Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
Charles Lamb;

ShhbtCc AsAsAaSs
HIS Eccentyiei ics Herossfa ReligiouS Disposition.
BYI CLEMENT.
A common, though not universal,
characteristic of genius, is cccentricity-
So common it is, that persons of small
brain and large desire for distinction
sometimes feign this trait, in order to pass
for the genuine gold. But the bogus gc-
MUS is as easily detected, as the bogus
coiD neither of the two has the clear, sharp
ring of the true currency. While men of
genius then may be eccentric, all eccentric
men are not geniuses.
Charles Lamb was eccentric. Few
men Of genius have been more $. Young
in heart to the close of life, hoyishness
sat upon him all his days, making many
of his actions appear as odd and as unified
for the man. as child's dress on lad of
sixteen. He herded always, while it was
possible. with people younger than him
self He did not CONFORM to the march of
time, but was dragged along with it.
The impression Of infancy had
burnt Into him, and he resisted the inper-
tirencc of manhood"
With the iuvenity and heedlessncss of
boyhood dangling about his manners like a
shabby garment, lie often entered the draw
ing-room like cur fresh from the bath, to
shake himself of his odd and muddy hui
mors at the expense OF stiff manners and
the starched feelings ofproprlety. Care
less in speech, he was apt even IN the best
and most valued society to let of blunder-
busss expressions, that would frighten the
company half out oftheir senses, and Who'll
" out of tie room. On more than one oc-
casion he converted a coteric of ladies and
gentlemen into little battalion Of tempo
rary enemies, by the discharge of single
volIcy of random words. In short, as
conversation joker, he was barbarous; and
would sacrifice an amiabe and true friend
for the momentary qualification Of his pun
ning propensity.
But his eccentlictics did not divest him
of nobility of nature. The sweetness and
geAialty that run through many Of his Es-
says, was the natural outgushng of his
heart in retirement. The clownishness of
his mannersin society, was more than coun-
terbalanced by the dignity of his soul in
secluson; and the heroism of his life over
shadowed and almost hid its faults. The
self devotion made for the benefit of his
mad and matriciJal sister, his giving up.
''for her sake, all meaner and more selfish
love, and all the hopes which youth blends
with the passion which disturbs and en-
mobiles it,'* partakes largely of the moral
ly sublime. and separately considered, en-
dows him with a hcroism rarely matched
in the calendar of sell-sacrifice.
"Was this man, SO memorably good by
lifelong sacraice of himself, in any pro
found sense a Christian!" Thomas de
Quincy, who asks this question, thinks,
from private communications which he had
with Lamb, that he 'oas; and if we impair
TALLY Judge him by his later opinions rath-
er than by his earlier, if we carefully read
his correspondence with Coleridge after
they had both become Trnitarians, we
shall most probably come to the same con
clusion De Quincy. in his charming Es
letters addressed TO Coleridge, in 1897, the
year after Lamb lost his mother by the
hands of his sister, which extracts indicate
that he was rcligiously disposed, and high
" so. "Coleridge," he writes. Il have
not one truly elevated character among my
acquaintances; not one Christian; no one
but undervalues Christianity. Singly, what
am l to dol Wesley-(havc you read his
life! was he not an elevated characterl
Wesley has said religion was not solitary
thing. Alas! it is necessarily SO with me,
or next to solitary. IT'S true you write to
me but correspondence by letter, and per-
sonal intimacy, are widely different. Do,
do write to me, and do some good to my
mind-alrcady now much warped and re-
laxed by the world!'
In another communication he pleads for
more letters. and says that those received
gave himself and sister an abundance of
delight especially when written 'in a re-
ligious strain" He then rebukes Coleridge
for his occasional freedom of expression.
certain air of mysticism, more consonant
with the conceits ofpagan philosophy than
Consistent with the humility Of piety;" and
adds: BE not angry with me, Coeridge.
| only wish to remind you of that humili-
| ty which best becometh the Christian char
acter God, in the New Testament, our
best guide, is represented to us in the kind.
condescending, amiable, familiar light of a
parent, and, in my poor mind. It's best for
us to consider him as our Heavenly Faith
er and our best Friend. without indulging
too bold conceptions Of his character"
A few weeks after the above was writ
iru, ne says: "Few but laugh at me for
reading my Testament. They talk Ian
guage | understand not" We here see
the source whence Lamb derived conso-
laiion; and it is gratifying TO see the man Of
genius bending over the pages OF inspira-
ton in search of light. when the windows
of his soul are darkened; in search of food
FOR his spirit, when the fruits of brother
minds. OF kindred genius sainspired. can
not satisfy its cravings. This is a great
charm Of great mans life The hnmili-
Sergeant Talford.
rs.