Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-14
Dickens and Leigh Hunt.

In one ofthc recent numbers Of Al Tie Irar
Ro,nd Dickens quotes nm extract from tho closing
words which Leigh HINTS sun has appended to
his fathers autobiography descriptive Of the gem
teuess and goodness Of his iather character. Tho
younger Hunt says
Even Mt seasons Of tho greatest depression in
his fortunes ho always attracted many visitors, but
sui not M much from uny roputo that attended
him M for his personal qualities. Few men were
more attractive in society, whether in large com
pany the iiresidc. His manners were pccu-
linrly animated; his conversation, varied, ranging
over IL great field Of suhiecls, was moved and call
forth by the response oi his companion, bo that
rompani N philosopher or student sage or boy,
man or woman; aud no was equally ready for tho
most lively topics for the gravest rcilcctions---
his expression easily adapting itself to tho
touo OF his companions mind With much
freedom of manners he combined spontaneous
courtesy TINT never failed, and consile.
rntencss derived from n cesseless kindness of
heart that invariably fascinated even strangers"
Again:
''llis animation, his sympathy with what was
gay and pleasurablc. his ayowod doctrine of cul
tivntng cheertulncss, were manifest ON tho
face, and could ho appreciated by those who
knew him in society, most probably oyen exng-
gcratcd rs salient traits. which ho himself
insisted with u soriot gty and osienfdtious witui-
mss"
Dickens then adds that ho makes tho quota
tion not merely 10 bear evidence /, its truth and
Ia strengthen the generous estimate of the
son by his own testimony to the worth Of Leigh
Hunt. hut To correct erroneous impression
which had gone abroad MS to tho origin OF tho
character Of Harold Skimpole, in Bleak House.
lls says:
"Four or five years ago the writer of these limos
was much pninod by accidentally encounterng "
printed statement that Mr.. Leigh Hunt was tho
original of Harold Skimpolo in Bleak House Tho
writer of these lines is the author of that book
Tho statement came from America. 10 is no
disrcspcct to that country. in which tho writer
has perhaps ns many friends aud rs true an in
tercst any man TINT lives good humoredly to
state the fact, thnt hc has now and then been the
subect ofpnragraphs in tran satluntic newspapers
more surprisingly destitute Of all foundation in
truth than the widest dclusions Of the widest lu
natics. For reasons born Of this experience he let
the thing pass by.
"Bu since Mr.. Leigh Hunts death, the state
ment has been revived in England. The decacy
and generosity cvinced in it's revival nro for the
rather late consideration Of it's reyvcrs. The fnct
is this
Exactly those graccs and charms Of manner
which are remembered in the words we have quo
ted were remembered by tho author of the work
Of fiction in question when he drew the character
in question Above all other things, that sort Of
gay and ostentatious willnlncss' in tho humoring
Of n subject, which had many time delighted
him. and impressed him MS being unspoakably
whimsical and attractive was tho airy quality ho
wanted for the man ho invented. Partly for this
reason, and partly (hc has since often grievcd to
think for the pleasure it afforded him to find that
delightful manner reproducing itself under his
hand, he yielded t. tho temptation of too often
making the character speak like his old friend
He more thought. God forgive him that
the admired original would ever bc charged with
the imaginary vices of the icitious creature. than
he has himself ever thought Of ch rging the blood
Of Desdemona and O,helo on tho innocent Acad-
cmy model who snt for lagos leg in the picture.
Even rs to tho nero occasional manner, ho meant
to be SO cautious and conscientious, that he pri-
yately referred the proof sheets Of the first num-
Der of that book to two intimate literary
riends Of Leigh Hunt, (both still lving.) and
altered tbs whole OF that part of the text
their discovering too strong n resemblance to his
way"
He cannot see the son lay this wreath on tho
fathers tomb, and leave him to the possibility of
ever thinking that the present words might
haye righted tho fathers memory and were lot
uuwIitten. lie cannot know that his own son
may have to explain his father when folly Or
malice can wound his heart no more, and leave
this task undone."