New-York tribune., 1874-05-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
.ncrur APT AND SOCIETY.

"A
Henry Holt Il Company
The subject Of this memoir was In nowise remark
able for original power or literary attainment lie
had certain ambition for Ienowu in authorship,
but never achieved any considerable success. No
production of his pen has left any durable impress
sion. Nor were there any salient incidents IN hls
life to call for the elaborate biography which the
present work is founded. The only interest that
can attach to his name is derived from his personal
relations with some of the eminent literary men OF
his day, and the "reminiscences and anecdotes OF
which his correspondence and journals have pre-
served the record In this point of view, the vol
nme now issued may be welcomed by the lovers OF
goesiping details in society and hterature-ahd ther
tribe is as countless the leaves OF the torest-and
will be found to afford good deal of entertainment
If only small store of instruction MIR. Chorley for
thirty y-fve years the staff OF the London
"Athenaum' and while he filed that post was on
terms of more less intimacy with the scholars and
poets of the period many of whom were attached to
him a genial companion, and others perhaps as an
appreciative friend
Mr.. Chorley's early experience of life was IN the
bustng seaport of Liverpool-which at that time as
at present the gate at which American travellers
first knocked seeking to fulfill their destiny by
admission to the European paradise-where he was
employed American mercantile house, situa-
tion which he cordially detested. He mixed, how
ever in cultivated circle of society, which often
presented SCIENCES that gratifed his taste and fur
nished him with materials for the study of charac-
ter. Among these was the company of American
sea-captains and their wives who were frequent
guests at the tables to which he was invited. His
description of these ladies, who out pleas
ure tour, presents rather an amusing contrast to
Hawthornes comments on the steaks and sirIoins'
of the ponderous English danes
think Of them a fne hearty, wholesome race OF
m
perior TO anything analogous OF homegrown whlen
an air, sometimes 1 % GALE of freshness into
society which, in those days was restricted and there
FORE given up struggles and demarcatons of petty
class insolenee. happily over forever. They had
strange seastores TO tel-sometmes with rich allow;
that restlesness which is so marking feature in the
have good time Of it, by way of frolic; aud as a
class jolly hearty original these wives were-fond
but In no ease that recolect unwOmanly break
ing those innate laws OF good breeding which do not
depend orthodox speech OF minute suoseryience to
One Of these cheery beings especially lives in my
pool and who passed many an evening ny CUR Preside
clearly as nearly h,f century had not passed,
seertaiS orange F"e OF Canton Grape, and the gold
chain sHss ht forehead ornamented IN the center as
seen the sadly speaking portrait OF MahoraD will know
what mean. That Was mere tewel-drop worn, as
have rangehower bud spaiu lust to bang
beneath the parting Of the hair, But whereas oher
had Seihonght herself of a small French watch, the
hands OF which went round, and which licked in
excrutating manner
Mr.. Chorley made the acquaintance Of a noted
American poet Mr. N F. Willis, during one of the
early visits of the latter to Great Britain, with
whom he is said to have contracted a certain super
fetal intimacy hut which from the contrasts in their
character and tastes could not have been of long
continuance The portIaiture of versatile and
brilliant eOuntryman taken in 1884 exhibits traits
by which he viii be easily recognized and which
were more or less strongly marked in his walk and
conversation throughout his life.
In the Autumn of 1884, while travelling in Italy, Mr.
with my elder brother. Tis gentleman had given
letter for my brother to Mr. Willis who gathered nitro
circle sOlCItousy than any one whom have ever
SSasc naturally X % of the
whom Letter was addge5sed ana was as md ast
Srss SSreeaSs ss0 found Mr. Wills and kindly his
Way though filulsy in his requirements and hashy
in his manners-a thorough literary getter-on, but
beiter-natured one than many have since known Al
that time OF my bfe 1t seemed necessity Tor me 10
10 talk over my schemes WIN ana snow
my attempts 10. He. too, seemed TO have the same
fancy, though was au unequal DaTga SINCE ne Wroe
much less because far more carel uy han l. ih.snorl
intimacy that could not under any circum-
stances have lasted long but Which, while II ana last
was pleasant TO bOth.'
Amore minute account written three years after
confirms the impression that was made upon Choir
ley at first sight
There something very agreeable aud fascinating
in his manner-a sort Of gentle hattery that made yo4
have been always too prone to attach myself TO
who would let me, took him up at once on his own
and about my means with as much less Of thought
as be cleverness And believe for time,
he did like Inc in his way; gave me good advice about
dress manners, &c.-a little too maSnifcenty nOW
thnk-and certainly was of use to me IN making me
modulate my voice. We passed a part Of every day
together; dreamed dreams ana schemed schemes. and
canvassed tailors' bills, &c. He read to his
"Meanie in progress and which was better listened
rsa@ & n% ason to NV y sSa' SS who
was then hs great patroness ana friend and hls he
gave her with many kind words. II was Love al Sea
on which she expressed a wish to see me.
The introduction to Lady BlessingtOn proved the
commencement of a friendship with that remarka
BILE woman, of whom he gives some agreeable remn-
iscences written i'll the sweetest milk of human
charity.
Lady Blessington was then gathering about her n
Gle of the younger literary of London, IN addition
before her wdowhood. 1 went with Willis 10 the studio
of Mr. Rothweli, who was engaged on hilfength por
was introduced to her She said few kind words IN
that winning and gracious manner which no woman's
welcome have surpassed; ana from that
moment I'LL the day OF her death in Paris,
eIpsreneed only long course Of Kind ana
port and evil report for those TO whom she prOfesSed
friendship such faults as she had belonged 10 her
position TO her past history, aud the dOyalty OF
many Who paid court 10 her by paying court to her
precatin rc ports OF the w.t. the banter the
Ibe epigram, which but for their urgings and lncite
meats would have been always kindly however nhrth-
She must have had originally the most sunny OF
sunny natures As 1t was have never seen anything
her vivacty and sweet cheerfu!uess during the
early years when knew her. she had
singular power OF entertaining herself by her
own stories; kecnness Of Ir1shwOman in
relshing fun and reparee strange turns OF language,
and bright touches OF character. fairer, kinder
nSlyersnl rec OF everything lna came within the
The only genuine author whose merits she TO
admit was Hood aud yet she knew Rabelas, and de
on beauties rather than faults. Critical She could
be. anu as Jud'eioqsy critical as any woman have