Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-08-23
SELECTIONS.
a SKETCH. BY N. 7. WILLIS.

We IL Ne, now " ether We have ever told our
rcldors taM Aii. WILLIS. with whose fame poei
aud damatist they familiar, has retired from city
life TO rural scenes. and minglcs the abors Of
PRACTICAL farmer with the pursuits Of literature, APP
parcntly TO his great content We say apparently
TO his great content Tor no man with mind Ill at
case could indte those desultory but sprighly pa
pers which now IN the course OF publication in
the New York Miuo,, under the title of " Letters
from under bridge" Though The Mirror has a
vide circulation, however, i, is probable that great
many of readers have no, an opportunity OF
lug il aud we therefore take the freedom OF borrow
ing from its columns par the fourth nun Der these
letters FOR the purpose of introducing to readers
the following sketch the sparkling r,ace of which is
so characteristic of WiILis's STYLE MAJ. INT
I" wish you would contIyc to be with us al the az
iicutural show. ] hauer myself shall take the
prize for turnps BY The way, 10 answer your aues-
ton while think oft, that is the reason why am
Niagara, taking look at the vccroy.' Unjust
watch my tutnip-liue, ! met Lord Durham once
or twice when IN London aud once at dinner AT La
DIV BLEssISGToN's was excessively interested on
that occasion by the tactics Of D'IsRArLi, who had
just then Clipped his political she'll and vas anx-
ious 10 make an impression on Lord DURHAM whose
glory still TO come confidently forctold in that
bright circle. ] rather fancy the dinner was made 10
give VIVIAN GREY the chance for her ladyship,
benevolent 10 every one, has helped D'lsRArII TO
mp his wing with devoted friendship Of which
he should embody in his maturest work the deca-
IN ana lelVoi. W omen are glorious friends au
ambition but effective they all can be- few have
the tact aud fewer the varied means of the lady in
question. The guests dropped in, announced but
unseen in the dim twilight; and when Lord Dun
HAM came, could only that he was Of middle
stature, and OF naturally cold address. BuLwrR
spoke TO him, but he was introduced TO no one-a
departure from the custom Of that mGison sansgene
winch was either tribute to his odships .ye or
rHSe on the part Of Lady BLEssINoToN to secure to
DlsRAEh the advantage OF having his acquaintance
songht-successul II so, for Lord DURHAM, al
ter dlnncr, requested formal introduction to him.
But for D'ORsAY, who spaikles, as he does every
thing else. OF rule and in splendid defiance of
others dizziness, the soup aud first half hour Of din
ner would have passed off with the usual English
fashion OF earnest silence. looked over my spoon
al the iniurs premier, dark, saturnine man, with
very black hair, combed very smooth and wonder
ed how a heart with the turbulent ambitions and
disciplined energies which were stirring | knew. in
ms, could be concealed under that polished and
marble tranquility OF men and manner. He smoke 10
Lazy bLEsslNGToN IN an under tone, rcp, ing with a
placid serenity that never reached SMILE TO so muc
OF DORsAYs champagne wit as threw its sparkle
IN his way, and BuLwER and D'IsRaEII were silent
altogether. ! should have foi eboded duh dinner
II, in the open brow, the clear, sunny eve and nm
embarrassed fepose of the beautiful and expressive
mouth OF Lady BLEssinGToN had not read the
promise OF a change. 1t came presently. With u
tact oil which the subtle and grace can IN no wav
De conveyed INTO description, she gathered up the
coo"ep threads oil conversation going at different
parts oil the table, and by the most apparent accident
hung them into D'lsRAELIs fingers like the ribands
OF iour''n haha and II so coarse figure can illus
trate 1t, he took tie whip-hand like master. |,
was an appeal 10 his opinion on subject he well
understood, and he burst a, once vitbout p,eT,cs
into that frery vein Of eoquence which hearing
many times alter, aud always with new deI;,b, h,.
stamped D1sRAELI on my mind as the mos, won
derul talker have ever had the fortune ,oneo Us
IS anything bot declaimer. You would nsye,
think him On stills II he catches himself in ,be,
orcal sentence, he mocks at il in The ne II breath
lie is saurlcal, con'emptuous, pathetic, humorous
every thing 10 nooent and his conversation on
any subject Whatever embraces the omnibus rebus.
et qal5aSidm dis. Add TO this that DIsRAFI's
is the most Intellectual face in Eneland-pale reg.
ular, and overshadowed with the most luxur,an,
masses Of raven-black hair aud you will scarce
wonder that, meeting him for the first time Lord
DURHAM was las be was expected to be by the
AspasIa OF that London dcddcmte) impressed He
was not carried away were. That would have
been unlike Lord DURHAM. He gave his whole mind
to the brilliant meteor blazing before him but the
telescope ofJudgment was in his hand to withdraw
at pleasure. he has evidently, native to hrs blood
that great quality of a sia,esman-retenu. D'IsR.rLl
and he toimed at the moment finely contrasted
picture. Understanding his game perfectly, the
author deferred constantly and adroitly to the opin
ION OF the noble listener shaped his argument bv his
suggestions, allowed him to say nothing without
using il as the nucleus of some new turn TO his ell
oqucnce and all this with an apparent effort against
il. as ifhe had desired address himself xcusively
to Lady BLEssiSoros. but wa, compelled by svpe.