The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-03-15
Correspondence cfhe Camden Journal.
CHARLESTON, MARCH, ii, lS5:

SHARLESTON, MARCH, IL, 1000.
Ihackcry, the English author, has this week
been delivering his thrice honored lectures on
the humorous writer's in the reign Of Queen
Ann. Apartfrora the prestige of Pendennis,
no one can help being highly amused, though
perl aps little instructed with the lecturers
sketches Of the "lterary swells," the vices and
the virtues, the toibles and habits, the amours,
dinners and morals of that age-that golden
age of full bottomed wigs and tie wigs, pow
der, lace, starch ruihts, black patches. elabor-
ate sn'lf box and dress sword-we h:ve all
been hob mob with Sir Roger De Co, ery, Mr..
Spectator and the loyal gentlemen Of the cer-
tury, who, after all, were so profoundly igno.
rant that their respective qualities and general
appearance would be critically discussed before
Presidents of Banks, Directors of Railroads,
factors, lawyers and Merchants, the Lords and
Commons Of So. Ca. in the 77th year Of the So
veriegnty and independence Of the U. S. of
America. In these lectures, as Mr.. Thackery
is pleased to call them, we look in vain for any
great ghtenmcIt-any subtle investigation
of characterize is pleasant and therefore,
popular, but far be it from US to arraign him
as learned; his efforts at facetia do not always
lSll Wllu jill llllCIlCdN duuIcuCe, MS dlluSlOIS
aud comparisons, excellent in their way, some-
times fall short of the mark. Once or twice
we fully expected Dean Swift to appear and
wiring Mr.. Thackeray's nose it was perfect
mystery to all the ladies how two pretty and
complishcd girls, Stella and Vanessa could have
been so desperately in love with such brute
ola dear" the delightful rascal, what good
for nothing lover was he, the writer of GULL
vcr's Travels and Tale of a Tub, with his friend.
ship, his paternal care, hts cold temper and
confined humour." Evidently neither were
Becky Sharps, or they would have known
great deal better than to become "the mere
saints of English story" Though many of US
have long ago read the works of these pioneers
of literature, it is a treat to hear their we'll
thumbcd compositions quoted in the right
place The gentle Addison is always favor
ite-did he not testify to the old proverb, IN
rinum ueritS? and he contrasts well with the
clustering Congreve, who, in spite OF his tlne
airs, bulicd himself into fame as at all events
the equal of Mr.. Shakespeare. And now for
the lecturer himself There he is, porty
gentleman in black, with spectacles "ithall,
aud gray hair and whiskers chatting away
without any pre- tension, in clear, round voice,
With his hands in his wastcoat pockets, as if
he. too, had mingled with the young dandies OF
the Queens Ann's time the evening before,
and was telling you of the adventure they had
achieved together-frst the tli'tations behind
huge fan, with a young lady in hoops or far
thimgalc-next the drinking bout and inevita:
blc maulmg of the watchmen, who really seem:
ed in those jolly days, to be placed in the streets
of London as objects for gentleman to prac'
tice his valor and on which to show his breed
ING and pluck
Like a loyal subject of the Queen
And the Queens loyal subject"
There he is, the great Hogarty diamond HIM
SELF the renowned chronicler of events in vanl-
ty iair-thc snob killer, William Makepeace
Ihackeray. , -,
Authors of celebrity, especially English,
visiting the United States, have deemed it the
part OF duty to themselves and creation to
write book on America, and the singular con-