The southern press., 1851-08-07

IHACKEkAY AND HIS LECTURES.-lhe New
York Evening Post has letter from CORES.
pondent in which the writer gives an account OF
some things be saw and heard on recen,
sojourn in London. Among other things, he
says,
6 heard the fouth of Tbackerays course OF
lectures on the Wits of Queen Annes time
These lectures, are given at WiIlis's Rooms,
(Almacks) on Thursday at 2 P. M--and are re-
markable successful-if one can Judge from this
specimen. The hall was filled and bv what the
Morning Post would call brilliant audience y
Il was disfingu> even in appearance-and the list
Of literati and grandees who were present, ms
given in the papers, was pretty positive proof
that Thackeray is one of fortunes favorites Just
now. There were Hallam, and Macauly, and
Carlyle, and number of lesser literary
lighss--there was the beautiful Duchess of
Southesland and her more beautiful daughter,
looking - unassumingly amiable as they are
handsome-and there ~ere Dukes and Lords
and Cosntsssess in shoals. Literature is looking
gpl Think Of = critical lecture on Prior and
Pope, 1t mid dsy--at the very shrine of fashion,
before the very patronesses of Almacks, with
any quantity of yellow plusI,es and crimson
rlashea, 70 line the stair case, and the street
blocked mp with coronetted carriages in waiting
for the coronetted "patrons" of the famous Mr..
Michael Angelo Titmarsh! The best Of il is
TOO that the great Angelo carries II off with
zach an cir, a. says in the. .plninest and most
manly way,--consider yourselves fortunate, O
We Countesses and you my Lord Dukes, that
man of sense and genius condescends TO en-.
kehtsm you with these explanatory observations
and furnish you 40 graciously with a stock of
pithy sayings and after dinner quotations
Hew dAshingIy does Titmarsh assume his po
sl>iou Of dignity as literary man, and how
pitAAy he takes Pope to task for his sins
xR1inat the profession, in associa'ing Grub
s{ree4 aeedy Rraments and starvation with the
vary name Of literature 1t was altogether rich
ap& Piquaak Thackeray's manner is udm;ra-
bas, manly and digni6ed without ostentation,
and not particle Of obsequousness or grimace.
He 4eems perfectly at home and at ease with
M fashionable and titled audience, and evidently
cotssts . favor on any rank by his acquaini-
ancs; At least, he does not admit that the honor
ID on his side.
Aftsr the lecture, Mr.. Thack,rny assured me,
with comic gravity, that the report that Barnum
had sngaged him was erroneous; but still he
ia6mAted that he is really coming to the
United States in Augnst, and that he shall re-
psat this course Of lectures there. Probably
the interest in Thnckeray's works will be suf
6cient to procure him good audience with us
albeit opinions differ 40 widely as to his merits
aul he anti-huE anizing tendency of his
writings but should doubt whether the intrn,
sin ipterest in this course of lectures would
ussls my great furor. The one heard ION
Pytsa Gray and Pope) was mn analysis Of their
p6e6p6i character, and glance at their times
~ pfi41toraries, rather than criticism on
t&03f w4fkA But both the matter and the
s.aAne kas piquant and pithy, and such as
wssn ssttsfy m apprscisti~e and cultivated
audience"