The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-01
MIR. Thackeray's Lectures.

As Thackeray, the English author, proposes to
deliver a of lectures shory in this country,
the following notice of of his lectures from the
Liverpool Mercury of the 9th ultimo may not prove
uninteresting
"The third of the course was delivered on We'd
nesday evening, the subject Sir Richard Steele
and the Society OF Queen Anne's time, and distin
guished by the same mastery style and caustic
humor that characterized the preceding ones, but
with the advantage Of greater scope for dissertation
in the subject. After a graceful introduction to
show that in the lighter works of fiction there was
ton of an opinion as to the manners and customs
Of by gone age than could be extracted from the
more pretentious and heavier works called histo-
ries, the lecturer proceeded to give graphic
sketch of society in the time of Queen Anne, his
estimate of the social condition of which may
be gathered from his declaration of belief that a
refined person of the present day could no more
receive into his drawing room fine lady Of the
time of Queen Anne, hear what he said, and
what she did, than he could 30 receive an
ancient Briton. The lecturer then gave some
humorous extracts from the periodical literature
Of the time prior to the publication OF the Taller
and Spectator. The state of society, of it's mo-
rails and manners, was graphically reviewed and
illustrated by anecdotes of some of the EAST men
of that day, including the notorious Lord Mohan;
also, humorous description Of fashionable din
ner party. The introduction to the life of Dick
Steele was in the lecturers most happy manner;
then followed his career-his foles, failiugs, and
msfortunes; together with his redeeming quail
ties-his kind Eeart, amiable dsp Jsition, and de-
votion to the fair sex All women, said the lee
turer, bound to be grateful to him, for he
the first OF our writers who seemed to admire and
respect them; he paid manly homage to their
goodness and understanding as well as TO their
wit and beauty. He admired their wit, acknow-
lodged their sense, and adored their virtue and
beauty, with strength which should win the
good will of the sex. IL was this feeling which
made his comedies pleasant, and their heroes
such fine gentlemen He paid to Lady Elizabeth
Hastings the finest compliment ever offered to a
woman; for he said, 'sthat to have loved her was
liberal education" He saluted good and beau
tful woman with his heart we'll his hat
About children, and all that related to home, he
was not less tender; and he spoke in terms of
apology for his 'soitness," as he called it. His
works were like his life, full Of faults and blum
ders; but both were redeemed by his kind and
compassionate nature. His letters to his wife
bore all the marks of the genuin eness Of a
conversation; they were as artlcss as child's
prattle, and confidential a curtain lecture.
After beautiful quotation from the respective
writings Of Swift, Addison, and Steele, on the cub
ject of death and eternity, and which was singu-
lary characteristic Of their several dispositions,
the lecturer owned to liking Dick Steele the man
and Dick Steele the author, much better than
much better men and much better authors; the
misfortune was that great portion OF the audi
must take his sm!ability upon hearsay, be-
cause they could not make his acquaintance. Not
that Steele than his time; on the con-
trary, he far better, ruer, and higher hearted
man than most who lived in it; but things were
done, and names named, in company which Steele
kept which would make most people shuddcr now.
Let us think gently Of one who was go gentle, and
speak kindly OF one whose breast exuberated in
human kindness. The attendance evinccd a mark
ed improvement on the former occasions, and the
lecturer was continually greeted by the laughter
and applause Of the audience. Mr. Thackeray,
however, pays so little attention TO the ordinary
stage tricks of the craft, that little opportunity
presents itself for manifestng applause, except at
the expense of interrupting the subject every word
of which has its value and its meaning. a..
ssMr. Thackeray delivered his fourth lecture last
evening. The subjects we're Prior, Cay and Pope.
The lecturer in treating of these wits. whose
are familiar to our ears as household words, die
played the same mixture Of hunor, satire, and pa
ihos which characterized his preceding lectures,
and which pervade, indeed, all that he has written
Prior and Gay as lesser stars in the GALAXY of the
last century, were dismissed with comparative
brevity; but the dissertation on Pope elabo-
rate and eloquent piece of criticism, which lis
tened to throughout with breathless attention by
an intelligent and enchanted auditory. We cam
not attempt to give analysis Of the lecture
nor would we, perhaps, if we could. MIR. Thackc-
ray is of the most accomplished writers of the
present day-equal not superior, to most Of those
whose literary "reminiscences he wildly depicts
and we would recommend our readers, instead of
looking to the newspapers for imperfect abstract
OF his eloquent discoursings, to go and and lis
ten for themselves. If they possess any npprccia.
ton OF refined literary taste OF judcious criticism,
pleasant sarcasm, or quiet GENIAL humor, we pro
mise them that they could not spend a more de-
ghtfu hour than at the footstool of the author Of
Vanity Fair" .......- .e.a..