The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-07-30
MR.. rHAcKERAY HIMSELF.

MR.. THACKERAY HIMSELF.
Thackeray in the rostrum is not different
from Thackeray anywhere else a thought
graver, perchance, because he is reading, or
is nervous at the idea Of sustaining, himself
alone, colloquy with that distinguished as.
semblage. But the form which rises before
you in that crimson desk is unaltered it is
the same strange, anomalous, striking asrect;
the face and contour Of a child-oi the
round checked, humorous boy, who presumes
so saucily on being liked, and liked for his
very impudence-grown large without losing
its inian,le roundness or simplicity; the sad,
grave eyes looking forlh-through the spec
tacles that help them, but battle you with
their blank dazzle from the deepest vaults
of that vast skull, over that gay, enjoying
smle the curly hair Of youth, but gray with
years. brought before their time by trouble
and thought.-Spectdior, May "a.
SWIFT.
Mr.. Thackeray began by saying that lie
must not not be expected in treating of these
humorisis, to utter only series of lively and
facetious observations. Harlequin without
bis mask was known 10 be as grave man
as his neighbors. 1t was 10 their lives more
than to their books that he proposed to direct
his attention, and they now suggested rchcc-
their object had been to comment on others,
they now became the subjects Of observation
themselves the preachers of yesterday be-
came the text Of to days sermon. He then
recapituate1 the leading facts of Swifis
life, his birth at Dublin, his service in Sir
William Temples, his political career, Al
luding to his biograpbers, he happily charac-
tcrizcd johnson as having given him a surly
recognition, and passed in. After all, the
best test was to say of any such man, "IIow
would you have liked to have been his
friend z" lie should have liked to have been
Shakspcare's cal-boy; he should have liked
to live in Harry Feldings starcaso-to have
opened his door for him with his latch h.key,
and shaken hands with him in the morning,
and listened TO his talk over his jug OF small
bcor; he should have enjoyed the charm of
Addison's conversation. Now, as 10 Swift,
if you had been his inferior, he would have
treated you kindly if you had met him as a
man and his equal, he would have assailed
you if you had been noblcman he would
have been the most delightful companion
in the worl1. His servilty staggered So
that it looked like independence. lie took the
road like Macheath, stopping all the car
rages that came in his way TO get what he
could from them but there was one carriage
with mitre on il which he looked for very
anxously. 1t never came, however; so, said
Mr.. Thackoray, he fred bis pistol in the
air with curse, and retired TO his own coun-
try" After some observations on the disor-
dors Of that age, he said that Swift could not
properly be called an Irishman. Steele and
Goldsmith were Irishmen, and 10 the last.
But Swift was not an Irishman because he
was born in Dublin, any more than an Eng
uses his words thrfiiy, as he did his fortune
| lie has no redundancy of illustration. Oh
ten he seems afraid Of being eloquent. Mex
he gave picture Of Temples household
and Swift's position there, which was one Of
the most characteristic parts Of the lecture.
There this young obscure genius met, as an
inferior, some Of Sir Williams important
friends. What dull pomposity he must have
listened tol What feeble jokes wonder
Continued Mr.. Thackcray) "if it eve,
struck Temple that this man was his mas,er!'
l Doubtless such notion never came inside
his ambrosial wig. What did the stewarC
and Sir Williams gentlemen think Of tha
Irish young gentleman ? Here also was in
troduced some most feliciious ridicule o
Temples quotations and pedantry. AnC
row came the first allusion-inlroduce will
consummate elcgance-to Swifl's love o
Stella. Swift's eyes, according TO Pope
were as azure as heaven, and there WAS on
person who was inclined 10 see heaven no
where else Contrasting Swift's humbl
position under Temple with his brilliant an,
important station during the Harley govern
ment, the lecturer came to the question G
Swift's religious sincerity. Some of his crit
les had turned it in his favor, that he per
formed his duties secretly in his house. Bu
surely there was no reason why there shoul
not have been an open assembly for such
purpose. One OF the most characterlsli
things was his advice to John Gay to tur
clergyman-John Gay, the widest Of tn
, London wits, tho author of the A." Beggar
} Operar lie considered Swift as havin
been skepiic, and having suffered dread
fully from his skepticism. Henry Fieldin
and Steele were lrue churchmen they be
labored freethinkers heartily; and each ws
ready, after he had stumbled, TO 20 on ii
knees and cry peccacil Swift wasa man {
; different powers and different mind. Bu
he was far too great to have any cant. a
far as the badness of his sermons goes, h
WAS perfectly honest. They were polite;
pamphlets. Swift was sIraneled in his ban,
lie seemed to have been haunted All his lii
by fury. His sullcrings were awful. IL
was lonely. The great generally are. Th
giants must be alone. Here he quoted th
} anecdote of Archbishop King, and Swift
declaring himself 10 him the most miserabl
of men and, approaching directly the sui
ect of SwiG's attachments. apostrophizc