The republic., 1851-07-09

CURRAN AND HIS CoNTEMPoRAREs-ByC Chas.
Phillips, A. b. Edinburgh.
What galaxy of wit and genius does the very
title of this book awaken to our recollection
'Curran and his Contemporaries!' noble pha-
anx, whose devoted patriotism and obdurate re-
sistance cogged the advance of tyranny and
struck terror into the oppressor's breast. Amid
this brilliant assemblage stands pre-eminent the
name Of Curran which beams forth
/ -"Velut inter ignes
Luna minores."
The history Of Curran's is highly interest
ing and deeply affecting, stamped il is with
those almost inseparable accidents of genius strug
Cling to emerge from the chrysalis OF obscurity-
grinding poverty and misfortune. Ii was to the
kind charities of an humble priest by the name of
Boyse, that the great orator owed his first precepts
in the rudiments of scholarship. This noble bene-
factor survived to see his charge exalted to the
zenith Of his lame-an ample requital for his abors
and an enviable consolation TO his latter days
May Ireland never permit the shades of obvicNto
envelope the of Boyse, who first nurtured in
to healthiu growth the budding germ of Curran's
genius.
In addition to his towering genius, Curran
man OF sterling worth. With heart of womanly
tenderness he allied the lions boldness. He was
the life of the festive board, and ct qatuor ces
were they who shared the luxury of his post -pran
dial wit:
'Curran, when reused, used to over with
Jokes of every kind-good, bad, and indifferent.
No epgram too delicate, mimicry too broad,
no pun too little, and metaphor too bold for
him. In fact he wanted TO be happy, and TO
make others so; and he ratified away not for a
Boswell TO note, but for mere enjoyment. These
aiter-dinner sittings were seldom prolonged very
late, but they made up in vehemence what they
wanted in duration. Curran played the violin
and violincello and when the fit took him, played
with great feeling and nature; but, if asked 10
show off, he was timid and stiff. ."-( From brief
memoir prehxed to his speeches, page $50
In attempting to discriminate amid the host of
his brilliant scintilations, we are led to exclam
with the poet
''Que quibus anteferemus?'
But Mr.. Phillips gives us one of Curran's plea
santries, perpetrated at noble lords expense.
which we cannot refrain from presenting. Lord
Avenmore had very annoying habit of taking up
first impression of cause, to which he usually
clung with obdurate tenacity, to the great annoy
ance, on one occasion, of the Irish Demosthenes,
who devised the following method to correct it:
"They were to dine together at the house of
common friend, and large party assembled,
many OF whom witnessed the occurrences of the
morning. Curran, contrary TO all his usual hab-
its, late for dinner, and at length arrived in
the most admirably affected agitation. why, Mr..
Curran, you have kept us full hour waiting dinner
for you, grumbled out Lord Avenmore. 'Oh, my
dear lord, regret it mnch; you must know il is not
my custom, but I've just been witness to a most
melancholy occurrence MY God you seem
Z terribly moved by it; take glass of wine. What
was it? What was it,? Il will tell you, my lord,
the moment can collect myself. had been de-
tained at court-in the Court of Chancery; your
lordship knows the chancellor sits late Il do,
do; but go on well, my lord, was hurry
ing here fast ever | could. | did not even
change my dress. hope shall be excused for
coming III my boots.' 'Poh, poh; never mind
your boots; the point-come at once to the point
of the story 'Oh will, my good lord, in q
moment. walked here; would not wait
to get the carriage ready; it would have taken
in the road by which had to pass-your worship
may, perhaps, recollect the market; do your
10 be sure do-go on. Curran, so on with the
story Il am very glad your worship remem
bers the market for / totally forgot the name Of
1.-THE name, the name What the devil sig
nifes the name it sir? il is the Castle MARKET
Castle market. Well was passing through
that very identical Castle market, when l OBJ
served a butcher preparing to kill calf. He had
a huge knife in his hand it sharp
razor; the calf standing behind him-he
drew the knife to plunge it into tho animal. just
as he was in the act of doing SO, little boy about
four years old-his only son-the loveliest little
baby ever saw-ran suddenly across his path and
he killed; Oh, my God! he killed The child!
the child! the child!' vociferated Lord Avenmore.
''No, my Lord, the caB,' continued Curran, very
coolly. Your lordshp is in the habit of antcipat
ing The universal laugh thus carried
against his lordship, and Curran declared that,
often afterwards, first impression was re-
moved more easily from the court of exchequer by
the recollection of the calf in Castle market than
by all the eloquencc OF the entire profession p
I PIP. TO- H.
We beg leave of our readers to direct their atten-
ton to an interesting incident in Sir Philip Fran
cs's life, which tends to substantiate the prevailing
opinion of his identity with Junius:
cit may not, perhaps, be out of place here to re-
late anecdote of this singular person, which
had from Mrs. Ridgway, the wife of the we'll
known and equally respected publisher in Picca-
dilly. Francis frequently visited the shop, where
the excellent proprietor permitted daily
blage of his old political friends Francis well
known to have been hasty, sensitive, and irritable
to excess. lie walked i'll one day very much ex-
cited, and addressed Mrs. Ridgway, who happened
to be alone-'Pray, madam, have you seen the
newspapers much of late? The wretches! but |
don't mind them, not the wretches! Now,
have not done single thing which they ascribe
| to me- All! but what would the wretches say if
they knew | wrote--the word was all but out.
Mrs. Ridgway ventured to add, 'Junius, Sir
Philip and he rushed, almost choked, into the
street This is remarkable occurrence, and there
| is no doubt of its authenticity"
Mr.. Phillips possesses one of the highest attri-
| butes of the biographer-a vigorous and epigram-
matte style. He has entered on his undertak-
| ing with prudent enthusiasm, and we are glad to
add has produced book which rebounds to his
| honor, and pays handsome tribute to the memory
| of departed worth. We think this volume worthy
of prominent position in every miscellaneous Ii
brary, and urgently recommend its perusal to the
| youthful portion of the community, Would that
our space sufficiently ample to enable US to
dilate at length upon each of the great contempo-
raries of Curran, but perchance our readers wish
otherwise, SO will not m
| "Surfeit with too much''
| w. A. M.
|
The FrLLIBusTERs.-The New Orleans True
| Delta says
| although the intended descent on the Island of
| Cuba was recently prevented by the watchfulness