The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-22
Charles Dickens.

twenty-five years Since. Why is it that a
man NAV not come to this country and be
permitted to enjoy himself quietly after
his own fashion snd according to his own
taste9 Why may not he thus be left to
the private social courtesies Of life-to such
pleasure as his own freedom and the undis.
turbed indulgence of his own desires may
secure to HMM short, to that delightful
plunge-bath Of comfort known as mine
ease in mine inn?" The northern metro
nol;tan communities are peculiar. They
demand periodically that somebody shall
be sacrificed to the undying passion for
nnh]ic display and absurdity which exists
among them. Anybody who has Euro
mean reputation, whether for destructive
ness or popular writings-whether for war
ring on the. peace Of society with the sword
or with the pen-whether for originating
had theories or graphically describing bad
noo,le-must be seized and shown off
amidst an amount of vulgar display and
fnss and excessive eating and drinking,
and worse than all, bad speaking and
wretched wit, such as was never equalled
in the world, and it is to be hoped may
never be anywhere else on the globe.
Mr.. DICKENS is writer in his own way
unsurpassed more, because no one ever
entered the same field, than Of any tran
scendant abilities he may possess. Men
have gone before him whose works will be
fresh and green when his will have been for
gotten !; for, Notwithstanding their clever
ness, they have been so marred by the temp
tations to amplication Of the "serial !"
publication that they will be weighed
down by their own ponderosity. There is
nothing in all that he has done, however,
that should set people crazy to worship
him-or to prosecute him. He is neither
50 great light as to call forth greater
display of public honors than has been
awarded to other great authors; nor is he
SO great sinner as that he should be de-
MED all peace and quiet by set of per
sisting, permeating, and ignorant toadies,
who may be truly suspected of endeavor-
ing to honor themselves more than their
victim by aspersing him with their batteries
and torturing him with their disgusting
attentions.
Boz has given some indication of his APP
probation Of these people. In Martin
Cht.sletoit and his american Notes he
sharply punctured them; but, from the
signs, they are like the spaniel, only to be
the more inclined to fawning because of
the punishment they have received. How
ever, as the English novelist comes now to
make money by lecturing, he may be
rather inclined to little lionizing of him
self, as that may help on the main bust
ness for which he visits America once
more. But we shall probably see that he
will be as ready to satirize the people he
will in this way use as formerly.
Mr.. DICKENS is q man of genius, but moi
the first that has appeared by long way
nor is he the greatest-by q bakers dozer
at least-that has been vouchsaled 10 Inc
world. He, too, has his own shortcomings
quite in sufficient degree to show that h'
is mortal. He is man very much glVei
TO the passion for style and those eAtraVa
eances in life which grow from ambition
epotism. and pride. His sympathles arr
not 90 much with the characters whlcl
NAV upon his mimic stage as might be sup
nosed and he regards the incense ant
fattery of ostentatious parades more a
the AFFECT applause Of the vassals to the
lord than as the voluntary honors of indie
pendent and intelligent people. Mr.
DICKENS is, indeed, fully aware Of his owl
attributes as an author, and proud enough
to consider that all court paid to him i
fully recompensed By the reflected homo
from him upon those who thus purchase
his recognition
In this part of the world we appreciate
Mr.. Dickens at his true worth. We read
his books and enjoy them. When he came
here twenty-five years ago ne was treated
as a gentleman. Nobody went crazy. He
was entertained quietly at cosy dinner,
at which few of our most distinguished
citizens honored him with their presence.
Nobody beslavered him with fattery, and
nobody logged him with attentions. lie
returned to Europe, and had the i'll grace
very much to abuse US and our country
(Virginia) and even in his "Notes" to in
sert lies-lies that could be proved to be
lies by positive testimony. But what Of
that! Ourpeople never cared fig about It,.
They did come to the conclusion that they
had bestowed upon a man Of considerable
well-earned fame attentions which regard
for the ordinary rites Of hospitality seemed
to demand-attentions paid, too, with no
sacrifice Of one little of independence or
seh-respect-which, it turned out, were
unoeSerVed and unappreciated. That was
.no iau'' OF the recipient, and not theirs
'heir pfioe was not at all wounded. and
lhelr temper not at all runied.
wen, let the people Of the portborn
cities repeat their follies if they will, u
Boz comes here-and we are by no mean,
dying to see him-there will be no mani
ieS'at'on OF ,reasured-up feeling towards
MN. Our people will enjoy him in hi.
vocation as they would the talents Of any
public man or player who seeks money
through public applause, and be content
II he is man of refined feelings and true
discretion, so will he be. If he is not, wbv
1t is not at all incumbent upon the uuhlic