New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-15

ala awe IN every muscle and every feature, bounded
upon the stage, it seemed az II whole century had
been passed over in single change Of scene. The au-
dience, however, was not yet prepared for the new
order Of things They loved darkaess better than
light and in the contest between IIorao and Loharo
allowed more decided sympathy with the master OF the
old school than with the founder OF the new.
After graduating at the University Of Cambridge,
Cumberland passed several years in the service Of
Lord Halifax as his private confidential secretary,
devotrg himself at the same time TO literary pursuits,
and commencing the career of poetcal composition,
in which he unsuccessful sspirant for dstinc-
ton. During this period of his life, he formed an
acquaintance with various celebrated characters, and
introduced into the social circles of which he has
left many graphic porratures The notorious Bubb
DodDgtOn was then at the hight of his msgnfcence.
He resided at splendid villa at Hammersmth to which
he had given the incongruos name of La Trsppe. He
had also costly mansion in DorsetshTe, and town
house in Pail Mall at each Of which places he kept up
q style of hospitality that made him the common talk
OF the day. No did the honors of his house and
table with better grace. He treated the ladies with
the grave and courtly devotion Of Speniard, while
toward the men he showed the gay vivaclty OF
Frenchman. His country mansion was a wonder of
architecture. stately fight of steps led to en- enor-
NOUS portco of Dorc columns, and tunets and wings
of every style and order were crowded together in
mysterious and bewidering confusion. The edifce
was constructed by Vanburgh, who seems to have
aimed at second Blenheim in its arrangements. The
interior was no less grand and splendid than the out
side. The apartments were covered with a superhuify
of gliding The furniture dazzling with its excess
of fpery. Few mobiles in England could vie with us
fantastic owner in magnificent display. lie could be
approached only through long suite of apartments.
He received his visitors sitting under painted ceilings
and gilt entabatures. Two rows of antique marble
statues stood in gallery foored with the rarest mar
bles and adorned with columns of granite and laps
lazuli His saloon Yves hung with the finest Gobeiin
tapestry. He slept under canopy OF peicocks
feathers When he went from Pail Mall to La lrappe
be was drawn in a coach by six fat unwledy horses
docked short, and of colossal dignity His wardrobe
was filed with suits gorgeous with embroidery anu
brecade which his great corpuency displayed IN vast
and astonishing expanse. An enormous tye perwlg
ard deep.laced rufies gave him the appearance OF an
ancient courer in his gaadress. This fashion, though
obsolete at the time, harmonized so well with his
wonderful person. that when he made his first speech
in the House of Peers in a common bag'wlg, he
seemed 60 far to have lost his identity that bis ford
rhetoric failed of its due effect for want OF en- essen
tial accompaniment He carried similar love OF show
into his selection of ornaments. He judged pictures
merely by their cost. He once expressed wish to
decorate biz great saloon with dozen paintings OF
thousand pounds apiece; but instead of this he stuck
up huge patches Of gilt leather, shaped into bu-
gle-ho,ns, upon bangiDgs of superb crimson vel
vet His state bed was surrounded with carpet
of gold and silver embroidery, which, however,
betrayed its ignObe origin at the tailors shop.
board, by numerous unsghtly pockets, button
holes, and loops, which had done service in
another way When he paid his court at st. James,
upon the nupals Of the Queen, he approached to kiss
her hand arrayed in an embroidered suit of silk with
lilac waistcoat and small clothes, the latter of which,
in the act Of kneeiDg down, forgot their duty and
broke loose from their moorpgs in very indecorous
and uncouItly manner.
Another eccentric character OF considerable repue
in the last century as an amateur theological writer
was Soame Jenyns. His social qualities warmly
eulogized by our author AS companion. he bore
bis part at all times with uneIamped hiarity and
good humor. lie came into company at the precise
moment named on the card Of invitation. He dressed
in all the colors Of the jay to do honor to the party
His lace was, indeed the worse for wear-he cut OF
bis coat was decidedly antique and, owing to some
defcrmity on his head, his wig never seemed quite at
home in its position. His eyes protruded Like the eyes
of lobster-a wen on his cheek added nothing to his
beauty-yet he was 8, innccently unconscious that
when Gibbon published the decline and FALL he
expressed surprise that anybody so ugly could write
a book Yet Soame was the charm Of every circle he
came into His conversation had peculiar zest. His
pleasantly was always in place. 1t haimcnized with
everything. His admirers compared it to the bread
at dinner, which, though it did not make the best part
Of the meal, was a capital appendase TO the other
vands He told no long stories, and bore interruption
with santlike composure. If any unlucky marplot
attempted to set him right in raIne or date, he lis
tened to the intruder with admirable docility-gave
few extra twists to his snu.box-tmitted one or two
preparatory grunts-and took up the story where he
had left it. His thoughts were original but with
spice of paradox He had not particle of il-ature
in bis composition. lie was perfectly willing to be
silent when the attention Of the company wa. en-
crossed BY more loquaciou persons and claimed
unwilling listeners. He wrote verses upon dancing
and prpee upon the origin Of evil, but he was bad
dancer and worse metaphysician The only instance
of severity Of which he known 70 have been
guilty a sharp epitaIh Johnson who had given
him mortal cffeDse by ridicuing his theodicy.
Cumberlands acquaintance with Goldsmith ripened
into speedy intimacy. He appreciated his intrinsic
good qualities though he was not blind to hs care
iessness Of conduct and frvolity of manner With his
whimsical vanity, there was no malice in bis heart
He one day showed Cumbe land hs manuscript of the
beginning of his Animated Nature, with a long.
drawn sigh at being compelled to drudge for bread
on an uncongensl subject. common Snowman wa.
a. well fitted to talk of birds and beasts and creepin
things as Goldsmith. " Poor fellow says Cunber
land, "he hardly knew from mule nor tur.
key from goose but when lie saw it on the table"
OF Dr. johnson. our author tell US that be ML,.w