New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE LIFE OF JOHN STERLING BY THoNA, CAh,
LYLE 10 no pp. SAL Boston Phillips Sampson
In this beautiful and touching biography,
CARLYLE returns to his old admirers, with the
manly nobleness OF feeling and softened splen-
doris Of expression. which early won from them
such gush Of loving homage. With the sweet
ness and purity of style which Is so delightful IN
the Z" Life OF Schiller" it combines the depth
and tenderness of sentiment which pervsded
the cratic u,terances OF " sartor Resartus
We rejoice that this great master has found an
occasion which tempts forth his ancient vein
Right welcome is that lofty con,emplative spirit,
discouTsing the sweet. sad muse OF humanity,
with none OF the fantastic variations which, OF
later years, have made the "Judicious grieve,
and chilled the enthusiasm that hailed has al
vent.
Indeed we regard this volume as deriving It's
chief interest from the writer, and not from the
subject. Ii ia Carlyle rather than Sterling that
remains In our memory alter completing It's pc
rusal The stronger character makes Its own
mark on the materials with which 1t is occupied.
We are willing to accept John Sterling as he is
set down in these pages but his life exciies lit
lie speculation, is far from being suggestive
while the power OF Carlyle is shown In every
line, provoking the reader 10 constant, reflection,
and beguiling him frsm the history OF the as
pirlng poet, TO the high and solemn thoughts 50
impsessively put forth by the blographer Not,
indeed, that there is any attempt 10 play the
esotist Carlyle certainly does not mean 10 put
himself forward at the expense OF his friend.
His love for him was too sincere for that With
his afiec,onsle devotion TO his memory. he is
even unconscious OF the distance between bis
own mind aud that 81 Sterling. But no reader
can fail to make the comparison, and form a true
estimate Of their respective positions.
Ii was natural that these two men should be
drawn closely together IN spite of the disparity
Of their endowments In many respects, Sterling
realized Carlyle's ideal. lie possessed those quail
itles, TO Il very considerable degree which are at
III. foundation Of the hero-worship OF the latter
He was rare instance OF genuine manhood, Of
an earnest, reflective temperament, gaining IN
common insight by noble freedom " thought
perfectly sincere with himself, intolersnt OF pre-
tense in others loving truth with an intensity
in proportion TO nus hatred OF shamS with
perennial fund of vivaclty poetlcsl nature
which never found Its tit expression, though 1t
gave the glow OF romance to his character and
. slfforgetting consistency of friendship, seldom
found among men such being, brought into
the same sphere with Carlyle, must have exert.
cd magnetic charm over that rugged heart,
which, IN its scom OF human falsehood, is slow
90 yield TO the attractions OF sympathy
l,k.. -.
will live longer by reason OF his connection with
Carlyle, than through any element OF immor,ali-
~ IN his own productions The memory OF him
was already growing dim, but It cannot now
quite fade, with this fresh wreath OF evergreen
around his toaih.
. The biography OF Sterling by Archdeaeon Hare,
though al appreciaaye and refined performance,
was too limited II lis scope to do iull justice TO
his character. |, dwell d, dlspropor,iena,e
length on his theological tendencies, which il is
well known Were not free from the charge of
hsresy, and failed TO bring on, his larger charac
teTistics as living, radiant. lsf,y minscd man.
Speaking in the person OF correspondent, who
Is evidently summoned Tor the nonce from seine
branch of the Teuielsdreck family, CARLYLE ex.
patiates with sorrowful bitterness on The defect,
OF his predecessor:
Tho SIN Of HareS Book IS easily defined, and
rot very condemnable but 1t is nevertheless ruaous
10 his task a. Biosrspher Ne takes I'D Sterling as
clergyman merely stesiing, l End. was q curate
or exactly eight months during hi Incnths and
70 more had he any special relation 10 the Church
But he Vas man, and had relation to the Uniyerse.
on eight and thirty years and Il is in his later
ASsctsy, TO which all the others We're but Il atures
pd Vsnstory hues, that We Wish to kacw him