Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-05
THE GAZETTE.
AUTHORS AND TAKERS.
FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 8, 1855

AU lI1OINO aND n LNhhS'
DR.. X. Shelton Mackenzie gives. in the
Philadelphia Press, sumo recollec,ions Of the
"great takers" who have passed within ''ear
shot" of bis experience:
There was Parr, who died while we were
in the middle of our teens. lie was be-
wigged. pedantie, lispipg moss Of garrulity,
who strove to be JohnsoniaD, and ludicrously
failed. To apply sentence OF Burke's, "he
exhibited the contortions of the Syeil With
out her inspiration, the nodosity OF the oak
without its strength" Doctor Samuel Parr,
who never forgave Providence because Mr.
Fox did not make him bishop. was great
rather than good eonsersatioraiist, anu
certain degree Of ooarseness made him rePui'
sive and disliked.
There was Coleridge, whose lattor years
literally passed away in talk. ITO hao .'li-
mense and varied nttainmeDts, genuine
poetic feeling, strong logical powers, great
rhetorical skill, pervadng sense OF the beau,
t;fnl clear convictions on Revelation and
Faith, and command Of language which re'
minded one Of an Italian improciSato'e. Eve,
ming after evening, for many years. no would
pour fourth an avalanche Of conversation 70
called conversation when one man had MI
the talking to himself. Half the time he wat
under the influence of opium, and, indeed
the monotonous sound Of his voice had very
soothing effect. Over his own circle hh
sway was great-but, then, his circle was mol
largo. =,
there was Sir James Macintosh, with
mind filled--we might say even CROWDED
with information. His conversation was OK
trsordinary, from tho vast number OF topic'
which it embraced, as well as from the adml
rable language into which no put MI
thoughts. without the slightest effort. fol
nearly twenty. Eve years. extending from IN
return from India, where he had been judge
20 his death, in 1882, Macintosh was the or
acle of that largo segme 1T of society IN whict
he lived. But, breathing only the atmos
phere of Wing association, what Goldsmltf
said Of Burke might be applied to Mackin
tosb, that he
Narrowed his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for man
kind.
There was Sir Walter Scott, who, more
than any other, since Johnson, received the
homage of his literary contemporaries a. oil
as of society ut large. Had he lived IN l. III
don, as johnson always lived, SCOTS supre
macy would probably have been even srea,e'
than that of the great photographer. liz
made only occasional visits. aud "aS a"iuiil
lionized during each Of them.
Wordsworth, We need scarcely mention
though be enjoyed great considcra. ION in Lon
don society--which however, he visited ever
schooner than Scott. HIS conversation
which flowed perpetually, was almost who'll.
about bis own poems, and entirely unreiiefe'
BY the slightest wit or humor-
There remain two: Brougham and Ma
caulsy, a pair of intellectual giants. 1t Is dit
ficult to decide between their rival claims tol
supremacy in society. tonight distinguish
perhaps, and say that in large mixed as
sembly, Brougham would have more II Ill"
enoe, 80 vast the range of his mind, anu q
copious, as we'll as striking, his conversation
But, among authors and people OF lterar,
tastes, Maeaulay would assuredly be consid
cred superior. One advantage Is possessed
by Brougham--he does not monopoli1e TIT
conversation, but permits others to chime In
and supply new materials for illustration
Macaulay, on the contrary, seems possessed
by a talking spirit, which no spell, human OF
divine, can exercise. lie is like machine
which, one wound up, must 30 on until n
stops from sheer exhaustion OF power. Ma
caulay's talk is brilliant. though diiuse.