Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-07
MR.. THACKERAY AND MR.. EDMUND
YATES-THE GARRICK CLUR.

A case which promises to be of consider bio
interest In literary and club circles and which
Will raise an important and novel point is to
be tried by one Of the common law courts at
Westminster 1t arises out Of the dispute be-
tween Mr.. Thackeray and Mr. Edmund stss.
both members of the Garrick Club, which arose
under the following circumstances: Under the
title Of Literary Talk" Mr. Yates published
an article, having for its subject Mr.. VIM. M.
Thackeray, and thus describes his appearance:
MI Thackeray is 46 years old, though from
the alvsry Wilderness Of his hair, he appears
somewhat older. He is very tall-upwards of
six feet two inches-and, as be walks erect his
height makes him conspicuous in every assem-.
ply His face IL bloodless, and not particularly
expressive, but remarkable for the fracture Of
the bridge Of the nose, the result of an accident
In yop:n- He wears small gray whisker, but
otnsrwise is clean shaven. No one meeting him
would fail to recognize in him a eentleman
his bearing i, cold and uninviting bis style of
conversation either openly cynical or affec,sdlv
good-natured and benevolent; his bouhoUr,n,,
Is forced, his wit biting, his pride easily
touched, but his appearance is invariably that
OF a cool, snare, well-br gentleman, who,
Whatever may be ranking within, suffers no
surface display of his EMOTION
Mr. ates then proceeded to comment on Mr..
Thackersys genius: 1t was with the publica.
ton Of the third or fourth numbers of . Vanity
EAR that he began to dawn upon the reading
Puolc as great genius. Then: His success
illuminated with Lectures on English Humor
lists Of the Eighteenth Century, which were
attended by all the court and fashion of Lon.
don. The prices were extravagant; the lectu
rer's adulation Of birth and position was ex.
trayagant; the success was extravagant.
The publication Of the article in question
having been brought to the knowledge of Mr..
lnackersy, ne wrote to Mr.. Yates, describing
the arucle TO be not offensive and unfriendly
merely, but slanderous and untrue.' Mr..
fhackeray concluded with the following admo-
nition beg, as have a right to do, that
you viii refrain from printing comments upon
my private conversation, that you will forepo
discussion, however laundering, on my private
anairs, and that You will henceforth please to
consider any question Of my personal til and
criticism Mr.. Yates imm.disteIx r si yOa5
by letter, in which he rejected Mr.. Thacke-
angry understanding" Of his phrases.
addlng: If your letters were not slanderous
and untrue, should readily have discussed
the subject with you, and avowed nv earnest
and frank desire to set right anything /
may have left wrong" Mr. Thackeray then
submitted the correspondence which had passed
between Mr.. Yates and himself, together with
the copy Of the article to which he had taken
ceIcepnon' 70 the committee of the Garrick
Mr.. Yates having heard that Mr. Thackeray
mad adopted this course, wrote to AJAX the com.
mittee to suspend their judgment until be could
prepare his own version of the case: and sub.e
quenty wrote to the committee Questioning
toelr right to entertain the matter at all s.Tbe
article, he said ''may be in exceedingly had
taste, but the committee is not a committee of
TASTE The committee, at a special meeting
resolved that II was competent to them TO en-.
tertain Mr.. Thackeray's complaint: that the
complaint itself was well grounded. and that
the practice of publishing such articles, teire
renectlons by one member of the club aDain.t
any other, would be fatal to the comfort of the
club, and intolerable in q society of gentlemen
Ine committee further resolved that Mr.. Yates
was bound to make can ample apology. - or re
tire from the club.
Mr.. Yates declined either to retire or ano,o
2ise, and stated he would appeal to general
meeting on two questions-frst whether the
case between Mr.. Thsckrsey and himself Was
such case as should be submitted to the com
mittee at all; and secondly, whether Mr..
Inackeray has any right to call for an apology
from me when be had so arrogantIy and cos rss-
Y addressed me-" The result was that M
iates's subscription was returned, and ii was
1nnmated that he was expelled from the Climb.
ne mas, therefore, instituted an action against
tne committee for trespass, in refusing to allow
MIN to enter the club, and this will raise the
important question, as affecting the rights of
members generally, whether the club had A
rigot to expel Mr.. Yates or not. 1t isunder
stood that there will be large array of legal
talent on both sides. The Attorney-GeneIal
mas been retained for the Committee of the
uarrlck Club. Mr.. Edmund James. o C. is
Le1o ins case on behalf of the plaintiff, Mr..
Iomuno fates.-London Morning Post