New-York tribune., 1872-12-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
FORsTER'S LIFE or DICKENS.
fu.-...r N,TfawW

Will doubtess call forth feeling of disappointment
even among the readers who regarded the hrst
;nstaIlment Of the work equally unworthy OF the
s1biect and of the author 1t is made up in great
mart of outward details too trivial for remembrance
recorded in q diflOse aud languid narrative, ana
of slight significance as an illustration OF the
character of the ilustrous novelist Mr.. Forster
as usual omits opportunity TO make /
emphatic mention Of himself. dilutng the
recital Of events by expressions Of personal
eootiSn Nor does he present the subject OF
the memoir in so favorable light as to give unqnal-
fled pleasure to his hosts of admirers MI Dickens
is described as a man of eager and mpulsive tenn
peroment morbidly selfcOnsciOus, singularly sens
tive TO the opinion sof Others, of a sweet and |
sunny good nature, quickly touched by the
sight of suffering, but without large gen
etaI sympathies, and with innate
Ieyitv of disposition that disguised his claims to
dignity Of character. The most attractive portions
Of the volume consist of its incidental notices OF the
writer's artists and other celebrated men who were
ON terms of intimacy with Mr.. Dickens, and which
often throw a clearer light his tastes ana haDltS
than the more elaborate statements OF the narrative
During the period which it comprises, from 1872 to
1851 Dee was in the prime of his buoyant activity,
producing the works which paved the way to his
PROSPEROUS fortunes and established.his fame on q
permanent foundation.
volume opens lliIncOldtelF dlttl tO Aotuih VI
Mr. Dickens from his first visit to the United States
(oT the States" according to the vulgar Cockney-
ism which Alr Forster usually adopts in speaking
al this couutry). ." BY the sound of his CHEEKY
voice SAYS oar ecotistic Boswell first knew that
he was come and from my house we went together
toMacse. also without moments warning"
Greenwich dinner followed, in which Ialfourd,
Mines. Proctor and several other friends took part,
but the most special celebration was reserved for
Autumn, whom hOme-jOurney was arranged with
Sianhe.d Maclise, and myself, Tor his companions
into some scenes of O picturesque English county
which the majority of us had not seen before. An
irrelevant btof cosspng egotsm about Mr.. Longfel-
lowis pleasant enough, however to be be quoted BE
fore our departure he was occupied by preparation
Of the American Notes. and to the same interval be-
longs the arrival in London of Mr.. LongIellow who
became his guest aud for both of MS am privileged
10 add our attached friend. Longiellow's name was
not then the pleasant and familiar word 1t has since
been in England; but he had already written several
or his most feicous pieces and he possessed all the
qualities of delightful companionship the culture and
The charm. which hayenohighertype or example than
the accomplis ned and geaIal American. Hereminded
me when lately again n England, of two expert
enccs ou lauywe had enjoyed together THIS quar-
ter of 20 century before. one OF tlemiwas a day at
Roehos..l. when. mc5 by ono OF those prohibitions
which are the wonder Oi visitors and che shame o.
Erclislncu, We oycrle2pt gates and BARRIERS ana,
sfilp et .Gance repeated threats of all the terrOrs
of the lew coarssy expressed TO MS by the custodian
If the place explored miuutely the castle ruins.
,cot..r,asa l- -lt among those portions Of the
popu,...1n which outrage law and defy its teTrors
pl the davs of their lives the tTamps and thieves OF
London. when, under guidance aud prOtec-
to1 of the most trusted officers Of the two
great metropolitan prisons afforded 10 us by
Mr. ClastyJtou and Lieut.. Tracey, We went over
the worst haun.s of the most dangerous classes"
TheI introduced Iu 10 the " American Notes, itwoud
seem. ygas Of 50 doubtful character in the view of
The author that ne could not make up his mind t0
send it to the press without the consent of the Men
tor whorow Performs the part ~ photographer In
"our coufagepe,ra~ we decided against it; on his
arsEssrtlactantly, that had 10 undertake for its
publiclteu when more isting time should arrive"
r., fhe opinion OF 3Ir Forster that time has now
rome, and ne accordingly gives the chapter, as 1t
was. originally written by Mr. Dickens. 1t Is
a verbose. confused aud rather feeble production,
tamcly apoloCizing for the candor with which he
had commented on his personal experiences IN Amer
.icsn travel The most significant passages, which
we bore quote, viii give an idea of the tone and
spirit o. 4 chapter for the suppression OF which 1t
wouli DE- dilicult to conjecture plausible reason
"T.i.f.oyis auv what f. claims 70 be-a record Of
nciluur. u.s rec .ye4 from day TO day, during my
w..-) , l. cJ.. 10 which they, and a1ter-reiec-
H . - t
ils.i tIo.s4: of the institutions l visited Of the
Iudol poDf4o among whom JOuIueyedi ana OF tne
Very many works having inst the same scope and range
lgyc i.e already published, buJ think that these two
volumes stand in need apology on that account
TIC inter s., O such productions IL hey nave any, ue5
tu tho varying impress made by the same novel
incs dfer,rt minds and not in new discoveries or
can 'ascey be supposed to be ignorant Of the laz-
ar ruu M writing or America at all. know perfectly
W. i ael b. rsons prone to be dissatisfied with
al accounts OF the Republic whose citizens they are
which are lot cOucLed in terms OF exalted aud eX
frv9..t praise. know perfectly we'll that there Is
I'm America. ls in most other places lad down III maps
O.. trc goat World numerous LASS VI persons 10
icar .L. truth in any form. Aud 90 not need the
it of prophecy discern afar on, that they who Will
u.-s n these pages, ana 20 show beyond any doubt,
tiat tnv are perfectly inconsistent with that grateful
and enduring recollection which profess 70 entertain
0i toe welcome ioun0 awaiting ue Deyona the Atan15
fie-Ul he certain native JOURNALISTS, NeraclOus ana
rr.tlemaIIy, were 40 great pains 70 prove 10 me-
AL occasions during my say thee' tua1 INC alores"lu
welcome was utterly worthless -, ,.,
'But ycatUIiug 10 dissent even from these high au
tholites formed my own opinion OF It's value III inc
putsc l retain 20 THIS hour; and IN asserting tas
invariably dad usN public OccasOns) my liberty and
necdom of speech while was among the Americans
nr9 ir rran.tai.ug it at home. believe that best
slow uy OF the high worth oi that welcome, and
cffg Lora ,o singeuess OF purpose with which was
,.xffnQr O me- From first 10 last saw, in the friends
slo crowded round ne IN America, ola readers, over
,r-fsful and Oyer-'artial perhaps, to whom j had
nrf been the means furnishing pleasure and enter
fli.igl9t nor q vulgar herd who would Halter and ca
iO. .rurer turning with closed eyes from all the
ileir es of the nation and into chanting It's praises
win the discrimination a street ballad-singer. From
Ils 20 last J saw, in those hOspltaMe hands nome
made wreath OF laurel; aud not an iron muZIe disguised
beneath q flower or two. .,,
..Yhefc!Ore take-and hold myself not Only JUSTIFIED
IN Eiag, but bound 70 take he pan course Ol say lng
what tnnk and noting wnat sa" ana as II is not my
custom q exglt what 10 my judgment are f0Dles auu
abuse 40 home, nave no lntenonot s9itenng down.
0y go1lug over, those mat nave observed aDlodu'
Ills book should fan the hands OF any sens-