Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-07-06

Lonuon log anu socially. here GOdWln,
the audacious lheorist, dreaming of perfecti-
biity and political justice; cold, grave, and
oracular uttering paradoxes with the pas
sionless all of deliberaive wisdom rigid a,
the whist table; admitting no aristocracy
but that of letters; receiving all opinions
opposed TO his own with silent scorn and
exaspera'ing superiority; unmoved by the
commissions of society "a ruler of the spi-
central calm a, the heart of all
agitation" There Talfourd, then a s,rug-
Cling barrister and fowery essayist, soon to
become an eminent barrisler and fowery
poet. There also Hocroft, the author Of
the ''Road to Ruin" having risen from the
bottom of the social scale TO an eminent po-
siion in the world of Understanding pass
ed the slrangest and most chequered of lives;
the son of a hawking pedIer: always roam
ing, always changing his means Of lveIi-
hood now employed as an infant to lead
donkey 10 a coal pit, there to get it loaded
and conduct i! home now taken as a sta
BILE boy at trainers, there to store up ma
lerials for "Gold6nch - now setting up
school with one scholar; now trying to be
cobbler; now joining strolling players,
and al last succeeding as a dramatic author :;
marrying four wives; indicted for high lrea-
son on the most frivolous grounds, owing
10 the arbitrary measures "when George the
Third was kings" acquitted, but ever AFTER
wards damaged in reputation, being looked
upon as an ''acquitled feIon;" and now f.
nally having passed through all these vicis-
STUDIES, and settled into old age. still writing
feeble commedes, ,ranslaling from the Ger
man, and dabbling in pictures.
The central figure of this group-the host,
who numbered all these various men of ge-
MUS and talent as his friends, and who, diff
fering from all, yet sympalhized with all,
was Charles Lamb, perhaps, on the whole,
the most interesting of the set.
"Charles Lamb, to those who knew thee Justly dear
For rarest genius, for sterling worth,
Exchanging friendship, warmth of heart sincere,
And wit that never gave an ill thought birth,''
So sang Robert Southey, with more truth
than felicity, and so would every heart re-
spond. AS writer whose place is forever
conquered in our literature and as char
acler. full Of piquant contrast and matter for
study, we shall no, be blamed, we trust, for
occupying the readers time, for brief while,
in endeavoring to present some Of the char
acteristics of his genius.
"Die GestaH DIES .Menchen." says Goethe,
''is der Ifrt 1u ALIEN ras SIGH uber i'm emp
linden und sagen Iassi."* This is peculiar
ly applicable TO Charles Lamb. The con-
trast of his organization were reflected in his
mind. He was an oddly in appearance and
in manner; uniting contrasts in the subtles,
way imaginable. He had head worthy Of
Aristotle, but it was placed upon shadowy
Stem. (to use Tal(ourd's happy description,)
so fragile, so punny was the body which
sustained it. His features were strongly,
vet delicalely cut. Over an expanded fore
head, black hair crispIy cured. His dark
eyes twinkIed with varying expression.
though the prevalent feeling was sadness
His nose was of the Jewish cut; indeed,
clad in his clerk-like black, with his Orien-
tai style of feature, his delicate organization,
and sweetness Of demeanor, he presented an
very much like what he describes
Braham's to be, ga compound of the Jew,
the gentleman and the angel"
Hitherto we have taken only the favora-
bic view Of him-lhe painters view. But,
besides what the artist transfers to his can
Vas. there is always an Indefinite something
which he cannot transfer; and hence the
reason why painters are said to fatter. and
also why they always fail in representing
wholly those whom we greatly admire or
greatly love. Charles Lamb is only half
portrayed as yet. To the above must be
added certain oddly of look and manner
"a something tan,amount to his slammer-
ing, 1t was not diSagreeable ; rather let us
call il quaint-IndIvldual
Good simple King Duncan says
"There is no art
To read the minds construction in the face" &c.
1t is subtle touch Of Shakspeare's to make
the man ust deceived by one he trusted.
draw general conclusion from particular
instance, such as the above; but no one
could look in Charles Lambs face wilhou,
reading there The lineamen,s Of the ''mind's
construction" The mixture Of intellect and
feeling of reasoning and sensibility; Of
wit, humor, and sadness of innocence and
knowingness; of genlleness and brusquerie,
stamped itself legibIy upon his features.
The affection he inspired, together with
the real unobstrusive kindness of his nature,
has led his friends and critics into an over
sight which it is necessary we should notice.
So much stress has been laid upon his ''gen-
lleness," that the other part of his character
his recklessness Of brusquerie-has been
overlaid.
"My gentle-hearted Charles!''
is the aposrophe of CoIeridge in one of his
poems; and TO show how deserved was the
epithet, let US recall the testimony of his
Mr.. LIE Grce, who says, 81
never heard his name mentioned without the
*s'A mans personal appearance is the text for all
that can be said of him. or felt about him. -Stela.