New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19

Or, ia O. P Putnam Il
The readers of the present generation may find
not little amusement in these specimens of light
literature which served for the delectation of their
fathers and grandfathers "ong time ago" AT
this moment, they are especially interesting as
among the first fruits of the genius, which after the
lapse of more than half a century, is still the
q Upright particular star" of American literature.
The genial and kindly nature of Washington Irving
shows itself in brilliant colors in many of the
papers of "Salmagundi," while the racy huuloF
and pungent irony of Paulding predict the dis'inc
lion which he subsequently attained as "a sa''i'"'
writer. We are tempted to extract q portion o.
the Cockloft contributions in whose ''hinu9
humors." the editor of this edition finds an
"American Bracebrdge Hall
PINDAR COCKLOFT.
S;t,;no late the other evening IN my eiboW-chau IN
ari;,,a IN that kind of indolent meditation, which
consider The perfection of human blsS Was arouSu
from my reyere by the entrance OF an oid SerNau. ~
the Cocklo livery, who handed me q ies.ef I Hnap
sLe olovine address from my cousin ana OLD college,
cbum, Pindar Cockloil' -. - a.,
his master WHO resides niue way IRON 1ow WI on
reading q email pamphlet in neat yellow cover,
ribbed his hands with symptoms Of great satisfaction
caIed for lis fayerite Chinese nkstand, with two
,nrswlng Nandarns for ite supporters and wrote the
letter which he had the honor 10 present me.
As | forCsee my cousin will one day become u great
fayoritc with the public, and as know HIM to DC
somewhat punciilous as 1t respects etiquette, snall
take this opportunity 10 crafty the old gentleman oy
giving him a proper introduction to the fashlOnaole
world Tie Cocklof family to which have the COM
fort of being rea ed has been fruitful IN old bachelors
and buuOrists as will be perceived when come 10
treat more of its history My cousin Pindar is one OF
its mosf conspicuous MEMBERSHIP is now in hs nifty
eighth year-is bachelor, partly through choice ana
partly through chance and an oddty OF the hrst water
Halfhis life has been employed in writing odes son.
nets epgrams, and elegies which he seldom shows 70
anybody but myself after they are written; ana al the
old chests, drawers and char-bottoms IN the house.
teen with his productions.
In his Younger days he figured dashing blade IN
the great world and no young fellow OF the Tow
wore a longer pieail, carried more buekrAm IN ms
skirts From sixteen TO thirty he was continually IN
love and during that PERIOD to use is own wofaS ne
be-scribbled paper than would serve the theser
for snow-etoTms whole season. The evening OF hls
thireth birthday he sat by the fresde as much "a
love as man in this world, and writing the
name of his mistress IN the ashes with an Ola tGng'
that had lost one of its legs he seized with wilma
wham that he old fool TO be III love at his time
of e Iwas of the Cockof characteristics to
strike 10 whim and had Pndar stood out on this ocea
sion he would have brought the reputation OF ms
3 mother in question From that time he gave up al
particular attentions TO the ladies' and though he still
loves their company he has never been known to ei-
coed the bounds of common courtesy in his intercourse
with them. He the life and ornament OF our ial-
iy circle in town, until the epoch of the French Reyo-
luton which sent so many unfortunate dancing
masters from their country 10 polish and enlghten
our hemisphere. This sad time for Plndar, wAo
who had taken genuine Cockloft prejudice against
everything French, ever since he was brought 10
deaths door by TagOut: he grOaned at Ia Ira, ana
the Mmseiiles Hymn had much the same effect upon
him, that sharpening knife on dry milestone has
upon some peOple-it set lis teeth chatterIng. lie
might in time have been reconcled TO these rubs had
not the introduction Of French coekades the hats OF
our citizens absolutely thrown hun into fever Inc
first time be instance OF this KIND, he came
home with great precipitation, packed up his trunk,
his old-fashOned writing desk, and his Chinese ink
stand and made kind OF growing retreat TO Coekoit-
HALT where has resided ever since.
Ny cousin Pindar is of a mercuria disposition-a
bumoris without ill-nature--he is of the true gan
powder temper; fash, and all is over 1t Is true
when the wind is easterly, or the govt gives HIM
gentle winge be hears of any successes OF the
French, he will become little splenetie and heaven
help the man, and more particularly the woman that
bs humor at that momen-she Is sure TO re-
Ceive quarter. These are the most sublime moments
of Pindar. swear 10 you, dear ladies' and gentlemen
1 would not lose of these spenetic bursts for the
best wig in my wardrobe; even though it were
proved 70 be the identical wig worn by the sage
1inkum Fidelius, when he demonstrated before the
whole University of Leyden that it was possible
make bricks without straw. have seen the old gen
tleman blaze forth such volcanic explosion OF wit rid
cue, and SATIRE that was almost tempted to believe
him inspired. But these sales only lasted for mo-
ment and passed like Summer clouds the beneyo-
lent sunshine which warmed his heart and hgnted
Ip his cOunienanCe.
Time though il has dealt roughly with his person.
has passed lightly the aces OF his mind, and left
him in full possession of all the sensibties of youth
action bis heart mels at the story of distress and lie
is still warm adnrer of the fair Like all old bache
lors however be looks back with fond and lingering
eye on the period of his boyhOOd; and would sooner
suffer the pfngs Of mGtrmOny than acknowledge that
the world anything in it, half 80 clever as was
IN those good old times that are gone BY"
l believe have already mentioned, that with all his
good qualities he IL hunorist, and huInorst OF the
highest order. lie has some of the most ntoerabie
whim-yyhams | met with in my life and bis Oddl-
ties are sufficient to exc hundred toerabe origin
ais But will not enlarge ON theul-enough has been
told TO excite desire 10 know more; and am much
mistaken If, in the of half dozen of our
ber he don't tickle, plague, please, and perpeX the
whole town. and completely establish BIS claim TO the
Lurcateshp he has solicited and with which we hereby
invest him. recommending BIN and bis illusions TO pub
lie reverence and respect. LAUNcELoT LANGsTAFf.
COcKIOFT RAIL.
LAUNcELol LsNGSTAgT, EsQ.
COCKLOFT HALL is the country residence of the
family, or rather the paternal mansion; which, like
the mother country sends forth whole colonies 70 peo-
pic the face of the earth. Pindar whinsicav denom
mates the family hive and there is at least much
truth as humor in my cousins epithet; for many
swarm has II produced ! don't recollect Whether
have at any time mentioned to my readers, for sell
dom look back on what have written, that the fer
tility Of the Cocklofts ia proyerbial The female
members of the family most incredibly fruit
fui; and TO use favorte phrase of old Cock
loft who is excessively addicted to backgam-
mon they seldom fail g 10 throw doublets every
time" | myself have known three or four very N
dustrious young reduced TO great eXtremles, by
come of these capital breeders; heaven smiled upon
their union, and enriched them with "a numerous and
hopeful olspring-who eat them out Of doors.
But TO return 10 the Hail. Ii is pleasantly situated
L