New-York tribune., 1876-07-13
Of France H. NJ Hunt Of Bristol A. B. Wertrup Of New
Y, TX and John Fretwell Of England
ROBERT BUCHANAN AND WALT WHITMAN
IN COURT.

The last London papers bring us full reports OF MI
Robert Buchanans libel suit against Z. A. Taylor, d.
p proprietor of The Examiner, on account OF certain
structures which appeared in that journal, Bu-
chanans quarrel with Swinburne is well ventilated
in the testimony. He acknowledges having written
the article on 1.-THE Fleshly School OF Poetry"
which was signed "Thomas Maitland" and pub
lished in The Contemporary Reriew. But all VINO
remember bis late insulting arraignment OF american
authors and his extravagant glorihcation OF Wait
Whitman will be interested in noting the suDdued
tone In which he speaks of the same author, when
confronted with certain passages from the latter
works Mr. Buchanan evidently hnds mat tnere Is
a vast difference between writing an .unconsidered
letter for newspaper and being interrogated on tie
witness-stand. We are at loss to harmonic his
illimtabe faith in our HomerMoses" las he styles
Walt Whitman with his guarded utterances before
the Court. We quote that portion of his testimony
together with the pth of his statement in regard 10
Swinburne:
Mr.. Hawkns-You say you have no il-wl against Mr.
Swnbunei - . ,,..or,, an
Mr. Iawkns~W.s the passage have read not written
by you a spirit Of yindlctiyencssi -. -
Wtuess-It was written under spirit OF great annoy
Mr. Hawkins-was it not written in spirit of vndic-
tyeneSsl -, .o,, ,,r,,
Mr. 'Hawkins-Intending 10 wound Mr.. swnburnet
"p yeodnS his panphet was in Scotland
at tie time, and forwarded my manuscript TO L9,on;
Mr. Hawkins-Oh! you were IN Scotland. Intie >
cooling air down there. iaugnterI lOa were yacn'hs'
wifness-No; not yachting. Twas living in Scotland
Mr Hawkins-Do you now regret having written what
Wtness~I regret having had quarrel with any in
diydua. - n, ,.+, sbat
Witness-Not altogether.
Wltness-I would recall il directly If the pamphlet were
recalled which Mr.. swinburne published Should GER
knew when the latter article that some O1 wait
Wnman poems were exceedI1yy u1ceao a ni b rt
ship and the jury 70 passage IN one OF Mr "ntm1h
POEMS which, said he could not read I'D court asker
the plaintiff, who also quietly erused II, whetef was
not as filthy As anything he pad ever reaui 81, anal, Ian,
Witne.s--f should certainly Da ashamed VI sueh IAN
guago This passage contains appearing III any "oA O
mine. g.. H.. 4,
WitnessGI think what have read must have been
written under total mlstake-parading thlnSs wheh
ought 10 have been kept the background; WHICH, III
decd, ought not 10 be written about at all 90 =.
Mr. Hawkins-Can you conceive Of any lustInc"llOh
for wiring such u thing as / have shown yOuI
Wimess-l can conceive of no jusuhclton put tne
mans yOuh at the time OF ITS publication, ana Ills non
Mr liawkins-Wou.d any language be too strong in
found IN vail WLitman's writngsi
Wimess-Certainiy not; not GOr the passages thelh-
Mr. Hlwdns-And you have written OF Mr.. Walt Whit
man ,-,.-, ...
eycTy lie utfS symbolic; he Is colossal hf-'!C
his grcaI .wVrA, the ID re OF when Is sllltuN
purty aud hoIih not Than % Lines Ol tlUl-
uuey indecent Kind, ana these 30 INES are lmDedatu l
passage, the uODivst sense aBagOnsuc 10 mere lts1 anu
Would II Ds passages OF the kind have shown you that
would lead yCu regard ana speak Of Wait hhHhdh d'
u colossal ny site F' 80
The WItloss-NO; it would be genera! peTusal oi his
works .,
Nj Hawkns-Did you ever publicly address an audi
euce on me subject Of Mr. swthbufnef al,
Wturs--CcltuuIy not lt would not DC worm the
trouble. ILouu laughterI ,.-..r,, !
Beng rrC galued by Dir Russell, the plainti teDOsed:
have vub.icly rcprObated the udecrnces WAlch apef
IN mr. Walt NntMaus poems. Iht man tone vi us !
wliluE however, - healthy and pure ana mol sensla
dr. Ru,s,tt himself published an English edition OF wan
Nhitmaus poems. Their author Is az present pdrdyled
IN body and means. large number oI chdltOlr
srsoIs tins country t~,steu IN the SUBSCRIPTIONS
started LIs behalf Sir. ryuburue ana MI koSstll |
among number. Both gentlemen are passionate al
uIlrer8 eel bir. " Hltmdu.
Na Eassc.Hyc you ever written anything in poetry
or prose which sou should object 10 my learned Etnd
r.aaiug To t.c IuIy II hC a. sired u DO sol
NIu,ss-Nuat whatever. have given readings OF my |
poems IN public. These readings nave been largely al
tended They nave been attended by tLc duchess oi
AIgIl. Lady GdiusDOrougn, ana mtuy Othtr ladlts !
There IS 70 word hope, Uf an nd'c"ut character III
al ny writing, and neither Ihe EIia erIJr any otneT
H.. suggested that ever have YeuiSd
woIA winch Is immoral.