The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-24

nssorRs or THE REV. SYDNEY sHirH-By his Dangh-
ter Lady Holland. vols. Harper 4 Brothers.


ter, Lady Holland. vols. Harper Brothers
The subject Of these volumes was writer whose
ne not confined to the ether hemisphere but whose
wit and brilhancy Of thought and expression are woe
known and appreciated in this country Inc WORK wii
therefore, find extensive sale IN the onisea o'ANs'
opens up vista of English life in many phases-hgn anu
NV soca, and poal and in that point Of view alone
~eud deserve and receive popularity here But the SUD
sert of the memoir himself Is one round whom 80 many
p,eassnt feelings are entwined-about whom so many
anecdotes real and apoerypha told-that the
sooh even barren in all but that it would be still most
eeome and desirable Who IL it that has not heard
and laughed over Of the witty sayings of Sydney
smith Tie authoress furnishes in the preface proof
reputation which her father enjoyed among his CO.
ssmporaries. We quote the paragraph
must add with respect to the letters collected from
various sources that it remarkable fact as testify
ing the estimation in which my father held by his
eotemporaiies, that there are among them many small
notes merely containing trHing message in
vjtation to dinner things without the slightest merit or
value in themselves, yet carefully folded up dated and
with the greatest for by those who
had received them from him. This little trait speaks,
Vrom these letters Mrs. Austin has selected those most
calculated to interest the reader in any way to Illus,
tate my fathers feelings and character without special
reference to their talent only.
Another instance of the feeling is also recorded
One evening my father was at hts old friend Lord
woodhouselee's country house. near ID nbarg, when
violent storm Of wind arose. and shook the windows so
annoy every body present and prevent conversa
ton why Go you not stop themr, said my istnof;
will cure il in moment" lie effected his pur
pose fixed up his little bit wood and IT vas chrtcned
Sydneys button. Fifty years AFTER Of the family
finding Mr. TYLER papering and printing this room ex
claimed, ''Ch, James you surely not touching Sgd
neys battons but on running to eSamne the old place
preserved and respected amidst all the changes Of masters
time and taste.
The memoir is written in tone Of pleasant and genial
simplicity. The daughters love aud admiration of the
father are evncea throughout Whether the warmth and
Kindness of heart The the inmiabe Wit Of The
humo,st the Christian feeling of the preacher
the humane and enlightened agacty Of the politician y
treated Of cannot but feel the sentiment OF ad
nirston ior the subject of this memoir. The following
anecaoe illustrative at Of his genial snd humorous
manners, vii, suffice that head
bat the peasantoat society his house to found
N Tie little suppers which he established once a week
giving general invitation to q6out twenty thirty per-
sons who used 10 thsy pleased and occasionally
adding to and varying thcm ~ accidental and invited
guesiH At these srpers there wSs no attempt at dis
play, nothing 10 Tempt the paale but they wsee most
eagerly sought after. @ u was on occasion Of
one these suppers that Sir james Maclin tosa opened
20 bring with him o raw Scotch cousin, an ees'Sn in
Highland regiment. ON hearing the OF bis host,
he suddenly turned round and, ndgng Sir James said
IN audible whisper, Il that the great sir sndney"'
.Ses, yes, - said sir James, much amused and giving
my father The hint tie instant he assumed the milf
barry character performed the part Of the hero OF Acre TO
perfection fought all his battles again. and showed
how ne had charged The Turks to the infinite delight of
the young ecotcbnsn who quite enchanted with the
Kindness and condeceusion of he great Sir sudneyn
Lie cailel him, and TO the absolute torture of the
other guests who bursting with suppressed laughter
the before them. At last, after evening Of
the most inmtable acting the part both OF my father
and Sir James nothing would serve the young High
lander but setting of at twelve O'Clock at night 10 fetch
The piper Of his regiment 10 pipe to te great sir sud
ney, who said be had never heard The bagpipe upon
sh the whsG Party ~ s,9s a ann M ax e
his threat if lie discovered his mistake. few days
afterward when Sir James Macintosh and his Scotch
cousin walking in the streets they met my athor
with my mother mis- He introduced her rs his
WIFE upon which the Scotch cousin said in low voice to
Sir James, and looking at my mother, II did ken the
The great Sir sydney married." "Why no. said
Sir James little embarrassed, and winking at him,
mot exactly marriednonly an Egyptian slave he
stand My mother was long known in the little circle
Fatima
The practical nature of his mind is exhibited in the
following extracts from his cssays:-
Happiness is not impossible without health, but ii is
of very difficult attainment. do not by health
merely absence Of dangerous complaints but that
abe body should be IN perfect suneiu Of vsor and
the apothecary of more Importance than Seneca and
that half the unhappiness in the world proceeds from little
stoppages from duct choked up from food pressing in
the wrong place, from seSt duodena or an agitated
have nothing new to say upon the management
which the body requires The common rules are the
best; exercise without fatigue; generous living without
excess early rising and moderation In sleeping These
the alothegms of old women; but If they are not at
tended to happiness becomes extremely difficult that
very few persons attain TO it. In this point Of view
the of the body becomes subject Of elevation and
importance. walk in The fields, hours less sleep
may all those bodily veyations and dsquieudes
which are such formidable enemies to virtue, and may
enable the mind to pursue III resolves, without
that constant train of temptations 70 resist and OBJ
stacles to overcome, which il always experiences
From the bad organization Of its companion. johnson
says every i rascal when he Is sick meaning,
suppose that he has benevolent dispositions &c that
period toward his hut that his notions
pee tf
ings and that, feeling pain he becomes aievoient and
ii this he true Of great diseases, Is trne In less degree
OF the smaller ailments Of the body.
The following definition Of "a nice person i very
good
nice person is neither tau TOO short, looks
clean and cheerful ha no prominent ie'tnre makes no
difficulties, is misplaced, s.i bodkn is fool
ishly affronted end Is void Of ailsctations.
nice person helps you well n dinner understands
always gratefully received by young and OLD whig
THERE'S something's in the very air Of nice person
which inspires you with confidence makes you tall, aud
talk without fear of malicious Misrepresentation You
feel that you are repo.ipg upon nature which God las
made kind and created for The benefit and happiness Of
society II has the effect upon The ind which soft air
and fine climate have upon tho body.
nice person Is clear Of littlc trmnpery pa iions
acknowledges superiority delights in talent shelters
humility parons adversely iorgyes deficiency respects
all mems rights stops the bottle, Is long
and never wrong always knows the day of the month
the name of everybody table and never gives pain TO
Any human being.
Ifanybody is wanted for party, a nice PERSON i the
brst thought OF; when child l. chTisencl, when the
daughter Is marricdathe Joys olifc communicated
to nice people The hand OF The dying always held
out to a nice person
nice person knock wine meitci butter
does not tread upon the dogs foot modest the family
cat, eats soup Without noic laughs 10 the right place
and has watehiul ana attentive eye.
The Hberality OF sydney smiths views shown in
the public stand he took in opposition to tn oppressive
laws in existence in Ireland against Roman Catholics In
. pnblic speech which he made this subject under
tory administration sndagiust the feelings Of the clergy
OF his diocess he says abiding the effects these Law
producing in lrcand-
We preach 10 our congregations that tree i
known by its fuits What has your system done for
,relandY Her children safe unaer law, live in the
very shadow Of dcath Has II made Ireland ricb has
made Ireland loyal has il made ireland frces bas
made Ireland happy From the principles Of this sys
TEN, from the cruelty Of these laws turn and turn
with the homage OF my whole heart to the memorable
proclamation which the monarch OF those realms has
lately made TO his don,inons of Hanoyer'Tha rsan
should be subjected to civil, incapacities
religious opinions This sentiment, in the mouth 81