Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-30
From the New York Herald, %.
The BourciCauit Lectures.

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From the New York Herald, 49,
The Bourcicauit Lectures.
Last night NJ. Bourcicault held the last but
one of his "Winter Evenings at the Hope
Chapel. The subject of the lecture was his
own literary career, which comprised so long
string of anecdotes about literary and artistic
celebrities in London that it would be almost
impossible to report the matter without printing
this most interesting lecture at full length
Commencing with the literary club, convened
at Eastcheap, where Shakespeare presided, he
showed that the stamp of clubism of cup con-
VITALITY, was the characteristic of one part of
literary society; while the other part he de-
duced from the house-poet, who attached him
self to q lordly patron and pulled his praises to
earn his bread After the first literary club
organized in the back parlor in Eastcheap, the
troubles of the commonwealth scattered the
social elements Of literature. This was natu-
raj consequence; for, said the lecturer Gin /
troublus times mems thoughts are in their
deeds. War is the welfare Of kings, and the
history of monarchy is written in blood; but
ink is the blood Of peace. 1t is shed only in
the struggle Of monarch minds for the empire
Of the common veal" In passing over the
phases of literary society to the reign ofQueen
Anne, he remarked that the court Of Charles
had brought wit with them as fashion from
France Wit became cant; and everybody
coaxed his brains for clever thing. Taverns
we're built to talk wit in. "Here," observed the
lecturer, "you observe again the ruling passion
strong in drink Simultaneously a picture Of
French literary society was drawn and com
pared with the vagabond character of the same
society in England.
In France literature was organized; an in
cfifution no Had HTba Ao,dan,, ,y,, yranora1
to receive it; it was corporation, an object in
the eye Of the nation and the government.
There is no such organization in England cx
cept the Times newspaper, which is a power
exerted by literary men, but not for their own
advantage or that Of their class. 1t never
served those who served it so well its selfish
principle is in every sense of the term Times
serving. After a powerful philippe upon the
subserviency and mean social position oflitera-
ture in England, NJ. Bourcicault observed:
:" 1t may appear that speak bitterly OH this
subject; do so without prejudice. i could
seek no social preferment in the literary world.
| descended into il, having Inherited name
that was noble and honored in the history of
France long before the Bastard of Normandy
freighted his adventure in England with the
lakeland crew, who founded English aristocra-
cy- IT my language, therefore, has an edge
upon it, it is only by such means that ] can
obtain sharp impression in your minds; hav-
ing drawn my picture there, it is only by acid
that | can bite it in After describing the
advent of the penny literature and the extraor-
binary effects it produced, the new authors
that appeared at the call of the new race of
readers, he arrived ut the period Of his own
appearance above the literary horizon. The
anecdotes and illustrations with which the lee
turer nterspersed the first portion of the lee
ture and which made it appear more like the
of brilliant comedy than a
lecture, now gave way to thread of interest.
In connection with his literary career, he in
troduced all the great celebrities at Gore House,
describing the brilliant soirees of Lady Bles-
sington, the receptions at Holland House, and
drawing portraits of many men and women Of
fashion; from this glittering scene he plunged
into descriptions of the misery of q literary ex-
istence, which is unattended with popularity.
The next anecdote was the connection of
Punch, how it was founded, by whom, and the
adventures that journal has
passed through M. Bourcicault apologized
Tor touching lightly on his own life, adding that
he did not desire to impress his subject with
IN egotsticaf character, but preferred to give
MS experience; what he had seen and not what
ne had done. He described his first interview
with London manager, aud the difficulties he
ldu tO CONTEND WILL. Ills pOTuhltS OIL TWO
ording critics were irresistible. Amongst the
peculiar phases of London life he explained
strange organization which existed there, called
he I" Camaradere." 1t was mutual pulling
for the maintenance of doubtful
celebrity. 1t was composed of physicians, a
awycr, an actor, o painter, o novelist, q news.
PAPER critic, and dramatist. Each was bound
o praise up tho merits Of the others in society,
ind swear by his abilities The organization
vas perfect, and it succeeded. While M.
3ourccault thus drew brilliant picture of a
uccessful literary mans career, he accom-
,aned the relation with the life of schoofe
ow of his own, who had become literary
nan, and lived with him for many years. The
,cture Of this young man was exceedingly
powerfully drawn; it exhibited depth of feel
ng which touched the audience, and the final
of the authors death produced one
( the most powerful effects that we have ever
ritnessed. The lecture extended to an hour
nd a half 1t was decidedly the most bril-,
ant Of the course.
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