New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
rynNEY SMITH.
% r,,r REVEREND SYDNEY

A have robost, lmpetuous cnPJOdlmen' VI
-, English blood keen-signted observer
iudse ofa mundane affairs "a consummate
.os.ter of the application OF ierision and irony
20 the demolition Of an ops onent-a disPutant
to,midablc for the sharp ayd rapid thrdsts WIRE
which be pierced the heart of fal4cy or an
sbuse-a man of broad, h,mey, common sense,
whose Intellect was as remarkable for It's equi-
poise as for its brDli4ncy-xita an i1veterate
habit Of looking at he comic aspect Of things
but always preserving business OF thought amid
bis conversational plradoxes-sydney Smith
held a central lace in the political and ntellec-
tual movement, which, datiog from the COM
mencemeDt If the present century, has not yet
exhausted its influence on the fortunes of civil
lied society. la connection with The Edinburgh
Rerier, Gf which he seems 10 have been the
oIigiDa, protector, he was knoG n far and wide
as one Of the brightest iiOstr )ns of new or
der oS periodical literature. Ayerse by natu-
raj tastes to purely abstract specu alton, aud
With teo positive turn Of mind for mere ques-
tons Of literary curiosity, be devoted himself
Lose TO the criticism Of books tban of pubic at
fairs-was less fond Of discussing opinions than
of commenting on measures. Within a certain
Limited range, he was sturdy advocate ofsOclal
reforms-wSs always fearlets 10 the ex preston
Of his coDyict;ous-'ook counsel seldom with
pers, nal interests, and never with fashionable
or official prestge-preferred his mental free
dom to bishoprick, though warmly attached
~ the Church, and hating Dissenters as bitterly
as TOies-snd if without faith in an ideal state
OF bumsn society, al nays strenuous IN hls devO-
tion to liberal politics. Few public abuses oil
the day escaped his notice. He fought against
them with the fiery yehemence OF his scath'ng
pen. Equally puugent in raiilery aud powerful
in argument, be first exposed the hOll0wness OF
their pretensions, aud then held th@m up to pub
lie ridicule and scorn. His arguments were
pointed with bon-mOts. Often a single phrase
did fatal execution Among the writers OF the
Wing party not 10 the front ranks of actual polit-
csl conflict, few surpassed HIN in energy OF ex-
pressioL-none in b4rbed and singing wit.
Such was sydney Smith in his most prominent
relations before the public But as presented
in these charming Volumes he was no less re-
mako Bile in private and social life. Here the
terrible castgator of political corruption Is
transformed into the companion of infinite
jest and most excellent fancy" Combining
sineularly masculine temperament with soft and
gentle affections, he was the object of enthnsl-
astc regard, little short Of idOlatry with de-
voted domestic circle. His scOrchlng Wit,
which burned with indignant go~s at the sight
Of Tory Encouragement, became lamoent ana
innocuOus in the presence of his friends. HIS
exuberSn. gayety was tempered with an almost
cbiolike delight in the most simple social
pleasures. Every one feared him in public as
disputant-none knew him in private but loved
him as a man.
The work new issued comprises au inartihcial
memoir of Sydney Smith, giving brief and un-
pretending narrative of his life, but literally
spiced with specimens of his good sayings, aud
a limited selection from his correspondence,
consisting almost entirely of letters written in
the abandon of friendship to a few of his inti-
mate associates. His letters to jeffrey NIL
large D, rtion of the volume. They are per-
fectly spcntaneous natural as the most genial
talk, plain and direct to the purpose, with not
the slightest attempt at wit or originality OF
expression, though pervaded by lurking
humor. and models of graceful and idiomatc
English.
On his mothers side, Sydney Smith was Of
French extraction. She was the daughter OF
French emigrant, who was driven over TO England
by the Revocation of the Edct of Nantes. The
native gravity of the Saxon race was evidently en-
lyened in this case by happy admixture OF Gallo
yiyaciy. His father was an odd stick, humorst
on his own account, great traveller, rich in natu-
raj talent, which had been frightened up by
series of strange experiences in life but apparently
not a person who afforded tempting subject TO
the pen Of his geographic granddaughter Sydney
was born at Woodford, in Essex, in the year 177l.
He was the second of four brothers and one sister,
all possessing more than common mental endow-
meDts With his elder brother Robert, who gained
the nick name of Bobus at Elton, and it stuck to
him through life, he early engaged in the practice
of vehement disputatOn, arguing on every point
that arose, however much above their years, with
a warmth and ferceness as if life and death hung
upon the issue The other brothers, as they be-
came old enough, took part in the afray, till the
noise and heat became well-nigh intOlersbe. They
were like young athletes, constantly waging an
intellectual battle with each other, and the result
as sydney used to say in sfter-liie was to make
them the most intOlerable and overbearing set OF
bows that can well be imagined, until later they
found their level in the world" Sydney, with his
yesSssssst brother, Courtney, was sent 70 WIN
chester school, where he was almost starved but
in spite Of hunger and illtrestment rose to be the
frat seholar in the school While there, the two