The southern press., 1851-08-09

York Evening Post has letter from cores
pondent in which the writer gives an account of
some things he saw and heard on a recent
sojourn in London. Among other things, he
says:
81 heard the fouth of Thackeray's course of
lectures on the Wits of Queen Anne's time.
These lectures, are given at Willis'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 by what the
Morning Post would call a abrlliant audience"
II was distingue even in appearance-and the list
of literati and grandees who were present, as
given in the papers, was pretty positive proof
that Thackeray is one Of fortune fasesites Just
now. There were HaIlam, and Macauly, and
CARLYLE, and number of lesser literary
Ights-there was the beautiful Duchess Of
Southerland and her more beautiful daughter,
looking as unassumingly amable as they are
handsome-and there were Dukes and Lords
and Countessess in shoals. Literature is looking
up. Think Of a critical lecture on Prior and
Pope, at mid -day-at the very shrine Of fashion,
before the very patFnnesses Of Amacks, with
any quantity of yellow plusbes and crimson
Pushes, TO line the stair case, and the street
blocked up with coronetted carriages in waiting
for the coronetted patrons" Of the famous Mr..
Michael Angelo Titmarsh The best Of II is
too that the great Angelo carries II off with
such an air, as says in the plainest and most
manly way,--consider yourselves fortunate, o
ye Countesses and you my Lord Dukes, that .
uiau of sense and genius condescends 10 en-
tighten you with these explanatory observations,
and furnish you so graciously with n stock Of
pthy sayings and after dinner quotations
How dashngly does Titmarsh assume his po
sition Of dignity as literary man, and how
pithily he takes Pope TO task for his sins
against tho profession, in assocatng Grub
street, .seedy gramsnts and starvation with the
vary name Of literature. II was altogether rich
and piquant Thackerays manner Is admira-
BILE, manly and dignifed without ostentation,
and not a particle of obsequiousness or grimace
lie seems perfectly at home and at ease with
his fashionable and titled audience, and evidently
confers favor on any rank by bis acquaint-
ance; at least, he does not admit that the honor
is on bis side.
After the lecture, Mr.. Thackeray assured me,
with comic gravity, that the report that Barnum
had engaged him was erroneous; but still he
intimated that he is really coming 10 the
United States in August, and that he shall re.
peat this course OF lectures there. Probably
the interest in Thackeray's works will be suf-
icient TO procure him good audience with ne !;
albeit opinions differ so widely as TO bis merits
and the antihunanizing tendency Of his
writings but should doubt whether the intrin-
sic interest in this course Of lectures would
create any great furor. The one heard (on
Prior, Gray and Pope.) was an analysis Of their
personal character, and glance at their times
and contemporaries, rather than criticism on
their works. But both the matter and the
manner was piquant and pithy, and such as
would satisfy an appreciative and cultivated
audience"