Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-21
SYDNEY SMITH.

SYDNEY SMliu.
Sydney Smith commenced life as conn-
try curate in England, but soon removed to
Edinburgh. His daughter gives the fol-
lowing agreeable description OF Edinburgh
literary society at that period:
SIN the year 1897, the period, l be-
leve, at which my father arrived i'll Edm-
burgh with his pupil, Mr.. Beach: that city
was : rich in talent, full of men who have
acted important parts while they lived ana
many OF whom have left names that will
live after them: Jeffrey, Horner, Playfair,
Walter Scott, Dugald Stewart, Broughamn,
Allen, Brown, Murray, Leyden, Lord
Webb Seymour, Lord Woodhouslee, Ali
son, Sir James Hail, and many others.
Society at that time in Edinburgh, was
upon the most easy and agreeable footing;
the Scotch were neither rich nor ashamed
of being poor, and there was not that
struggle for display which so much dmin-
ishes the charm of London life, and has,
with the increase of wealth, now crept i'll.
to that of Edinburgh. Few days passed
without the meeting of some Of these
friends, either in each others houses, or
lin what was then very common) oyster
cellars, where, am told, the most delight
full little suppers used to be given, at which
every subject was discussed, with free
dom impossible in larger societies, and
with a candor which is only found where
men fight for truth, and not for victory"
The following is Mr.. Smiths account of
the setting up of the Edinburgh Re-
view:
"Toward tho end of my residence in
Edinburgh, Gin 1907 Brougham, Jeffrey,
and myself, happened to meet in the
eighth or ninth story or flat i'll Buccleugh
Place, tho elevated residence Of the then
Mr. Jeffrey. I proposed that we should
set up review; this was aeceded to with
exclamation. Twas appointed editor, and
remained long enough in Edinburgh to
edit the first number of the Review
The motto I proposed for the Review
was: Tenui musona medatamur aveaia.-
we cultivate literature OH little oatmeal
But this was too near tho truth to be ad-
united, 80 we took our present grave mot
to from Publius Syrus, of whom none of
lis had, I am sure, read a single line; and
SO began, what has since turned out to be-,
very important and able journal. When
I left Edinburgh it fell into the stronger
hands of Lords Jeffrey and Broughan,
and reached the highest point OF popular
ity and success"
Sydney Smith removed about this time
to london, where he lived for many years.
His society was courted by the learned,
the refined, and the aristocratic. lie, and
his family moved in the highest circles,
and habitually enjoyed all the social and
intellectual pleasures peculiar to that Cir
Gle. Suddenly, he is appointed to a seclu'
ded, and more than halfsavage parish in
Yorkshire In truth, the country people
of England, if not savages, are something
much lower and less interesting than saw
ages: and such are the peasantry Of al
Europe. The manner in which Smith ant
his family accommodate themselves Il
their new circumstances is the best com
ynentary we have ever read on marriet
life. 1t shows that happiness Is only to b.
found at home. and that 10 matter wha
that home be, if father, husband, children
and servants, love one another, and vii
work together, they may defy the taunt
and sfieers of tho outer world. We wi
give. a long. extract, which we think wi
cure cid bachelors Of the error Of thei
WAYS, and prove to them that the highes
and most rational happiness is: readily a
tainabIe by any family, who will only pm
together. In 1916, the,wheat in Norther
ENGLAND did not mature, and Tor who
wear Mr.. Smiths family had no bread, y
they lived happily and contented]y on
miserable substitute for bread:
aAll my efforts for al exchange havm
failcd. asked and obtained rom. III
friend the archbishop, another year .
build in: and | then set my slionaoef.
tie wheel in good earnest: sent 'o 'aa
architect; he rrodaced plans t nat S w.
have ruined mo. | made him DOW ,o+ar
build for glory, sir; I for use' r ,.,.a,',
ed him lis plans, with five.aaa q, LA
pounds, and sat down IN my LIMA ~,
Chair and in few hours Mrs: sydney al y
I had concocted plan which has proc c,
ced; what / call, the model OF q parso"aE