The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-19
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CoIs,idse found an analogy for whatever
was new 10 him into which he drew The
subject of conversations, when his knowl-
edge of what was started he ielt to be
superficial. Some times he would involve
a topic in mysticism, much in the German
mode, ill il became lost in Cloud
Where he was clear in himself, he painted
most OF his ideas, verbally, with wonderful
vlvidness, using novel modes oil expression
Yet his power was not equal TO Southey ;
or Lambs, and Of the fine essay fancy oil
the last he possessed not particle. used
10 think him dreamer who found as much
pleasure in dealing with insubStanualIties
as with what was real. His head was full
Of metaphysical subtleties. he preferred
wasting his power on the desert ar 10
raising, as he might have done, imPefisha-
BILE monuments OF his own fame. de par
took somewhat OF the egotism Of the Lake
school, in general. though not TO the extent
of Southey and Wordsworth. lie had a
most enlarged mind and powers OF an or
der superior TO either of those writers, but
he neglected them, for he had not their con-
leniedness in essaying a slow reputation.
His powers were only known TO those who
heard his conversation. It's ideas were
soap- bubbles, brilliant with color and spark
ling with light, but they soon passed away,
and were forgotten. He was heavy man.
and high active genius seems to attach to
integumenlary leviIy. remember his
"Remorse" coming out. E,listDn played
one Of the principal characters. Taking
it as poelical effort, was much stuck
with its many fine p ,ssages. hut remember
| thou ghI the author no dramatist. IL was
100 descriptive. The author did not lden
tily himself with his characters, but seemed
10 speak for them. Much OF the language
is highly poetical.
was greatly pleased with Elliston in
Don Alvar. Coleridge was gwen to cen
sure, rather than praise, all that was not in
the right line OF his own ideas; it struck
me. too, that with him praise was scarce
commodity. lie disliked the poetry OF
Campbell. Yet it may be asked whether
the standard Of pOetical celebrity is not that
which dwells on the tongue, and comes home
TO the hearts of the many. There are lines
Of Campbell, besides his "Oles," as there
are songs Of Burns, that will ouIlive, in
their way, all that the Lake school has
written. Coleridge, | always thought,
would not be long remembered; he jilted
his own fame.
The newspapers inform US that Madame
Valabre1ue has left Florence in conse-
quence Of the troubles in that city. Who
is Madame Vslabreque? | imagine the
present public do not recognise her under
that name. Who but the syren that charm
ed the world so many years ago, as Angelica
Catalina! A new generation has sprung
up since she enchanted her hearers. In
former days she wrote and signed hersel
| A. Catalina. Her love Of fame has, per
haps, in her old years, subsidized into con
ventional usage. knew her we'll. Like
Siddons in acting, so she in singing wa:
then, and remains, unrivalled. She was {
good personal figure on the stage, and alto
gether one OF the most charming womeI
that ever delighted an audience. Arlless
open, pleasant in manners, and Of mos
correct moral conduct, she was unfortunat,
only in her marriage with a man who ap
pIeciated her mainly as a means of obtain
ing money. lie often subjected her to re
mark, as being avaricious, Of which sh'
had no faint. Her husband always arranged
her pecuniaTy affairs, as if she had no vOc,
in the matter. When not in the active ex
ercise OF her profession she was with he
children, whom she tenderly loved. saw
her on the stage and of, in her own house
and once at the house OF a nobeman
where she was on visit, as we'll as myself
found her the same kind and interesting
creature everywhere. Frank, good-humoI
ed. often testing on her own bad speaking
"Ah, Monsieur. speak Italian, French
English, and all very BabyloniSh-non
WELL" Yet when she sung 'God save tn
King" in English, her foreign accent CAV
it very pleasing effect.
i Her husband used to call her "Ma ponI
dor" to everybody. He was man @
vulgar mind. She was, indeed, a poul
dor TO him. A female friend said to he
one day, elbow, my dear, did you come I,
marry M. Valabreque?" al will tell YOU.
said that gifted creature, show it was.
was at Lisbon; the Portuguese were en-
raPtured with me, for they are very musi
cal people. Great dukes and counts cam
TO see me, and some OF them made love I,
me, so did M. Valabreque, but none O
them talked Of marriage except M. Vals
breque, and married M. Valabreque."
The truth was that ValabIeque, of whom
nobody knew anything, wore a splendi,
French uniform, and frequented the opera
lie was reported to be French officer
and thus he won Angelica Catalini. Soor
after, Junot and the French army entered
Lisbon, and the French officer was mad,
10 dof his borrowed plumes. and appear II
his real character Of nobody. The onl,
other noted parsonage on the opera board,
! recOllect at this time was Trammazani. :
singer of very considerable power, thouof
not beyond others that have been heard
since he took his departure. In truth,
recollect little of the opera. seldom
went. The perverted taste, the utter viola
ton Of truth ard nature it exhibits: and
however 'well chaunted'' the dialogues, for
an opera is but that after all, it never suited
my taste; it often disguised me. Ii was its
own Metastasio, without its tenderness. bnl
with all his negative qualities.
IL was not thus with Cooke, Kemble
Siddons and Young, who were on the tragic
boards in The regular drama when came