New-York tribune., 1872-03-12

nrades
,,ndimiuished reputation. At one time there was"
.-r,,.ro ,rrorn of Uomeric scholars among the
- -. "a frcouent discussions of high interest
go, froo their rcncontrc. When Grotc, Giadstone'
r,ooorIov M,lmau, George Lewis, Mure, and ha"-
, mot On the field of ancient controversy u kee',
cljision of wits was the consequence Skepci'' anu
enthusiastic belief we're both enlisted III the war u
,yords There was subject more pIoilhc vi ma
,;aIs for learned drpute than the IiOmcric poems
Mocaulays emaryelous memory here came INTO Iu'i
pIay in aid Of any opinions which ne espouseu' ipo
iovous humor Of Sydney Smith lightcned lhe inorc
solid and copious learning of Macaulay. me lht'er
was often redundant in speech ana argument ou'
never really overbcaring or oppressive TO an oppo-
ncnt. Lord Holland was also member % the Clup'
and one of the authors friends of more than thirty
years standing. 80,
The remarkable society at Holland House, which
has been 40 often described especially by Macanlay
has never been portrayed with more fe-ike natural
ness than in this volume During series of years,
there almost daily net arodnd luxurious table,
Succession Of guests so eminent IN various walks ot
life that their mere conjunction gave character to
the rennion English and foreign ministers and diplo-
maists men of learning and of science historians
poets artists and wits were so happily blended III
festive harmony, as to show tho magic Workings OF
mastery social genius. This was Lady Holland,
queen of society in her day, whose character mas
bcen yariously estimated according TO The aspect
nresepted 70 the observer Supreme in her own
house she exercised curious tyranny even over
guests Of tho highest rank and position. Though
apparently capricous, it was never without pur-
pose. She constantly aimed at the maintenance ot
power which she used with energy but not without
discretion No one knew better when to change her
mood She was very apt to give ofensebut always had
ttp
spite of the love Of intrigue, which was passion OF
her nature she possessed an innate generosity ana
kndliness of disposition. She never deserted an old
friend whatever his condition. IleT influence waS
! aided by wide reading. of which shs made diigent
| use Her management of conversation at the dinner
| table was study. She was often arbitrary and
guilty of rude Interruptions; at other times sic
would invite the subject, with graceful courtesy;
every guest felt her presence, and usually snccumbed
to if. Acute in her discernment OF merit and pre-
tense she was mercess in her treatment OF the lat
| ter Not 4 woman Of wit i'll words, she displayed
consummate practical wit in her relations to society
She maintained her position only by perpetual YlGI
lance and decisive action Herpolitical visitors were
almost exclusively of the Wing party. though She
was ALWAYS glad if she could catch stray Tory TO
| temper the social elements TIE best lcaycn how
ever was afforded by the adnixture Of literary men
and eminent foreigners whowe invited to her table.
Lord Holland himself came to it each day without
| knowing whom he was to find there. lie always
| sat at q corner of the dinner table and never ven
| tured to invite guest Bat ho greeted all alike
| with his genial smile, everywhere diiInsing the
| charm of his conversation and of the How and ie-
lcity of anecdote peculiar to himself He evidently
| enioyed the equivOca place which ho held ut bis
| own table. or rather that of his wife.
| We might pursue the rec0llections OF SIT Henry
| Holland TO the end OF his agreeable volume, con-
stantlv tempted onward by the artless simplicity oi
his narrative and the various interest of It's details
but our limits are than exhausted. though NOT
| we are sure the patience of Our readers. Rarely
| does an autobiographic work evincc snch freedom
from trvaliy and garTulity, on the one hand, and
from cgotism and it's attendant pomp Of expression,
the other The tone of the volume is that OF cor
dial trust in the reader equally removed from chilly
reserve and inordinate self-consciousnoss In
respect of style, Sir Henry Holland writes with the
| charming lucidity and natural grace which
we have frequently observed in the COM
| position Of men of literary culture in
| the medical profession, of which two signal
examples occur in the writings of DR.. Benjamin
Rush Of Philadelphia and of Dr.. James Jackson of
Boston. The author has shown his sagacity III
making boast Of his protracted age, or in en-
| nouncing the secret of its attainment. He il too
conversant with the laws of physical organization
not to know that his experience is an exception to
the general course of humanity; and that no pana-
cea can be given for the enjoyment OF intellectual
yiror or wise serenity of soul in "a surpusa
| of life. Build rs dcftly may, the human ma
chine follows the conditions Of its original structure
| and like the wonderful "onchoss shay Or the dea-
| con described by Wendell Holmes works only till
| il falls to pieces at last by lis own nature