The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-11
From the Manchester Examiner
The Genius and Writing. of Leigh HINT.


From the Manchester Examiner
The Genius and writing. Of Leigh HINT.
OF all living English writers, there is not
one towards whom there exists a more gene
raj feeling Of kindness and gratitude than
Leigh Hunt. This friendly gratitude has
arisen from the peculiar characteristics OF
his writings-fIom their sympathy and genu-
inc cordiality-their cheerful, hopeful tone,
in short, their fullness to OVERLOOKING with
that spirit which is best expressed by the
beautiful but neglected old English word
glowing kindness" We know of no wri-
ter who has done more to make hearths and
homes happy by peOpling them with pleas
ant thoughts for he quickens US into live
lier consciousness Of our blessings, and COM
municates to our ordinary duties, and the
simple objects Of our daily way-side walk, a
freshness and interest which it becomes a
kind Of grateful duty to him to acknowl-
edge.
The tendency OF all that Leigh Hunt has
written is to cheerfulize existence. He re-
comedies us to ourselves, draws off our
minds from remote visions Of some future
possible good, or painful membranes Of
the past, and fixes our attention upon the
actual blessings and privileges about us.
He is one Of the best teachers we know Of
that kind of contenment and gratitude
which arises from thankful recognition Of
those minor Joys by which all Of US are
more or less surrounded, and to the value
of which most Of US are by far too insensi-
BILE. And then with what delicate and
fine touch he pierces our selhshness In
what kindly way he convnces us Of our un-
charitableness, and puts to rout our selfin-
dulgen. lallacies With what a iovial hi
larity he banters us out Of our morosenesS,
and laughs at our ill-humor, until at last we
are ashamed Of our weakness, and deter
mine to be wiser and better for the future
We never rise from few hours perusal Of
any Of his charming books, without sense
Of obligation to him for stimulating to de-
sire of generous activity those sympathies
which habit and daily contact too often rem
der lansuid and inert. Everything that
comes from his pen is refreshing, and full Of
good will to all the world. A belief in
good, the recognition Of universal beauty,
and ga brotherly consideration for mistake
and circumstance, will be found pervading
every essay he has written. To minds dis
turbed, or set on edge by crosses and disap-
pointments, we know of no more efectual
soother than ga course" Of Leigh Hunt.
His own buoyant spirit is fine example of
the impossibility Of crushing the heart Of
true man, be his misfortunes and hardshiPs'
ever 50 severe; and no man has suffered the
rubs of fortune more bravely than he has
done. A popular writer once spoke Of him
as ga gray-headed boy whose heart can new
err grow old" Those who are familiar
with his writings will recognize the truth
fulness OF this remark, and remember how
this perpetual youthfulness of feeling shows
itself, in thousand different ways, through
out all isworks.
Another winning peculiarly OF Leigh
Hunts writings is their frank, friendly, con-
versational tone-the pleasantly-egotistical
and almost confidential manner in which
he tells US every now and then Of his own
private notions and sentiments-so that we
begin 10 fancy he is addressing ourselves in
particular, and not his readers in general.
There is such an easy, freside way about
him, that it is like talking with an old init
mate friend. He runs on from one theme
to another with the most sprightly exube-
rance-now discussing with hearty sympa-
thy the merits of Chaucer or Spenser, or
some other old poet, and pointing out to us
the beauty and true meaning Of favorite
passage--now bringing out the sentiment
of an ancient classical story, or dwelling
upon his first impressions of the Arabian
Nights INSTRUMENTATION, perhaps en-
tering into curious speculation regarding
persons one would wish to have SEEM"
Shakespeare, for instance, or Petrarch, or
Cromwell, or Sir Philip Sydney-or, in
more gossiping vein, relating some charac-
teristic anecdote of Cowley, or Pope, or La
dy Mary Wortley Montagu, or Colley Glib.
Der, or Mrs. CentliUe; or reporting snatch
es OF racy court scandal from the diary of
Samuel Pepys. Then he will get into a
philosophical humor, and discourse "of the
slow rise Of the most rational opinions"
and quote wise and stately sentences from
Lord Bacon's Essays" or Millions "Are-
opagitica.' On another occasion he comes
10 US when he is running over with news Of
the fields and the woods. and can speak of
nothing but May-dsy, and May poles, and
the young spring flowers.
He will give an hours description of the
pleasures Of breakfasting in the country on
fine summer morning, with open window
looking out upon a bright green lawn,
with the air breathing in fresh and balmy,
the sunlight streaming through the foliage,
and casting its chequering shadows upon
the favorte books and pictures with which
the parlor walls are adorned; upon the table
few pal1sies freshly plucked, contrasting
well with the snow-white cloth and bee
humming about from cup to cup, seeking to
partake Of the honey which she herself
probably assisted to furnish. At another
time, perhaps, when some calamity has
overtaken you. and affection lies heavy
upon household, he comes in the guise OF
an old and tried friend Of the family, with
all friends privileges; and sits by your