The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-04
Thsckersy's Lecture.

Mr. Thackcrsy gave hi. hfth lecture last evening TO
very and fashionable sufencs In the church
of the Unity, Brosdway His subject was Hosarth,
Fielding and smolett Ucgarth achieved his vast popu.
lsrty and acquired his reputation es-iiy; hi, art was
quite simple he tpeshs popular psrsbe, and interests
simple hearts and inspires them with pcty joy warning
snd terror. The morality Of all his pictures was Tom
my was . naughty boy and hi- master aogged hiu;
Jscky was . good boy and rewarded with plum
cake The lecturer desesnted witty on tbs principal
features In Hogarths celebrated serial pictures of rhe
Rake's Progress Marriage Ia node aud The Lon.
don Apprentices, or Indmtry snd Idlensss.m IT, the
student Of history he said these admirable works must
be invaluable they sve the most complete truth
full picture Of the and OF the past ceetury
We look at them and pass before the ENGLAND
OF hundred years ago and OF the truth OF
the portrait What manner OF mau he who executed
these portraits varied faithful sdmrabsi In
the London National Gallery, souie OF us no doubt
have the best and most carefully fnish
ed series Of his comic paintings, and the por
trait OF his honest face, from which the
bright blue eyes shine out give us m idea Of tha
Keen and brave look with which VIM foxarth regarded
the world No man was ever less OF hero You him
before you, and fancy hat he iovial hones
London citizen stout and sterling loving his laugh
hiends, his glass his roast beef OF Old England and
having . base scern of French Monsieugs and frogs
foreign musc foreign singing and above all OF foreign
painters whom he held in most amusing contempt.
however. quite confirmed
opinion abe his the sublme and though
Swift could not the difference 'twxt tweededum
and tweedt dee, the world discovered differ
ence, ana gave hearty applause and admiration TO
Hogarth too, but net exactly as painter OF scrip.
tural subjects or as the rival Of Corrsgo. have
doubt thAs SmOlstts pictures pretty much AZ
faithful as any from the pencil of that other hu
moIist, Hogarth. lie was like of those scotch
cadets, whom, with such natural fidelity, the great
Scotch novelist painted charmiugiy OF gentle birth
and narrow going out from his northern home
fight his wsy through the world armed With his courage
ara In nanf
bis adventures his characters drawn from per-
with when he acquainted in his OF life
Strange companions be must have had queer acquaint
he must have made in the Glasgow college ia the
country apothecary shop in the gun Of the
Of war, ana in the hard life shore. Smoiett did not
invent but he had the keeuest percepye ia ulty
and described what he with wonderful relish aud
delightful broad humor The novel Of Humphrey Clnker
Is the most aughable story written since the Of
novel writing began Fielding too has described the cha
racters and scenes which he knew aud saw. lie had
more than ordinary opportunities for being acquainted
with e his family and education first his fortunes and
nortuDes afterwards brought him into the society of
every rank and condition of He is himself the hero
Of his works he is the wild Tom Jones and he il the
wild Captain Booth When Fielding first csme upon
town in 1727 the recolecons of the great wits still
esb in the memories of the frequenters
coffee houses and yet the judges declared that young
Harry Fielding had more spirit and wit than Con
9reve or any of his SUCCESSORS. His wit and manners
made him friends every where he courted by peers
and of wealth and fashion, he liked good wine,
go.d clothes and good comforting and ne began to run
he was in way particular in accepting few pieces
from the purses Of his rich friends and bore down upon
them for guinea a dinner To gain the latter, he
began to write theatrical pieces but he bestowed
those than his novels, whish building remains
strong and lofty, with admirable proportions MASTER
pieces of genius and monuments Of workmanlke skill I
cannot offer hope to make hero of Harry Fielding
Why hide his faults why conceal his weakness in clio I'D
Of perphIaes? why not show him he is? With caret
stains upon his laced coat and upon his the
Of good fellowship, Of ness, Of kindness Of he
stsndr Us you zee careworn man but he still retains
rome Of the most splendid human qualities He has
admirable love Of truth, the btterest antipathy
to hypocrisy. and the keenest wit in laughing it
to scorn; his WIT flashes upon the rogue, AMI
Lighters upon the cal like n poiiceman's lantern.
In the midst of Gl his imperfections, he respects
female innocence and dnfsntine tenderness; he
could not be 20 brave, SO generous truth telling
ne vas and net be infinitely meroful, pi.iful and
tender. H. would gys any ma bis purse AID could
not help his kindness AMI profuson be mighI have low
tastes but Immoral mind; he sdaires with all his
heart virtuous man; he soops to natary; dis
dsips all doyal acts and does his pubc duty uprghly;
he ondly loved by his family and be dies ut hts work
Fielding With his noble fpiiit generosity
reminds Of those brave men OF who's reads in
stories Of EDgleb sbipwrecks and cater the officer
the African shore who, when disease has destroyed
his and he himself is attacked by fever yet tnrows
the lead takes the souEdDss caries the ship from the
river low coast and dies in the gallant ep.esvor
such brave and gentle heart such intrepid courage
spirit love to recognise in the manly the English
Harry Fielding.