The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-22
NE w BOOKS.

H9ohnctory sccount of her life and readings, by
Harvard Esq, q. c. l vol, limo DID sal Tick
! Waters "' " 'aneS o.
The world has pretty much forgotten that such
person as Mrs. Thrae was so famous, and as Mrs.
llozzl,-though unjustly, and but for time-so
almost infamous in her day, existed, when
remembered, she is recalled chiefly as one of the
niost Panent and careful keepers and feeders of the
ola hon OF English literature who called her his
'm'stress." and who was by her termed '.dear Mr.
johnson" The light and glory of this great star
has brought to the knowledge of men more than
one ot the satellites which revoved around it, both
to minister to and reflect its ustre. and who have
mus made themselves places in the Johnsonian sys-
TEN OF subordinate immortality. They were parts
OF the private life of great man-his birth his
ilIe, his parasites, whether they had private lives
vi their own, we know, and for the most part care
as httle as we do whether the moons of Saturn are
lhhaolted or waste. 1t required so MANY bad anal.
ities ds wei as good ones to tolerate Dr. johnson
'n"' the world acknowledges its obligations to
'hose who gloried to be under his woke without ba
slowing upon them its respect
The book before us, for which the columns of a dali
iy journal unfortunately afford no adequate space
| on aproper review will serve we think, somewhat
to modify this feeling. 1t shows one of the most
obSequiouS OF the followers of johnson in light of
er own, in which she must be allowed to appear to
| some advantage. Many more particulars are given
OF her distinguished and troublesome guest, and il
Is upon these that the attention of the majority of
ie"uerS' we suppose, will mostly fasten. To us,
! however, we confess the curious developments
which are herein made of the lady's own domestic
lille are OF the deepest interest, opening another
new, II not altogether strange view Of human heart
ana conduct She was, it is known, the wife of two
husbands; the first, Mr.. Thrale man of larre for
tune, and, for his day, of fine manners and educa
ton; her second, an Italian musician. named Piozzi
iier own original position was that of a Young lady
ot excellent family and good fortune, and her first
marriage one OF convenience and her second of in
eiinHtlCn. with Mr.. Thrae she passed some seven
'een years, the admired head Of his household one
Vi Tue most distinguished and hospiable of the day
was Ihe mother OF many children, of whom sever
al uauShterS grew to maturity and married poblv
oPon Nlr lhrale's death, which seems to have tru
~ Shocked her, she had a most handsome provision
maui LOT her support in her husbands will, and
Johnson, one of the best observers writes her in q
eter OF coincidence, that she had enjoyed happiness
IN marriage "tO degree of which, without ner.
sonal know ledge should have thought the dos
cripton fabulous"
Let us see about this. Mrs. Thrale kept diarv
called 1aralianG, in which she wrote her most So
cret thoughts and acts-s0 secret as still in tba
judgment of those who have it in possession IN ba
improper to be fully opened to the public. In this
she gives, as she understands it, her husbands
character; ''not because | in good or il-humor
with him, or be with me- for we are not capricious
people, but have believe, the same opinion of
each other at all places and times. X Mr.
Ihrae's person is manly, his countenance agrrea
pie, MS eyes steady and of the deepest blue; his
look neither soft nor severe. neither sprghly 3or
gloomy, but thoughtful and intelligent; his address
Is nelther caressve nor repulsive but unatfectedv
civil and decorous, and his manner more com
peteIy Tree from every kind of trick or particular
| lty than L ever saw any PERSONS. = < He lovas
money and is digent to obtain it, but he loves ib
erailty TOO, and is willing enough both to give
generously and to spend ashiOnably. His passions
elther are not strong or else he keeps them under
such command that they seldom disturb his tran
quIlty or his friends, and it must, | think be
Sonethng more than common which can affect !
MN strongly, either with hope fear, anger love |
or JOY. His regard for his fathers memory is re-
markably great, and he has been a most exemnIarv |
brother, though when the house of his favorte sis
ter was on fire, and we all alarmed en- account |
OF 1t, in the night. well remember that he never
rose, but, bidding the servant who called US, 90 to |
her assistance, quietly turned about and slept to |
ans and tSaa5 tSa d. nmur. 81 Mr.. Thrales sobrety
iree from oaths, ribaldry and profaneness make |
MIN man erccedtnyy comfortable to lire NTH. |
"hlie tue easIness OF his temper and slowness to
take offence, add greatly to his uoLue az domest;c
man Yet think his servants do not love him
and am not sure his children have much affection
Tor him. low people almost all agree to abhor him
as he has none OF that olicious and cordial manner
| which Is universally required by them nor anv
skill to dissemble his dislike of their coarseness
with regard to bis wife. Though little tender of her
person., he is very partial to her understanding:
put ne Is obiiglng to nobody and confers favor
less pleaSingy than many man refuses to confer
one johnson has great degree of kind
ness and esteem for him, and says if he would talk
, more, ms manner would be completely that of
perfect gentleman"
In 1873, June, after his recovery from his first fit
of paralysis she writes. ellis head is as clear az
ever; his spirits indeed are low, but thew will
memo; lew people live IN such of preparation
Jcr e,er"'ty, think, as n'y dear master has done
Shce IhdUe been connected cih him: regular in his
public and private devotions constant at he socro
ment temperate IN has appetites moderate in his
passions, he has less to apprehend from sudden
summons than any man have known who was
him."
This is the ladys picture of her lord, carefully and
deliberately painted. The reader finds it prose
version of Byrons character of Lord Henry
Amundeville in Don Juan. He was a cold, good
honorable man." &C., &c. Mr.. Thrale clearly
wanted in her estimation
''What pretty women-the sweet souls-call souIn
Now who was Mrs. Thrale deceiving or trying to
deceive? These memoranda seem to have been
sacra priCaa, if she had such things and vet here
is noble story told by her to the author of Pioz.
ziana;
81 had remarked to her that Johnson's readiness
10 condemn any moral deviation in others was in
man so entirely before the public as he was
nearly proof Of his own spotless purity of con-
duct She said Yes johnson was on the whole
rigid mnTalist; but he could be ductile [ NAV
say serVle; and will give you instance. We had
large dinner party at our house. johnson sat on
one side OF me, and Burke on the other; and in the
! company there was young female (Sophia Streat-
| Uh | ty,sl,,, a..
hrale super aively attentive to the neplect of ME
and others, especially of myself, then near nv con-
| hnement and dsmally low-spirited notwithstand-
! ing which Mr.. L. very uncerenOniousIy begged of
| me to change places with Sophy who was threat
| ened with sore throat, and might be injured by
| sitting near the door. | had scarcely swallowed
spoonful OF soup when this occurred and was so
overset by the proposal, that | burst into tears
! SAID something petulant-that perhaps the lady
might ere long be at the head of Mr.. T.'s table
without dlSplacing the mistress of the house &c
| and so left the apartment. | retired to the draw
lng-room, and for an hour or two contended with
| my vexation as best | could, when johnson and
| Burke came up. On seeing them, | resolved to
! give jo6ation to both, but fixed on johnson for
| my charge and asked him if he had noticed what
! passed, what had suffered, and whether allowing
| TOR the state OF my nerves, was much to blame?
! he answered, why possibly not your feelings were
| outraged said yes, greatly so; and cannot
! help remarking with what blandness and compo-
! sure you witnessed the outrage.
| "'Had this transaction been told of others, your
! anger would have known no bounds; but towards
! a man who gtUes good dinners, &c, you
! meekness ITSELF Johnson cOlnred, and Burke |
! thought, looked foolish; but had not word of
answer from either of them"
(We remark in parenthess that after the "con
fnement' occurred, said "Sophy" stood for the
child at its baptism.)
Again in of her letters she relates "Deqr
Mr.. Maugin said to me last week that his mother
saw me once at the theatre sparkling in diamonds
t the winter of l764. She wrote it down when she
came home-observing how beautiful you were-I
never possessed diamond iu my life, and never
was in theatre from nv first wedding day, till
my daug ghter-born in l764-went with me,' &c.
The explanation is that the person Mrs. Maugin
saw Polly Hart, Mr.. Ttrale's mistress, ,ohose
picture he a0ore on his bor, &c.
| 1t is moreover said that Mrs. Thrale always sus-
pected that Mr.. Crutchey, who was one of her
husbands executors, was his iegitimate son.
! There are other anecdotes TO show that Thrale's
! death was FASTENED by imprudence in eating and
drinking, and all these very happily illustrate his
wiies remarks above, that "few people live in such
state of preparation for eternity" &c; "regu-
| lar in public and private devotions" &C.; ''con-
slant at the sacrament" &c; temperate in his
| appettes, moderate in his passions" &c, &c.
What are We to make of all this2
Is this the hypocrisy that Thackeray tells us all
| agreeable married women blessed with which
Mrs. Thrale exhibits sitting down to write her bus
bands character in Thratiana2 If so it would al
most seem that the hypocrisy deceives the hypo-
crite! And then, how are we to regard her rela-