The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-18

Thackeray's ytTgintans.

bon6t aAtsBtbpu W III ohbftDuh"hs tnc "
dues. 10.
Thackeray's yirgtntans.
Tho new work Of the great sasiris' docs not
seem 70 give much satisfaction in this country
iadsed his portraiture Of Washington has excl
ted 10 some Intelligent quarters strong NANTES
ta,leus Of Indignation. The N. Y. Express re-
CARDS Il as strange combination that an English
paan aud 81 American have simultaneously sp-
peared 10 priBt with the same purpose-tbs depre-
citation Of our Washington. The American referred
TO 10 q con of Alexander Hamilton, who is engaged
10 tito hopeful attempt Of endeavoring to transfer
washington's Iaurels to his father. "We can i'm.
agias," says the Express, SHAT an English snob,
educated with the prejudlces still existing among
tbs common classes Of England, might have the
audaoity and the pretenson to hope to cast obi
ani on the memory Of him through whose coun-
sells aud woudrous bravery the American colonies
we're wrsstei from tho iron grasp Of England,
though We oanuot understand how Alexander
Hamilton's son ever could have had the vanity TO
lead him TO transfer wsshipgton's crown Of glory
10 the head of his father"
AZ to Thsckeray, the Express discourses in the
following indignant terms;
"All who have read the "vifgInians' have.
doubtless, like ourselves felt at first amused and
then iBdignant. Perhaps they have not quite EN-
brsced the idea that the Mr. Washington introdu-
ED 20 them the undignifed, meddiDg friend,
the tmpertinent, passionate young officer, the
less lover who left his private letters TO the wi
dow Gusts" lying about for the benefit of prying
eyes. was our George Washington They fiud 1t
dIficut to recognize, in Thackeray's pen and ink
carioature, the great hero whose ifes history has
been given by the graphic hand Of a Washing
ton Irving, aud whose character for prudence.
generosity. punotuality, heroism, magnanimity,
aud sefconmaDd was so el0qnently delneated,
q .f.l.s-
they have read over many pages, us we did, ere
they appreciated the insult conveyed In Thacke-
rays burlesque. But once comprebeBded they
vii! agree with US thstitis an Insult. Now Thsck.
cray cannot appreciate noble man. There is not
thoroughly noble character ia any Of his works.
lie has not the elevation Of mind requisite 10 draw
AL exalted man. Washington's mind
difficult to appreciate, because il far supe
rior 20 most minds that many may wonder NJ, or
worship its elevation, but Thackeray can neither
comprehend nor admire IL. Through the three
numbers before us. ne has tried even TO make Gen
erai Washington ridiculous. There Is II lurking
eneer in every II De-a covert sarcasm In every sen
tence-8 direct insult in every chapter. And this
II the reward we receive for treating the foreign
writer civilly when among US. AS gentiemauly
return for our hosptalities, he attacks the great
founder Of our Republci And such u man thinks
himself worthy to write the name of George Wash
ingtonl"
As to the justice of these criticisms, we know
nothing. We have not read 1.-THE Vlrgnians,1 and
cannot tell whether the author deserves this
we're castigation or not. Thackeray excels In
tire, but probably Gen. Washington is above his
mark. As to his appreciation Of hospitality" we
know nothing, except sundry rude speeches ad-
dressed, so says report, to his hosts various oc
casiOns. We remember a famous encounter of his
with Charleston lady, which is true beyond all
doubt. On being Introduced to lady of fashion In
Charleston, and one whose intellect and heart
would grace any station, he said, 81 am happy to
meet with you, Madame. / have heard that you
were fast woman" "Oh, Mr.. Thackeray" was
the repy--in the softest and most silvery tones
1--WE ought not to believe all that we hear heard
that you were a gentleman" We have this excel
lent ret0rt on the authority of several Charleston
gentlemen, who were justly proud Of the chastise.
nent Inflicted by their townswoman on the i'm
pertinent stranger.
We doubt, however, whether any kicks and cuffs
that Thaekeray can bsstow upon the Americans
will teach them to keep their hands off distin-
guished tourists. But he does injustice to the
great mass, when he confcunds all Americans
with the lion-hunting tribe. Whilst our country
men, in general, admire England and respect her
people, they are disposed to be hosptabe, from
custom and their own generous impuses-not
from fiunkeyism and servility. OF course, in
she United States, as every where, there are toad
les, whose greatest joy in life is TO fasten them
selves 20 the tall Of lion, but that Is not the ge-
neral character. We never thought the frat out
burst Of enthusiasm to Mr.. Dickens was anything
but what 1t seemed, an honest, genuine admiration
OF great genius, and supposed benevolencs Of
heart. Yet, how he received it,-how he held our
people of at arms length how vulgarly he as
sailed upon his return what deliberate false
hoods he invented and circulated about our coun-
try and It's institutions and citizens All this
should have taught us a lesson! 1t should have
taught us that great author is not necessarily
q great gentleman, and that, as Thackeray has
shown In his adm rable lectures the English hu-
morists, q man may write d splendid book, and
live vile life; he may have a fus mind aud
u coarse heart, and be at genius and black
guard, a truth of which Thackeray himself if he
has really undertaken to reyile Washington, will
afford another illustration. But the chastisement
received from Mr. Dickens did our countrymen
little good. The next great man, or great mans
valet, that came along, was toasted and caressed
with the same results. The only English travel
lers in this country, who have not dealt in whole.
sale denunciation of our people, have been menl-
bsrs of the aristocracy and gentry. The suobs,-
and We have Thaekeray's own word Tor it. that
the English snob Is the most vulgar aud detesta-
bic of his vile class throughout the worlds al
ways loud mouthed, abusive and libellous towards
America.
We had hoped that Thackeray WAS to be an el-
eeptioD; that, though not of gentle birth and high
social rank, he possessed those noble qualities of
heart as well as mind, which could appreciate the
virtues of great people, and return at least civil.
Mtg for kindness. IT in this We are mistaken we
shall not soon look for justice or fair play from
English whig Of the common people. Let our
eountrymen give these foreign tourists a wide
BERTH Hospitality extended to such visitors, Is
pearls cast before swine.