New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-17

tense, aHec.atiou, in any form and shape, he
bsted with a large and wholesome hatred. He
had taken the osth Of Hannibal sgs inst every
exhibition Of the fantastic, the artificial, ito
unreal He was not the man 10 explore any
unknown aerial region in i balloon-neitAer
did he lament that sngeps wings did not
grow upon his sthletic shoulders--but be
planted both feet firmly on toe solid earth, from
which be drew all the strength snd JOY thsT
wss sdspted 10 bis temperament. With this
singular desstution Of the ideal, his vision In
the sphere of actually was keen and searching.
IL was remarkable for scnteness rather than
breadth. and at an elevation above the horizon
would bsye been lost 10 be~ndermens.
This substantial basis of common sense formed
an admirable support for the power OF humorous
illustration with which he was so generously en-
lowed His oyeraowing humor thus often took
OF the character of genuine wit, though il was by
no means always entitled to be reckoned IN that
category Many of his say ings. as has been seen
from our quotations, are merely the escapades OF
q rollickiug almost juvenile fun; but st times they
show a fine, subtle perception of the relations Oh
thought which stamps them with the indisputaola
signs of wit We may remark, to his credit thas
be rarely INDUCED in the wicked practice OF pun
nipg-almost the only example Of that BASTARD
tribe recorded against him being the expression
that he was of the grey .men-iyorous order,
when speaking of bis attachment to the family Oh
Earl GREY. His mind reveled in the combination
Of ludicross images and comparisons. With no
appearance of effort they flowed forth as freely
e
and abundantly as the inexhaustbe pieces OF
many. colored ribbon from the mouth Of the Crest
Wizard" He turned this gift TO excellent account
in his political controversies. He thus often gained
a triumph by piercing with the point OF dart
what could not have been beat down by club.
Brilliant as were the mental endowments Of
sydney Smith, they grow dim when compared
with the pure uster of his moral characteristics.
His transparent integrity strengthened and ira
dated his gifts of intellect. He was man Of
thorough honesty of purpose and conduct. He
valued the truth more than place, preferment, or
power During almost the whole OF his life. ha
was the strenuous advocate of unpopular
cause He dared to call things by their right
names in spite of prescription, or custom, or aris-
tocratic illusions Connected with this robustness
of principle, was the most tolerant and genial
disposition in al social relations He certainly had
nothing of the yrtuous severity which is often
mistaken for purity of conscience. mild tincture
of philosophical Epicureanism, gave the tone to
his practical views of life and this was adhered
TO with remarkable consistency, through all the
changes of his outward experience. Compared
with his felIo x-laborers in the Edinburgh Reuiep,
which after all must be regarded as the great
theater of bis fame, he was less versatile and
more disinterested than jeffrey with greater
sincerity than Brougham and not particle Of
his pedantry, superior to Horner in visacity as
he was his inferior in culture, with far more
natural sbrewdness and clearness Of perception
than Macintosh, though without either his met
sphysical learning or acumen, and If we may
here aiude to his compatriots of a more recent
day, surpassed by Maeaalsy in extent and varie-
ty of eruditioD, and BY Carlyle in original splen-
dor of genius, he rivalled the one in piquancy Of
illustration, and the other in the adaptation OF
wisdom 20 the common mind.