The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-03-14
LOVE LETTERS OF EMINENT PERSONS.

In one of his celebrated essays, Lord
Macaulay discusses the love letters of Sir
William Temple. He says that he would
very willingly exchange tons of State pa
pers for very moderate amount of these
love letters. The letters of William Tenn
pie to his Dorothy are certainly interesting
enough, and at this time of the year espe-
cialfy, may be associated with wider and
deeper sympathies than the Triple ALI
ance. Macaulay says that he would very
much like to know what proofs Of tender
ness young lady would be permitted to
give her lover. We should for our own
parts have thought that this was danger
Gus and distracting subject for historical
investigation, fraught with decided peril to
the historic mind. The first idea is that
he manners and customs of lovers do not
greai,,v vary in any age. This, however,
would perhaps be mistake. In the dia
logues of Erasmus the young lady refuses
to give her betiothed single kiss, CLASH
cally observing, Sc Ut me totam illibatam-
que tibi tradam." In some shades of So
ciety caresses have been strictly inhibited,
and it is interesting to see that Lord Ma
caulay had directed his powerful mind
towards the elucidation of the subject. In
the opinion of another great writer, with
whom Macaulay's mind had much in SYM
pathy, we mean Alexander Pope, love let
.Aters lie at the foundation of all literature.
hr &l,ax, fhn soft
Intercourse from soul to SOUL
9eaven frst taught letters for some wretch's aid
me banislfd lover or some captive maid:
ey live they speak, they breathe what love inspires
- arm from the soul and faithful to its fires
a ysIe virgins wish Without her fears, mpart,
Excuse the f'lush and pour out all the heart
Most of jus know by heart Mr.. Tennyson's
pretty, poem about THE Letters" how
" she gave my letters back to me, which
the young lover refused to receive.
~ "She told me all her friends had said,
ragged against the public liar:
She spoke if her love were dead.
But in my words were secls of fire.
spoke with heat and strength, and force
shook her breast with vague alarms,
Like torrents from mountains SOURCE
We rushed into each others arms.
Love letters always form part of the
choicest machinery of the poet and the
novelist. Pope's own letters, whether to
Lady Mary Wortley Montague, or to Erin
ma, OF to Martha Blount, are probably love
letters and we watch with much interest
their calculation by Mr.. Whitwell Edwin.
One of our most popular lady novelists dis
cusses with much force the great value of
these letters, and how men who are unable
by word of mouth to do themselves Justice
can nevertheless thoroughly reveal their
whole nature in their love letters. This is
probably very true. Many men get on
much better in paper work than in a glca
goce examination. At the same time it
must be very puzzling to many young
ladies of the present day to have highly
intellectual letters from their lovers. They
must be greatly puzzled when gentlemen
of a speculative tone of mind, or some
sucking young lion" of the press of the
future, sets forth his whole nature for
Amanda or Amata. AS rule. the letters
of any genius with a gift of utterance
must cause decided wonderment to the
finance, who will probably mainly rely
upon the endearing expressions at the
beginning and end, or any wax kisses that
may be discovered on the envelope. We
have heard it suggested that young ladies
in snch difficulties had better apply for
help to their brothers at college. That the
subject of love may not lose its power over
'te minds of young men, observe that
the sapient authorities of the University
of Cambrige have given as the subject of
gold medal this year,
Hominum Divumque voluptas
Alma Venus"
The love letters of eminent persons are
generally letters written before they be-
come eminent. A great author will not
confine his intellectual efforts to the penny
post when publisher will handsomely
remunerate him for revealing them to the
world. In the case of poets, large part
of their effusons might, without much
straining be brought within the category
of love letters. But then other "emi-
nences'' mostly write their love letters