Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-11
CHARLES LAMB.

We make the following selections from
"Charles Lamb, Memoir, by Barry
Cornwall"
Persons who had been in the habit of
t-aversing Convent Garden at that time
(seven and forty years ago) might, by
extending their walk few yards into
Russell street, have noticed small,
spare man clothed in black, who went
out every morning and returned every
afternoon, as regularly as the hands OF
clock move towards certain hours. You
could not mistake him. He was some
what stiff in his manner, and almost cler-
ical in his dress-which indicated much
wear. He had a long, melancholy face,
with keen, penetrating eyes; and he
walked with short, resolute step city
wards. He looked no one in the face
for more than moment, yet contriyed
to see everything as he went on. No one
who ever studied the human features,
could pass him by without recollecting
his countenance it was always full OF
sensibility, and it came upon you like a
new thought, which you could not help
dwelling upon afterwards; it gave rise to
meditation and did you good This half
clerical man was Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb was about forty years OF
age when l first saw him; and l knew
him intimately for the greater part OF
twenty years. Small and spare in person
and with small legs unrnaterial legs
Hook called them), he had dark com
plexion, dark, curling hair, almost black,
and grave look, tightening up OCCASION
ally, and capable of sudden merriment
His laugh was seldom excited by jokes
merely ludicrous; it was never spltetul
and his quiet smile was sometimes mex
pressibly sweet-perhaps it had touch
of sadness in it. His mouth was well
shaped his lip tremulous with express
sion his brown eyes were quick, restless
and glittering, and he had grand head
fall of thought. Lcight Hunt said he
had a head worthy Aristotle. Hazlitte
calls it 4 fine Titan head, full of 4" dumb
eloquence.
Instances of his humors are to be found
in his essays, in his sayings, and through
out his letters, where they are very fre-
ouent. On being asked by a school
mistress for some sign indicative of her
calling, he recommended THE Murder
of the Innocents."
once said something which | thought
possessed smartness. He commended
me with a stammer: Very well, my
dear boy, very we'll: Ben (taking pinch
of snuff Ben Jonson has said worse
things than that-and BIB -better" D."
His saying to Burney has been often
repeated: "0h, Martin, if dirt were
trumps what hand you would hold !"
To Coleridge: Bless you, old soph-
ist, who, next to human nature, taught
me all the corruption / was capable of
knowing"
To Mrs. H., of a person eccentric;
"Wby does not his guardian angel look
after him He deserves one. May be
he has tired him out J.
To Frenchman setting up Voltalres
character in opposition to that of Christ,
Lamb asserted that "Voltaire was a very
good Jesus Christ-:for The French r.
Of Scotchmsn: His understanding
is always at its meridian. Between the
Affirmative and the negative there is no
border land with him: You cannot pal.
aver with him on the confines of truth.
Once whilst waiting in the Highgate
stage, woman came TO the door, and
INQUIRED in a stern voice, Are you quite
full inside q "Yes, ma'am, said
Charles, "quite; that plateful of Mrs.
Oilman's pudding has quite filed US"
Mrs. K, after expressing her love for
young children, added tenderly, And
how do you like babies, Mr.. Lamb 2 His
answer. Immediate, almost precipitate,
was, Boi-boi-boiled, maam.