Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-30

be colored with any suitable mineral color. 1t
is laid on the surface of the wall, while luke
warm, with brush. 1t soon becomes hard,
and is very durable, Scientific american.
From the New York Herald, 49,
The Bourcicauit Lectures.
Last night M. 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 iii 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 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, Sin /
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
of the common veal" In passing over the
phases of literary society to the reign Of Queen
Anne, lie remarked that the court Of Charles
had brought wit with them as a fashion from
France Wit became cant; and everybody
coaxed his brains for clever thing. Taverns
were built to talk within. "Here,' observed the
lecturer, "you observe again the ruling passion
strong in drink" simultaneously 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
stitution called The Academy was prepared
to receive it; it was q corporation, an object in
the eye Of the nation and the government.
There is no such organization in England ex-
cept the Times newspaper, which is 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 powerful philippe upon the
subseryiency and mean social position ofltera-
ture in England, NJ Bourcicault observed:
g 1t may appear that | speak bitterly OH this
subject; / do SO without prejudice. ! could
seek no social preferment in the literary world.
! descended into it, having inherited a 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- II my language, therefore, has an edge
upon it. it is only by such means that j can
obtain sharp impression in your minds; hav-
ing drawn my picture there, It is only by acid
that | can bite it i'm 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 at the period of his own
appearance above the literary horizon. The
anecdotes and illustrations with which the lee
turer interspersed the first portion of the lee
ture, and which made it appear more like the
representation of q brilliant comedy than a
lecture, now gave way to a 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 glttering scene he plunged
into descriptions Of the misery of literary ex-
istence, which is unattended with popularity.
The next anecdote was the connection Of
Punch, how it was founded, by whom, and the
extraordinary adventures that journal has
passed through. M. Bourcicault apologized
for touching lightly on his own life, adding that
he did not desire to impress his subject with
an egotisticat character, but preferred to give
his experience; what he had seen, and not what
he had done. He described his first interview
with a London manager, and the difficulties he
had to contend with. His portraits of two
lordling critics were irresistible. Amongst the
peculiar phases of London life, he explained
strange organization which existed there, called
the "Camaraderie." 1t was q mutual putting
association for the maintenance of doubtful
celebrity. 1t was composed Of physcians,a
lawyer, an actor, a painter, novelist, a news.
paper critic, and a dramatist. Each was bound
10 praise up the merits of the others in society,
and swear by his abilities. The organization
was perfect, and it succeeded. While M.
Bourcicault thus drew q brilliant picture of n
successful literary mans career he accom-
panied the relation with the life of n schoofel
ow of his own, who had become literary
nan, and lived with him for many years. The
picture Of this young man was exceedingly
drawn; it exhibited depth of feel
ng which touched the audience, and the final
description of the authors death produced one
# the most powerful effects that we have ever
witnessed. The lecture extended to an hour
md half 1t was decidedly the most bril-,
liant of the course.