The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-15
imam or poet, let us take him as the eloquent
"scholar and be thankful

"scholar and be thankful"
But still moro severe is Miss Martineau's
Judgment OF De Quincy, especially as regards
his relations with Wordsworth. Having writ
ten to the poet in terms OF admiration and
sympathy, he was invited to Westmoreand
valley and shared largely in the hospitality and
kind offices Of the fastidious poet. In return
for this treatment. he wrote series Of letters
exposing everything which he knew to the
disadvantage OF the Wordsworths. little
anecdote i'll condection with this passage of
Dc Quinceys life, rotated by Miss Martneau,
is worth repeating. can old friend was talk
"ing with him by the freside, and mentioned
do Quincey's magazine articles. Wordsworth.
'begged to bs spared any account Of them say
sing that the man had long passed away from
"the family life and mind; and he did not wish
ITO rufae himself in a useless way about
''I1sbehavior which could not be remedied.
''The friend acquiesced, saying, We'll, T will
"'tell you only one thing that he says, and then
"'we will talk OF other things. He says your
"twife is too good for you.' The old poets
''dim eyes lighted up instantly, and he started
"from his seat and flung himself against the
''mantlepleoe, with his back to the fire, as he
"cried with loud denthusiasm--sApd that's true!
tempt for the traitor were visbly moderated"
One Of the most striking sketches in the
volume ls that of Lord Brougham, with whom
Miss Martineau was at one time on terms Of
personal friendship. Vanity, she says, con-
sumed the resources Of his mind and charac-
ter. There was constitutional want Of bal
ance which paralyzed tho action Of his noble
intellectual powers. The main clement OF his
life was inconsistency, it being even doubted
by those who knew him best, whether he
would ever fulfill any of his virtual pledges to
the people. The sketch 1s concluded with a
rather happy comparison tLord Broug ham
''was at his chateau at Cannes when the first
introduction of the daguerreotvpe process
''took place there; and an accomplished neigh
s'bor proposed to take view Of the chateau.
with group Of guests in the balcony. The
"artist explained the necessity Of perfect i'm
mobility. He only asked that his Lordship
and friends would keep perfectly still for five
'oeconds;' and his Lordship vehemently
promised that he would not stir. He moved
"about too soon, however, and the conse-
'quence was-a blur where Lord Brougham
should be; and so stands the daguerreotype
view to this hour. There is something mourn
fully typical III this. In the picture of our
century, as taken from the life by history,
this very man should havs been q central
figure; but now, owing to his want Of stead
"fastness, there will be forever-a blur where
''Brougham should have been.'
Miss Martineau gives some hne sketches of
eminent women, drawn with discrimination
and free from any tinoture OF envy or dispar-
agement. The tragic features ia Mrs. jane
1,,oto ;~rl,k
tioe is done to her merits in tho sphere OF PIC
turesque description and @sthetio criticism.
A uniform impression is left by her writings
and her character. ''that OF q warm hearted
and courageous woman. of indomitable sooi-
liability Of nature, ln go liberallties, and deep
''prejudices." The notice Of Charlotte Bron te
is unequal to the interest of the subject con-
sistlng chiefly Of superficial and desultory de-
tails, with no attempt at philosophical analy.
sis OF her character. or Miss Milford, she
commends the attractive cheerfulness and
charming humor which frightened her delight
full style, though she denios her claim to any
insight into passion, the depths or human
character, or tho coupe OF human experience.
The book as a whole is one Of the most valu-
able that have recently been published. It is
an admirable literary production, notwithstand
ing the drawbacks Of which we have spoken:
and it will, better than any other work of
which we know, make the reader acquainted
with men and women who are part OF the his
tory of the times. AS we have said, the tale
OF their lives is not always impartially told: but
it is better to know them az Miss Martipeau
knows them, and according to her honest
Judgment, than to wait idly for that per-
feet biography or personal history which
may come with the millennium, but will not
come before.
The book is printed with antique type, on
tinted paper, with broad margins and side
notes.