Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-12-15
Extract from Thackeray's Lectures -sterne
and Coldsmith. trr

Mr.. Thackeray delivered his concluding lec-
ture on Friday night to an audience larger than
On any previous evening. He discoursed on
Lawrence Sterne and Oliver Goldsmith. In ira
cling the early life of Sternes parentshe attribu-
ted the interest which attached to most of his
descriptions in the wandering military life he
led with his father,who was soldier, and fought
in Queen Anne's wars His estimate of Sterne
as man was exceedingly low, and he dwelt
most roughly with him, from the picture he had
left us of himself in his letters to Eliza, and the
manner in which he treated his wife He died
at last wretched, worn-out old scamp; and
this bale of cadayerous goods, to use his own
expression descended to Pluto OF his works,
also, Mr. Thackeray entertained poor opinion.
He had power of weeping on any and every
occasion-he blubbered in his study; and as he
found that it brought him popularity, he put it
into action whenever an opportunity presented
ITSELF and the reader always felt that it was so
that he was always experimenting upon the
depth of his sentimentalty, uncertain whether
he was regarded as an mpostor or not.
The humor of Swift and Rabelais, whom he
pretended to succeed, poured heartily from them
and they lost no dignity by it; but Sterne, while
he moved to laughter or to tears-for he could
do both--never let his readers alone; and when
they were quiet, he thought it necessary to turn
head over heels. He was great Jester and
mountebank, as well as wit, and he went to
work to produce his effects with the utmost
GOODNESS. His sentimental journey was delib-
crate attempt, as a whole, to make points and
seek applause. Having treated of the Lyons
donkey from Tristram Shandy, and his fellow
animal in the Sentimental Journey, in some
what contemptuous style, Mr.. Thackeray con-
cluded his notice of" the Rev" Lawrence Sterne
by expressing his thankfulness that instead of
his pages, not one Of which but had something
in that would be better out, sort Of latent pru-
rience, his children had the sweet unsuled pa
ges which the author of David Copperfed had
given them In Oliver Goldsmith Mr.. Thacke-
ray found more congenial spirit; and as he
traced his chequered life, he excused his faults
and dwelt upon his virtue. If in early life he
was reckless and wayward, he was full Of affec-
ton, and he quilted the village in which his
youth had been spent with keenest regrets,
which his verses had made every one feel. If
he was prodigal in his expenditure, he was kind
in his actions; and when he died, upon the steps
of that staircase in the Temple which led to his
chambers, sat the widows weeping whose neces-
sites he had relieved. A kindlier heart never
beat than that within the breast of Oliver Gold
smith.
Mr.. Thackeray dwelt long and lovingly upon
the productions in prose and poetry of "poor
Noll," and described in feeling terms the Difficult
ties TO which he was exposed for years through
his habits of dissipation and love of fine clothing
habits which clung to him through life with
such tenacty, that though he lived in compara-
lively good means for some time before his death
he left behind him debts to the amount of
$4,000. Mr. Thackeray concluded by depreca-
ting the tone of complaint assumed by some
authors that the world did not reward the liter
ary profession. Not one of those whose names
he had mentioned but had received his due and
proper share of reward and as it had been, so
it would be now-all would receive what was
their due.