Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-04-25
HORACE WALpOLE

HORACE WALPOLE.
The name of Horace Walpole is in
separately connected with the history of
English literature during the age which
has recently passed away-and the Gle
giant retirement in which he lived for
many years at Strawberry Hill-which
became receptacle of whatever was
rare and valuable among the arts, or
worthy Of note in literature-has fur
nished the theme for many pages of in
teresting description A writer in the
London Literary Gazette furnishes a par-
trait Of Horace WaIpole, where the fea-
lures are probably not softened. but stand
out iorcibly in all the ruggedness Of
truth. The following Is an extract: -
1t is to the charm of his letters. &c.
that Walpole owes his European reputa-
ton as an author. He is the prince of
agreeable gossip. For brilliant wiz, live
ly anecdote, and an easy, elegant style,
he may fairly rank with the BIarquise de
Sevigne; but of sublime and picturesque
description, delicate satire, and generous
sentiment, such as breathe through the
letters Of Gray, Cowper and Occasion
ally) Burns, he has none. The ante
chamber of the palace, the closet of the
courtier, and the penetraEa of some gar
rulous beauty, whose charity had gone
the way of her charms, were the atmos-
phere in which he lived. He is without
rival in telling an unctious tale of
scandal. A back-stairs intrigue and n
fashionable tdur pas lose nothing in his
hands. His inveterate love of carica-
ture led him into the most exaggerated
descriptions of persons and events, which,
however entertaining, must be taken with
liberal deductions. He slurs by an inu-
endo, and lampoons in line. His sly
humor is irresistible, and infects with its
wanton wIckedness. lie always writes
Ell Bat etseik tks kaRad and sdiaP tha 9 st. Mfaa4a
new Johnson's provoked fish-wife, who
cursed the poor eel for not lying still while
she was skinning it, was, compared to
him an angel of mercy; and the COM
passionate Izaac, when he tenderly tells
Piscator to pass his hook through the
worms gullet as though he 5oved him.
humane man. He dotted Oh mischief
per Sc, and like the gibbering antic--
within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples Of a king"
he sat in his easy chair, a (monas;ic relic,)
in his toy-shop at Twickenham, mocIing
at patriotism and political honesty, nei-
ther of which, 0ilse his father he believed
in. He was the patriarch Of three
reigns, and the BIethusaleh of his family,
passing long life in luxurious and let
tered case. lie knew Pope, was init
mate with CoIley Cibber, and had
touched a card with the Give" tie
termagant Kitty! lie discountenanced
= Garrick because he was too much Of an
actor off the stage; whereas the said
: Horace wore the cap and mask, ay, and
q often the bells, from manhood's first scene
e to the last. He had Chloe great want
s he wanted " a heart" as can be proved
d by his early estraugement from the poet
+ Gray, and his unkind treatment Of Chat
D terton--
b ''The wonIrous boy who perished IN bis pride"
= For many years Strawberry Hill wa
l. a great public attraction. Such col
a lection Of relies, literary, historical, ar
ie fisiic, and antiquarian, vas, perhaps nev
p er brought together by the recondite re
e search, refined taste, and untiriHg indus
try Of one man. Horace Walpole de
s serves well Of the world. The eleganc
a. and urbanity Of his manners and addres
II and his abstinence from the grosser vice
4. (whether from dislike or principle v
m have no right to inquire, gave to his OF
Of der, which in LIS earlier days, greatl.
ot needed ii a tone Of refinement and SC
lis fbriety which it has never since lost, Will
is, his example has many enlightened an
We liberal collectors and seieeiors Of the Gu
On rious and rare among the titled and th
rich. Literature owes him no small del
he Of gratitude, for to every lover Of it, h
a. works are most healthfnl boon"
4 esag