Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-19
A Dinner Party of Ccln britIcs.

u.
made mp party to dinner, Of Charles Lamb, ,
Wordsworth, Keats, and Monkhousc lis
friend, and very pleasant party we had.
wrote to Lamb, and told him the address
% lisson Grove North, at Rossi's half way
up, right hand corner | received his char
actcristic reply. My dear IIaydon,--I will
come with pleasure to % Isson Grove North.
at Rossi's half way up, right hand side, if |
can find it. Yours, c. LAME
20 Russell Court,
Covcnt Garden East,
half way up, next corner
left hand side.
On December 2Sth, the immortal dinner
came off in my painting room, with .Jcrusa-
lem towering up as a background. Words
worth was in fine cue, and we had n glorious
set tom Homer, Shakespeare Milton. Nr-
gil. Lamb got exceeding merry, and OK
quistcly witty and his fun in the midst
of Wordsworths solemn intonations Of ora
tory was like the sarcasm and wit of the fool
in the intervals of Lcar's passion. Lamb
soon got delightfully."- merry. He made II
speech and voted me absent. and made them
drink my health. Now said Lamb. YOU
old lake poet, you rascally poet, why do vou
call Noltairc dullP We all defended Words
worth, and affirmed there was state Of mind
when Noltairc would he dull. 'Wcll.' said
French nation, and very proper one. too.
lie then, in a strain of hum0r beyond drscrip-
tion, abused Inc for putting Newton's head
in my picture, "a fellow said he. 'who be-
licvcd nothing unless it was as clean as the
three sides of Il triangle
And then he and Keats agreed he had do
stroycd all the poetry of the rainbow. by re-
ducing it to the prismatic colors. 1t was
impossible to resist him, and we all drank
Ncwton's health, and confusion to mathc-
matics.' 1t was delightful to see the good
humor of Wordsworth in giving in to all our
irolicS without affcctation. and laughing as
heartily as the best of us. BY this time other
friends joined, among them poor Ritchir who
was to penetrate by Fezzan to Timbuctoo.
! introduced him to all as Il gentleman 90
ing to Africa Lamb seemed to take no
notice. but all Of a sudden he roarcd out
W hich Is the gentleman we are going to
lose We then drank the victims health
in which Ritchic joined.
In tie morning of this delightful dav. a
gentleman, perfect stranger. had called on
me. lie said he knew my friend. had an
enthusiasm for Wordsworth. and bcrgcd |
would procure him the happiness of an intro
duction. He told me he was Il comptroller OF
stamps. and often had correspondence with
the poet. thought it liberty: but still
rs he seemed Il gentleman. | told him he
might come. When we retired to tea we
found the comptroller. In introducing him
to Wordsworth forgot to say who he was
After a little time, the comptrolor looked
down, looked up, and said to Wordsworth,
Don't You think. sir, Milton was great
gcniusF Keats looked at me, Wordsworth
looked at the comptroller.
Lamb, who was doing by the fire, turned
and said, Pray. sir. did you say Milton was
"A great gcnius!' No, sir, | asked Mr.
Wordsworth if he were not 'Oh,' said
Lamb, then you are Il silly fellow Charles,
my dear Charcs.' said Wordsworth but
Lamb, perfectly innocent of the confusion he
had created, was off again by the fire After
an awful pause. the comptroller said, Don t
You think Newton great genius = could
not stand it any longer. Keats put his head
into my books. Ritchic squeezed in laugh.
Wordsworth seemed asking himself, who is
this Lamb got up, and taking a candle.
said. Sir, will You allow me to look at your
chronological dcvclopmcnt' lie then turn
ed his back upon the poor man. and at every
question of the comptroller he chauntcd,
Diiilc diddc dumping. my son John
Went to bed with his brccchcs on.
The man in Office, finding Wordsworth did
not know who he was, srid, in a spaSmodic
and half chuckling anticipation of assured
victory. Il have had the honor of some cor
rcspondcnco with You, Mr.. Wordsworth.
With me. sir = said Wordsworth mot
that remember Don't YOU. sir | am
a comptroller of stamps There was dead
silence: the comptroller evidently thinking
that was enough. While we were waiting
for Wordsworth reply. Lamb sung out
Hey dilllc didlc.
The cat and the fiddle.
My dear Charles, said Wordsworth.
Dildlc dildlc dumping, my son John,
chauntcd Lamb; and then rising. exclaimed.
Do let me have another look at that gentle
mans organs Keats and hurried Lamb
into the painting room, SHUT the door and
gave way to uncXtinguiShahlc laughter
MonkhouSc followed and tried to get Lamb
away. We went back. but the comptroller
was irrcconclcablc. We Soothed and smiled,
and asked him to supper. lie stayed, though
his dignity was sorely affected. However.
being good-naturcd man, we parted all in
good humor, and no i'll effect followed. All
the while. until Monkhousa succeeded. we
could hear Lamb struggling in the painting
room, and callinga intervals, Who is that
fellow Allow me to see his organs once
more. life Of Haydon the Paiatr.
Governor Morris in his will, made short
time before his death, after settling upon
his wife a liberal allowance, says -
"And in case my wife should marry, glyo
her six hundred dollars more to dctray the in
creased expenditures which may attend the /
connection"
Now had that been my husband won d not
have married again if 1t had most killed me to
live single Dear generous old soul Pro /
vdng for all his wife'S little wants that way,
after he was gone 1t makes my eyes as red .
as a rabbits to think oflt.
No. I'd have worn black to the tip of my
nose, and kept guard over his dear ashes the .
rest of my mortal pilgrimage. He should hive .
had fancy tombstone all carved over with
chcrubim and scraphim. I'd have tied piece
of black Grape on The pump handle, and
But six hundred dollars and new husband y .
An awful temptation toa lone fcmrc; hut
then the dear deceased old Governor Oh,
| wouldn't have done it at least don't think .
| would. (Ilope no one would ask me at any
rate.
" hat do you suppose possessed tho old gen
tcman to be 50 uncommonly dlsintcrcsted 1t