Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-04-29

perhaps what our future intellectual ad
vaneemeat may make @8snsEslsamo0tss=.n n.
His person, at all event, was Thoroughly
American, and of the beet y pc, as were
likewise his rnan4eTs; .vT Ne. are the best
as we'll as the worst manBered people in
the world.
.Leigh Hunt loved dearly to be praised
Thatis to say, he desired sympathy as a
flo~er seeks sunshine, end perhaps profted
by u as much in the richer depth of color
ing that it impaired 10 bis ideas. In
response to all that we ventured to ex-
press about his writings, (and, for my
part, | went quite to the extent of my
conscience, which was a long way, and
there lett the matter to q lady and . young
girl, who happily were with me- his lace
shone, and he manifested great delight,
with perfect, and yet delicate, frankness
for which loved him. He could not tell
Us, he said, the happiness that such ap-
probation gave him it always took him
by surprise, he remarked, for-perhaps
because he cleaned his own boots, and
performed other little ordinary offices tor
himselfs-he never had been conscious OF
anything wonderful in his own person.
And then he smiled, making himself and
ali the poor little parlor about him beauti-
full thereby. 1t is usually the hardest
thing in the world to praise man to his
face but Leigh Hunt received the incense
with such gracious satisfaction feeling it
to be sympathy, not vulgar praise,) that
the only difficulty was to keep the en-
thusiasm of the moment within the limit
r hoA end
denly come up while we were talking !;
the rain poured, the lightning flashed, and
the thunder broke; but | hope, and have
great pleasure in believing, that it was a
sunny hour for Leigh Hunt. Neverthe-
favcrably inclined his ear, but to those of
my companions. Women are the tit min
listers at such shrine.
I" He must have suffered keenly in his
lifetime, and enjoyed keenly, keeping his
emotions so much upon the surface as he
seemed to do, and convenient for every
body to play upon. Being of q cheerful
temperament, happiness had probably the
upperhand. His was light, mildly joy
Gus nature, gentle, graceful, yet seldom at
from power for beauty, like woman, its
| T6DItSShtoOtfC, Will VIC
gentle, but yields its consummate favor
only to the strong. [ imagine that
Leigh Hunt may have been more beauti-
character, than in his earlier days. As
young man, could conceive of his being
tinical liz certain moods, but not now,
when the gravity of age shed venerable
grace about him. | rejoiced to hear him
FL H. fap dxxyifh
dent and cheering anticipations in respect
to future life and there were abundant
proofs, throughout our interview, of an
unrepining spirit, resignation, quiet.relin
quishment Of the worldly benefits that
were denied him, thankful enjoyment OF
whatever he had to enjoy, and piety and
hope shining onward into the dusk-all of
which gave a reverential cast to the feel
ing with which we parted from him. l
wish that he could have had one full
draught of prosperity before he died. As
matter of artistic proprlety it would
have been delightful to see him inhabit
beautiful house of his own, in an Italian
climate, with all sorts of elaborate up
hostery and minute elegancies about him,
and a succession of tender and lovely
women to praise his sweet poetry from
morning to night hardly know wheth-
er il is my fault, or the effect Of weak
ness in Leigh Hunts character, that l
should be sensible of regret of this ma
ture, when, at the same time, l sincerely
believe that ne has found an infinity of
better things in the world whittier be has
gone.
" At our leave taking he grasped me
warmly by both hands, and seemed as
much interested in our whole party as if
he bad known Us for years. All this was
genuine feeling, quick, luxuriant growth
out CT his heart, which was soil for flow
er-seeds of rich and rare varieties-not
acorns, but true heart, nevertheless
Several years afterwards met him for the
last time at a London dinner party, look
ing sadly broken down 10y infirmities :;
and my final recollection of the beautiful
old man presents him arm in arm with
nay, partly embraced and supported by, if l
mistake not-another beloved and hon.
ored poet, whose minstrel name, since he
has week day one for his personal occa-
sion, will venture to speak. 1t was
Barry Cornwall whose kind introduction
had first made me known to Leigh Hunt"