Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-26
DEATH OF MIR. DOUGLAS JERRoLD.

After an illness of about ten days, Mr.. Douglas
Jerrold died the Sth vi June, from an attack of
rheumatic gout, Gisease TO which he had long been
subjected. The attack was of unusual severity, aud
ON Saturday it began to he seen thar there 10
hope Of bic recovery. His sune.ings were severe,
c:.! his medical attendants could only alleviate in II
slight degree the agony he endured. He died sur
rounded by several members OF his family.
Mr.. Douglas Jerrold was born in the latter part Of
the year 1901, and was consequently in the 56h year
of hi. age at the time of his decease He was in q
great measure a seii.eico-.ri man. and the position
to which he ross In life the result OF bis own ge-
nus and inextingushaoe mental eurrgy. His father
was manager OF the Sheerness theatre, and 10 the
associations of his early lie may be attributed that
prediction for the stage which forms leading char
uctsristc of the greater portion Of his life.
However, his earliest expressed passion fo5iered,
no doubt, by the scene which Sh--rness presented
during the height OF The war, WAS for masIs.LIe .ie,
and be obtained mdshpman's appointment
through the good oficas Of Captain Austen, brother
NJ Austen the novelist. lie was then of weakly
consultation, and this, combined with the advent OF
peace, induced him to abandon the profession. ne
apprentlced 10 printer in London, and IN mat
position formed hi: intimacy with Lamar Blanchard,
which continued through life. His leisure hours
were devoted to self.instructiOn Shakespeare being
HE Chief author. An essay on the opera ot DER
FreischitZ" which he dropped into The editorial box
Of newspaper ON which ne was employed as COM
poso- j. the reported beginning OF his literary Ia
bors. 10 his infinite delight, his own anonymous
"copy" was handed over 10 him to put in type, and
shortly afterwards appeared editorial notice so
Letting other contributions from the unknown CORES
pondent
There was one character" adds writer in the
Times "in which Mr.. Douglas Jerrold was always
pre-eminent. and that was as the social wit. Mar
montel said OF Diderot that those who had read his
works only, and had never heard bin spsek, could
not form an estimate Of his merits, and the same may
be said of Douglas Jerroid. To conceive brilliant
and elaborate repartee was with him the "oIn oi a
moment; nay, We could if We would, cite cases in
which the cue was barely pronounced before the re-
tort was fired Off The most novel combinations OF
ideas were effected by him with electric rapidity;
even an old pun could become new from bic manor
uterng IT, and what most wonderful of all there
was generally deep truth crouched at the bottom Of
the pleasantly that the joke, which had created
roar on It's first u;terance, actually appeared bitter
when It became subject Of sober reflection. TIE
sharpness OF MI Jerrods satire has caused many per
sons to attribute 10 him character of misanthropic
Immature; but never was more egregious mistake
committed.
The large light blue eye of Douglas Jerrold beamed
nothing but oenevoence, and to this expression the
feeling of his heart fully responded. Like all wits
be loved his joke and if opportunity for utternG
rspartee presented itself he was not the to lei
the hrelock escape his grasp. Hence, some unfortu
nate parsonage who obtruded bis sgotism or his pc
dsntry might chance to get an uulucky shit" i