New-York daily tribune., 1843-11-08
Mr.. FoRREsr.-We rarely allude to men or in.

there are occasions when mere silence IS injustice
Such one is created by the recent newspaper
attacks on Mr.. Edwin Forrest for bis alleged
want Of generosity to the widow Of his deceased
friend, William Leggett. Having neither per-
sonal acquaintance nor party affnities with Mr.
Forrest, we are the more inpelled to aid in doing
him Justice
MIR Forrest and Mr.. Leggett became acquainted
some ten or fifteen years since, after the former
had achieved eminence and secured affiuence IN
his professional career. They had many common
sympathies, and soon became devoted trlends.-
Mr.. Leggett with no mercenary motive, did
what was in his power to advance honorably the
fortunes of his friend; Mr.. Forrest had wealth.
and il was freely at the service Of Mr.. Leggctt,-
and truly the latter had need OF such tnend.-
He was a man of genius, powerful writer, yet
never in the lower sense popular one: his writ
ings were admired more than read, and read more
than purchased. His Literary enterprises fell
through, not at all to the pecunlary advantage OF
Mr. Forrest. AS Politician. Mr., Leggett was
wayward and sometimes ong-headed but an
honest and fearless man. speaking out boldly the
truth he discerned, let it bear it hi ght Such
politician is more feared than loved in any party,
but to the party misnamed Democratic, which
had served the lowest depths of corruption and
grovelling selfshness in the decadencc OF the
Safety Fund era of lS34-37-such man as
Leggctt was positive terror. They were not
accustomed to Editors or Essayists OF their own
professed faith speaking with the plalnness of
Nathan to David-they expected one who claimed
to be of the party to aud its dolngs, salve over
its corruptions. be blind to its departures from It's
avowed and fundamental principles, and pour out
dcnunciations without reason or measure on the
heads of its opponents only. There never was
party which seemed so utterly incapable of COM
pretending or tolerating Freedom of Though and
Opinion as this same Democracy Mr.. Leggett
was at length formally denounced by It's General
Committees and driven from the helm Of its Press
for speaking truths which the party should have
heard and needed if it would save itself from
discontinue and vital decay. Nothing he un-
dertook prespered pecuniarily; he was driven into
retirement and died in poverty and despair
Through the last years of his life-years of adver-
sitv and bitterness-he had one friend whose
heart was ever as brothers., who appreciated his
genius deplored his misfortunes, cheered his
dropping spirits, shed over his downward path the
rays Of gladdening though deluslve hope, and felt
it privilege and pleasure to minister with un-
sparing hand to his pecuniary need. That friend
was Edwin Forrest. And now Mr. F. is assailed
as ungratcful for the services, forgetfu of the
memory of Leggett
We could not speak of the generosity Of the
former to the widow of the latter had she not
spoken herself, and most conclusively. Her own
testimony establishes the truth that she has found
in him an answering, generous friend. If it
were proper to inquire and to state farther the
public would see that this is abundantly true
And yet Mr.. Forrest is publicly assaied as un-
generous to the widow Of his deceased friend
We will add no comment to this statement Of
facts but word in apprehension of the prone
ness to newspaper gossi p on themes which should
be sacred from public discussion. There is no
thing more perncious than the common habit of
canvassng the charities of private life, and de.
Gliding that this that man has been less liberal
than he should have been. 1t stimulates osten.
tation in benevolence, and often compels disclo-
sures Of beneicent deeds which the doer would
urdently prefer to keep unprofaned by publicity.
We were never more panied than by meeting in
Tribune, while travelling, sharp reflection on
private citizen for not contributing to the relief
of the sufferers by the great fire in Hamburgh.
The public and the press have no right to Judge
mans ability to be munihcent-he may be en-
barrassed while we esteem HIM rich, or he may
have given anonymously while we are censurlng
him for not giving ostentatlously. Yet such CEN
surcs are common, and arc just as blameable in
private gossip as in newspaper publicity. Let us
all set our faces against such wanton invasions Of
individual freedom.