The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-06

heartily assent to each particular measure en-
bodied in the Notwithstanding California,
organizing New Mexico and Utah without the
Proviso, settling the disputed Boundary and
buying off the claim of Texas-has yet fought
the measure with desperate energy from first to
last, and now rejoices in its defeat, because IL
proposed to do altogether four things which separ-
ately he heartily approved, If this is not Faction
but Craftsmanship, let me be block head all
my days. But not is, it must be spleen and
childish nonsense. Old Bullion is evidently not
long for this latitude. The People of Missouri
will not spare him so far from home a year
longer. H. q.
Washington Irving's Recollections OF
Thomas Campbell.
In recent work published by the HARpERs',
+" The Life and Letters of THOMAS CAMPBELL"
The American edition is prefaced by letter from
WASHINGTON IRVING, giving interesting particu-
ars Of his acquaintance with CAMPBELL.
We make the following extract from this
letter -
"Campbell's appearance was more in unison
with his writings than is generally the case with
authors He was about thirty-fve years of age;
of the middle size, lightly and genteelly made evil
IDENTIFY of delicate, sensitive organization, with a
fine intellectual countenance and beaming poetic
eye.
He had now been about twelve years married.
Mrs. Campbell still retained much of that personal
beauty for which he praises her in his letters
written in the early days Of matrimony; and her
mental qualities seemed equally to justify his euo-
giles; rare circumstance, as none are more prone
to dupe themselves in affairs of the heart than
men of lively imaginations. She was, in fact, a
more suitable wife for poet than poets wives
are apt to be; and for once son Of song had
married a reality and not poetical fiction.
had considered the early productionsof Camp
bell as brilliant indications of a genius yet to be
developed, and trusted that, during the long inter-
val which had elapsed, he had been preparing
something to fulfil the public expectation; was
greatly disappointed, therefore, to find that, as
yet, he had contemplated no great and sustained
effort My disappointment in this respect was
! shared by others, who took the same interest in
his fame, and entertained the same idea OF his
| pacity. "There he is, cooped up in Sydenham,"
said great Edingburgh critic Jeffrey to me,
| simmering his brains to serve up little dish
of poetry, instead Of pouring out whole caul-
| dron."
Scott, too, who took a cordial delight in Camp
bells poetry, expressed himself to the same ef-
feet "What a pity is it, said he to me, % that
Campbell does not give full sweep to his genius
He has wings that would bear him upto the Skies
and he does now and then spread them grandly
but folds them up again and resumes his perch
as if afraid to launch away. The fact is, he is a
-bugbear to himself. The brightness Of his early
| success is detriment to all his future efforts.
He is afraid Of the shado,o that his fame casts
| before him. n.
Little was Scott aware, at the time, that he, in
| truth, was 'bugbear' to Campbell. This infer
from an observation Of Mrs. Campbell's, in reply
to an expression Of regret on my part that her
husband did not attempt something on grand
scale cit is unfortunate for Campbell, J" said
she, that he lives in the same age with Scott and
Byron" asked why. sob, "said she, I" they
write so much, and rapidly. Now Campbell
writes slowly, and it takes him some time to get
under way; and just as he has fairly begun, out
comes one Of their poems, that sets the world
agog, and quite daunts him, so that he throws by
his pen in despair.
pointed out the essential difference in their
kinds Of poetry, and the qualities which insured
perpetuity to that Of her husband :" You
can't persuade Campbell of that, said she. "He
is apt to undervalue his own works, and to con-
slider his own little lights put out whenever they
come blazing out with their great torches"
repeated the conversation to Scott some time
afterward, and it drew forth characteristic COM
ment:
"Pooh'' said he, good humoredly, " How
can Campbell mistake the matter much. Poe
try goes by equality, not by bulk. My poems
are mere cairngorms, wrought up, perhaps, with
a cunning hand, and may pass well in the market
as long as cairngorms the fashion; but they
are mere Scotch pebbles after all; now Tom
Campbell's are real diamonds, and diamonds Of
the first water" @
have not time at present to furnish personal
anecdotes Of my intercourse with Campbell, ne-
ther does it afford any of a striking nature.
Though extending over number Of years, it was
never very intimate. His residence in the coun-
try, and my own long intervals Of absence on the
Continent, rendered our meetings few and far be-
tween. To tell the truth, was not much drawn
to Campbell, having taken up wrong notion con-
corning him from seeing him at times when his
mind was ill at ease, and preyed upon by secret
sriefs. Thought him disposed to be querulous
and captious, and had heard his apparent discon-
tent attributed to jealous repnng at the success of
his poetical contemporaries. In a word, knew
little of him but what might be learned in, the
casual intercourse Of general society; whereas it
required the close communion of confidential
friendship to sound the depths Of his character
and know the treasures Of excellence hidden
beneath its surface. Besides, he was logged
for years by certain malignant scribblers, who
took pleasure in disappearing all his actions,
and holding him up in an absurd and disparaging
point Of view. In what this hostility originated
do not know, but it must have given much an
noyance to his sensitive mind, and may have af-
fected his popularity. know not what else to
attribute circumstance to which was witness
during my last visit to England. 1t was at an an
nual dinner OF the Literary Fund, at which Prince
Albert presided, and where was collected much Of
the prominent talent of the kingdom. In the
course Of the evening, Campbell rose to make
speech. had not seen him for years, and his
appearance showed the effect Of age and i'll health;
it was evident, also, that his mind was obfusca-
ted by the wine he had been drinking. He was
confused and tedious in his remarks; still there
was nothing but what one would have thought
would be received with indulgence, il not defer
ence from n veteran Of his fame and standing: A
living classic. On the contrary, % my surprise,
soon observed signs Of impotence in the company.
The poet was repeatedly interrupted by coughs
and dscordant sounds, and as often endeavored to
proceed; the noise at length became intolerabe,
and he was absolutely clamored down, sinking
into his chair overwhelmed and disconnected.
could not have thought such treatment possibleto
such person at such meeting,