Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-10
TIl;lCkeraY.

Mr. Reed. Thackeray's American friend,
an author Of charming notice, is We be
lcvc, distinguished dlplomati>t 1t is very
| evident that Thackeray loved him tenderly.
| Mr. Reed brother was Que of the passengers
who were lost VIXEN theAmerlcan mail steamer,
| the Arctic, was wrecked in 1854. Hear what
Thackeray says about it ; That CHASTITY strug-
Gle over, who would pity any man that departs ?
Il Is the survivors one comnllsserates OF such
good, pious, tender hearted man as he SEEM
ed, whom Gnd Almighty has just called back
to him elf. He seemed to ME TO have all the
sweet domestic virtues which make the pain
of parting only the more cruel to those who are
| left behind; but that loss, what gain to him !!
\ just man summoned by God, for what pur-
pose can he 90 but to meet the divine love and
such; and as you and for our children, mean,
more Pater Noster? So we say, and weep
with the natural selfish sorry | believe
said | should like to be going with him 10
the Arctic, and we parted with great deal of
kindness. please God, aud friendly talk Of a
future meeting May it happen one day, for
feel sure he was just man." The same sol
enn ideas find expression as beautiful in auoth-
er letter Il never feel pity for man dying
only for survivors, if there be such, passion
ateIy depIoring him. You see the pleasures
the undersigned proposes to himself here in flu
ture vears-a sight of the Aps-a holiday on
the Rhiue-a ride in the park-a colloquy
with pleasant friends OF an evening If it is
death to part with these delights land plea
>ures they are, and no mistakel, sure the mind
can conceive others afterwards; and | know one
small philosopher who is quite ready to give up
these plca,urcS-qnite cnutent latter pang or
two of separation from dear friends herc) to put
his hand into that of the summouing angel and
say-Lcad on, 0 messenger of G.,d our Father,
to the next place whittier the Divine Goodness
calls us We must be blind folded before We
can pass, know: but | have no fear about
what Is to come, any more than my children
need fear that the love of their father should
fail them Could anybody but Thackeray
have written these lines?
There is curious little incident in Thack-
cray 5 life which Mr.. Reed reveals to us for the
first time Thackcray seems to have liked
America SO much that he wanted to settle
there for few years at least. 1.-The Secretary.
ship of our Legation at Washington was vacant
the other day, and instantly asked for it; but,
in the very kindcst letter, Lord Clarendon
showed how the petition was impossible First,
Tie place WAS SlNcu away, ucA', IL "ouiu uot
be fair to appoint out OF the service. But the
first was an excellent reason, not q doubt of it.
So if ever [ come. as hope and trust to do
this time next year, it must be in my own coat,
and not the Queen j." But though he liked our
American cousins 50 well, Thackcray concealed
some of their little peculiartics Of manner
neither from himself nor from his correspondent:
THE European Continent swarms with your
people They are not all as polished as Ches.
terfeld | wish some Of them spoke French
little better. saw five OF them at supper at
Basic the other night with their knives down
their throats 1t was awful My daughter
saw it, aud Was obliged to say-'My dear,
your great great grand mother, one of the fuest
ladies Of the old school | ever saw, always
applied cold steel to her vlctuals. 1t s no crime
to eat with knife Which is all very we'll
bat wish five of them at a time wouldn't"