Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-02-11
a Dinne, p,rtv Of cele5fities.


I'm December Isl7, Wordsworth was IN town.
and a. Keats wished t. know him, ] made up
party To dinner. oi Charles Lamb. Wordsworth,
Keats aud Monkhouse. his friend, and very
pleasant party we had. ! wrote To Lamb. and
told him the address, 30. Lisson Grove North, at
Rossi-. bah way up, right hand corner ! re-
ecived his Characteristic reply: My dear Hay
.lon.-I will come with pleasure to ~, Llsson
Grove North, at R)ssi'r, half way up, right hand
side, if | can find it. Yours Z. LAMB.
On December 18th, the immortal dinner came
off in ny paintings Dom, with Jerusalem tower
ing up as a background. Wordsworth was IN
fine tone and we had glorious set ton iio-
mrr. shak ,peare, Milton, and Virgil Lamb got
exceedingly merry, and eXqaisitely witty; aud
his fun in the must of Wordsworths solemn III
donations of oratory was like the sarcasm and
wit of the fool in the intervals of Lears passion
Lamb soon got delightful y merry. lie made
speech and voted me absent and made them drink
my health. Now said Lamb, you old late
poet, you rascay poet, why do you call Noltaire
dull We all defended Wordsworth, and af-
frmed there was state of mind WHEN Noltalre
would be dull. Well said Lamb, heres Vol
taire-the Messiah of the French nation, and
very proper one too He then, III a strain of
humor beyond description, abused me for putting
Newton's head in my picture, "A fellow SAID he
who believed nothing unless it was as clear as
the three sides Of II triangle And then lac and
the rainbow. by reducing it to the prisInaic tol-
ors 1t was impossible to resist him, and we all
drank Newlon's health, and confusion to mathe-
natics. II twas delightful to see the good humor
of Wordsworth in giving in 10 all our frolies
without atfectatitn, and laughing a heartily as
the best of Us BY this time other friends joined
among them poor Richie, who was to penetrate
by Fezzan to Timbuctoo. introduced him To
all as "a gentleman going to Africa Lamb
seemed to take no notice. but all OF a sudden he
roared out, (which is the gentleman we are gong
to losei" We then drank the victims health, III
which Richie joined
In the morning of this delightful day,a gentle
ma |. a perfect stranger, had called on me. He
said he knew my friend, had an enthusiasm tor
Wordsworth and begged | would procure him
the happiness of an introduction. He told me he
was n comptroller of stamps and often had cor
rcspol.derce with the poe. | thought II II lber-
ty; but still, as he seemed gentleman, told
him he might come. When we retired 10 tea we
found the comptroller. Introducing him tn
Wordsworth, forgot to say who he was. After
little me, the comptroller looked down, looked
up, and said to Wordsworth, Don't you think,
SIR, Milton wds great genins = Keats looked
NJ me, Wordsworth looked at the comptroller.
Lamb, who was DOING by the fire turned and
laid, Pray sir, did you say Milton was great
gcnusl'-No, sir, asked MIR. Wordsworth if he
were not oh, said Lamb. then you silly
/
worth; but Lamb. perfectly innocent of the con-
fusion he had created. off aguin by the fire.
After AN awful pause the comptroller said, Don't
! you think Newton a great genius I | c,uld not
stand it any longer. Keats put his hca into my
bucks. Richie squeezed in laugh. Woods
worth seemed asking hmself,who Is this Lamb
got up, and taking candle said sir, will you
allow to look at your chronological develop
ment! He then turned his back on the poor
man, and at every question Of the comptroller,
| he chantcd:
Diddle diddle dumping, my son John,
Went to bed with his breeches on.
Foe man in Office finding Wordsworth did not
know who he was, said, IN spasmodc and half
ehucklng anticipation of assured victory, Il
have had the honor of some correspondence with
you Mr.. Wordsworth" with me, sir!" said
Wordsworth; mot that | remember" Don't
you, sir! am comptroller of stamps" here
was dead silence; the comptroller evidently
thinking that enough. Will we were wait
ing for WORDSWORTH reply, Lamb sung out
Hey diddle dlddle,
The cat and the fiddle.
My dear Charles" said Wordsworth.
Diddlc diddle dumping, my son John,
chanted lamb; and then rising exclaimed, DO
let me have another look at that gentlcman's or
gans.' Keats and hurried Lamb into the paint
ing room shut the door, and gave way to enex-
tmguishable laughter. Monkhouse tollowd, and
tried 10 get Lamb away. We went back, but
the comptroller was irreconcilable We sooth-
ed and smiled, and asked him to supper. He
STAYED, though lis dignity sorely affect d.
However, being good natured man. we parted
all in good humor, and no i'll effect followed. All
the while, until Monkhousc succeeded, we could
hear Lamb struggling in the painting room and
calling at intervals. Who is that fellow! Allow
me to see his organs once more."-Lie Of Hay
don.