New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-08
THE LONDON TIMES on THE LANDoR


From The London Tine, .iay. O.
What strange and scandalons story II is that we
published Yesterday abont the old age of Walter Saw
age Lander He must be so old that is almost
afraid 10 talk about his age He las been famous
writer in his time that il would have been pleasant
to think Of him, if still alive, surrounded by troops
of friends who were soothing the last furl0ng Of his
long pilgrimage. He should have ouved the ill-will
Of others and the anim0stes Of his heart. II Is
with urfegned reluctance that We perform the duty
which has been cast upon Us OF saying few words
about the trial which took place at Bristol on Monday
last in which Mr.. Landor was defendant. The result
that the old man was "a pay Il 900 as damages,
beside his liability for costs. Who can read the re-
port Of the proceedings without SAYING that II served
him right The old poet scarcely lay claim To
impuniiy the ground Of failing intellect. II must
be admitted that in their nasty way-and it is
very nasty way-the verses Of Landor's old aye
quite equal in point and vigor to the golden prodnce
OF his prime. But il is such filthy pcnt-such dirty
vigor Take Jonathan Swift impurest productions,
when he sat down for regular innings at dirt-take
the obscenest Ofl-scourings of Martial, when the
Roman poet was waowing in the very cesspoOl Of
the Muses. and you will have an idea of the nature Of
Landors recent literary diversions. So far we have
spoken Of the ~ld mans ofiense as oi one against
deceucy and morality. To describe il technically,
according to the form in which il was brought the
other day before the Court, must, however. speak
of i, as the publication of libel; and fOuler libel
than the one brought home in han never written
bv man. What made the case worse that he had
selected the object of his attack lady whose only
10 nave tceH llat nhd been many
wears on intimate terms with her uumany traducer.
M Landur a. lr sufficiently notorious returned 10
England many years ago weary oi his Tuscan e1pa-
tliaticn He fixed himself ultimately at Bath. In
that city he made the acquaintance OF Mr. and Mr..
NcsrUmhe. The lady was the plaintiff IN the recent
actiou Acquaintance rpened by degrees into friend
ship or at least into Intimacy and for many years
Iand,r and the Iescunbe- were IN constant, almost
daily intercourse. indeed. il appeared that Lanior
wa. in the habit of dining with them about three
times week III their family there resided for some
time a yuuug lady 10 whose name, although Il was
mentioned at the trial have nc wish to give ANY
additional tmhhciiv. For some cause unexplained i
Mas indged night that she shund leave the Yc-comb.s
and iur removed tn Chetcuhan, and this % which
rou.ed Nj Landors anger, ana le to the publication
of the hhcls. Ouittng the dirt, here are a few Of
he points charged against lady by Walter savage
Lander IL ,aii that she had been guilty ol
r.r;ury that he had given her .is "a pay ior
HIM and that lie had stolen half the money; that
she had stolen - ont # letter which he had given
her o. put in tie POST Office. that she hal retained
trna,s,nan's rcccipt-had not given him the money
tpt had avaed herself Of the receipt; that she had
stolen seven shiings from the counter oi q trades
mans shop tlet she lad obtained -lo0 irna llm
unGer false pretenses. Now il was not pretended By
NJ Iaudors l.cul advisers that there was a
shadow of prrterse for any uf these charges. They
were the mere cuipouTlngs II ycnelnous and can
kcrcd spirit. One would suppose that al this was
bad ru1ugu hu; far remains untold. 4 great
disturbance at Bath the natural consequence oi
such Il quarrel between man So famous as Mr. Lsn-
dor and family So wei known as the lescombes
The upshot. However FOR tie moment was more
reasonable than might have been expected. Mr.
John Forster. the gentleman whose name l. 50 well
ard 50 favorably known in the literary world, went
down 10 Bath to see il lie could not put an end 10
a dispute which, he saw at glance
could only bring shame and dscre'iit upon Lsudor
Mr. Forster succeeded in obtaining the old poets
initials to apology, IN winch he Withdrew all the
offensive and telous charges which he Lad concoctei
and circulated against Mrs. Ysscombe and added a
promise that they should no, be repeated This well
meant and iutcious interference was not, however,
estined 70 be productive of any permanent effect
No sconor was Mr. Fcrs,eTs back turned than Mr.