The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-23

ucnon"cns, feuuction hn1 Tree trado w also ven-
ture the prediction, that paramount object Of Gen.
Pierce, in all the of his administration, in
all the means, and in all the men, he will provide,
or faithfully eudesvor to provide against Garhinism
or Gardinezism
The foreign policy Of the new administration
covers a broader, more complex and comprehensive
field OF inquiry, and is Of tho very highest mport
ance, in relation not onyto the progress and pros
rerity of our own country, bu. to the peace Of the
whole civilized world In this view on an early oc-
casion we shall take it up FOR brief but deliberate
examination.
MR. THAcKERAY AID DEAN SwIFr.-Mr Thack-
cray. of London Punch, and author Of "A Book
On Srobs," and some other works, in his first leo
ture in this country has proved himself as great
literary snob as any described 10 his book. This
writer has been vastly overrated on boh sides Of
the Atlantic. Here, since his advent, he has been
outrageously pulled by the press, and like Dickens
he will probably be courtei and favned upon By
all the snobs of every circle In return, when he
rives in his own country, he will, suppose the
author of American Notes. did before him, lam.
pooh the character and institutions of the norisan
people, who afforded him their hospitality. He is
now Ga chel amang them takin' notes, an faith
he'll prent EN-" That his descriptions of the
men and manners and politics of our country are
not likely to be Of friendly kindly nature, seems
evident enough from the fact of his viruent whole.
sale aeta ok the character Of the illusrious Dean
Swift, which reminds Of living donkey kicking
at lead lion, or q dwarf making an onslaught upon
sleeping giant.
We are not Of those who hold that the dead are
exempt from criticism. Swift himself r,pu dated
the Latin maxim de mortuis nil nisi bonum of
the dead let nothing be said but what is good
which the witty Dean rendered, "When scoundrels
die let all bemoan EN-" But we hold that the
departed spirits of the mighty dead" vino cannot
defend themselves, entitled to fair play if not
to the most charitable construction that can be put
upon their acts. If the dark side Of the picture is
presented the bright side ought also to be put for
ward as prominently. If ce0sure is dealt out with
an unsparing haad, credit ought to be given
for what is good, and noble, and brave Mr..
Thackeray seems to possess the faculty discovering
and exsggeraring faults and small vices only, and
to be blind to the great virtues Of humanity. In Dean
SWift's life and character he can discern nothing
good II this DO Enghth prejudice, because Dean
Swift born and educated in Ireland, and recon-
mended the Irish people to burn every thing that
came from England except the coal, it is unworthy
of the enlightened hberaity Of the present day, and
far from creditable in a man who comes forward to
administer instruction to the public in course of
lectures in this great and free country. He would
have acted wiser part if he had altered lecture
originally composed for English audiences. and
adapted it to the large and comprehensive spirit Of
the people of the United States, who entertain no
prejudice against man in consequence Of the place
of his birth, and who cherish friendly feeling
to the Irish than to any other people in the world
To guard against the imputation of national preju.
dice, Mr.. Thackeray pretends that Dean Swift was
not al Irishman, but an Epglshman all through
that his character was too bad for an Irishman The
inference involved in this bunder is certainly rot We
ry complimentary to Mr.. Thackeray's own country,
the argument being that Dean Swift was a great
seoundrel, and therefore could not be Celt, bat
must be Saxon. 1t is true that Dean Swift was
the son of English parents; but thsn he was born
and brought up in Ireland aud, like the Gezaldines
he became "more Irish than the Irish themselves"
As well might Mr. Thackeray say that Andrew
Jackson was not an American.
The lecturer has assailsd the public, private and
literary character of Swift, and he has taken all his
materials from the enemies of the Dean of St.
Patrick's whose overshadowing genius created envy
in contemporary writers, and whose singing satire
and fearless exposure of political corruption stirred
up sWaIms u uOiuets Oh every sue.
Mr. Thackeray has shown himself to be either ex-
ceedngly superficial very uncandid, in this lee.
ture. He describes outrageous acts Of Dean Swift,
but he forgets to tell the audience that they
are the result of insanity-the mighty intellect
of that master. spirit having given way in con.
sequence of the loss of his Stella. In relation to
swift's connection with that lady, Mr.. Thacksray
is equally at fault He says that the Dsan treated
haro Il Novn =
had been ever treated before. Either Mr Thacke-
ray did not take the necessary pains to inform HIM
self, or being informed he suppressed the fact that
Swift, after isprivae marriage with Stella, (Mss
Jobnson,) had discovered that she was his half sis
ter, both being the natural children of Sir William
Temple. He was careful that in all his inter-
views with Stella third party should be pre-
sent He was deeply devoted to her, but he
would not cohabit with her on account Of their con-
sapguinity, and the discovery Of this relationship
and her subsequent death drove him mad. As for
Vaneasa, (aiss Van Homrigb,) he never sustained
any other relation to her than that of q warm ard
attached friend, though she had cherished passion
of the strongest kind for him, which, because not
gratfei resulted in her prem allure DEATH which was
less his fault than his misfortune.
Mr.. Thackeray hardly comedies that Swift was q
wit or humorist at all. The reason probably is,
that the gentleman himself wants to build up his
own fame for wit upon the ruins Of the reputation of
the author Of the Drapers Letters. Blu. Swft's re-
nown viii endure, and his writings will be read,
both in Great Britain and in this country while such
ephemera writer's as this critic shall be consigned
to eternal oblivion 1t is rather too late 10 the day.
and especially for such a shallow Htcratenr as
Thackeray, to disturb the ashes Of Jonathan Swift,
or to throw filth upon the monument Of his fame.
Mr.. Thackeray will not admit that Swift was a
patriots and he the propositions in the Drapiers
Letters absurd Since the days Of Demosthenes,
never was any man 60 successful as political
writer, ard never did any political writings produce
such effects as his His "Conduct Of the Allies,n