I,
will be read with interest,
l dined yesterday, with a very dis.
tinguished party, at Mr.. M'.-.os,
consisting Of Moore. Lockhart, Wash.
ington Irving. Smith, one of the MI
thors of the Rejected Addresses, and
other 6eaar esprits; Mitchell, the
translator OF Aristophanes; and some
others, Of less fame. The first is, GER
tainly, most unpoetical figure nor
Is his countenancc. at first sight. more
promising than his person. When
you study il. however; when, YOU
consider the height Of the bald crown.
the holiness of the receding pyramdal
forehead; the marked, yet expanded
and graceful lines of the mouth; above
all, when you catch the bright smile
and the brilliant eye beam, which &C
company the flashes Of his wit and the
sallies Of his fancy. you forget, and
are ready TO disayow your former i'm
pressions. To Moore, Lockhart Of.
fers a strong and singular contrast.
Tall. and slightly. but elegantly form
ed, his head possesses the noble con-
tour, the precision and harmony of
outline, which distinguish classic scuip-
ture. IL possesses, too, a striking eff
feet Of color, in a complexion pale, yet
pure, and hair black as the ravens
wing. Though his countenanoe is
! ~ Al
thirty yet should designate re0ec-
ton as the prominent, combined ex-
preston OF that broad, white forehead ;
those arched and pencilled brows
those retired. yet full, dark eyes, the
accurately ohiselled nose and com
pressed. though curved lips. His face
Is too thin, perhaps, for mere beauty
but this defect heighfeDs its intellec-
tual character. Our distinguished
country lyman is of about the ordinary
height, and rather stout i'm person. -
His hair is black, and his complexion
"sieklied DER with the pale cast OF
thought" Ills eyes are Of a pale CO.
Tor; his profile approaches the Gre.
clan, and is remarkably benevolen,
and contempiatiye. Mr.. Smith car
ries n handsome, good-natured coun
tenancc; and Mi. Mitchell's phvsi-
ognony, though not handsome, is at
least amiable.
The conversation al dinner consist
ed chiefly in the relation Of anecdotes.
To my great disappointment, no dis
cossion Of any length or intcres, took
place. 1t must be admitted that the
anecdotes were select, and told With
infinite wit and spirit. Many of them,
! doubt not, we're the inventions of the
narrat0rs. Such seemed 10 be pecu
lisrly the case with those Of Mr.. Moore
and MIR. Smith; though seated az dit
ierent ends Of the table, frequently
engaged each other from time to time,
in sort Of contest for superiority.
This contest, however, was still
carried on in the same way. Both
tried only which could relate the most
pungent witticisms, or tell the most
amusing story. The subjects Of the
anecdotes ID general were extremely
interesting. Lord Byron. and Other
eminent men, with whom the speaker.
had been or were familiar, were FIRE
goently broaght upon the stage. MIR.
Loo khart meantime, though he seemed
TO ENJOY the pieasaniries OF others, con
iributed none II his own. Whatever
he did say, was 10 q Scottish accent,
and exhibited strong sense and exteu
siye reading. MIR. Irving seems to b,
one of those men, Who, like Addison
have plenty If gold IN their peck cts
but are almost destitute Of read,
change. His reserve, however. {, o
"a s;rlkingIy different character frou
that oi the Editor Of the Quarterly
I The one appears ihe reserve Of sen.i
biIiy: the other that of thought. III,
taste 81 the One leads hlm apparent,
10 examine tie suggestions - his owi
mud vita such ga over serupulo,,ty
that be seldom, gives them uiterance
he fetleeiiOn o. The other il oeeupict
20 ~ristng thc sentiments expressed
and SEPARATING ihc false from tie tsue
Nc. irwns b. mli1 and bisud, evct
ars'a-s - rlc.,r. Nj Iockhart il