New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MEMOIRS OF pE oUNCEY.

The admirers Of DE Quincev have always been con-
fined to a comparatively limited circle which at
tachcd a greater value 10 spleador of dction ard
aainencc of illustration than 10 consecutvencSs of
thought or lucidity of statement His massive sen
tcnces succeeding each other in endless nvolntions,
like the accumulated Granlcurs OF mountain ranges,
until they were lost sight of the distant clouds
have produced an imposing effect the reader, APP
pealing TO his love of the vast and unknown, and
dazzling his fancy without affordinE rcfrcshment or
light 10 his intellect. The literary taste of Boston
publisher has made De Quincey's name familiar to
the American public, and surrounded 1t with halo
Of admiration which he never enjoyed In his own
country. His eTratc and mysterious life has add'd
to the fascination of his writnga among those
who estimate the quality Of genius by its departure
from the customary rules Of conduct while IT gained
no sympathy from the robust good sense and prae-
teal tone Of the English character The story of his
mental experience is well told IN his remarkable
book Of Confessions" 10 which little added IN the
present volumes, of which the chief interest CON
sists in liberal selection from his correspondence,
ard a variety Of personal details winch confirm the
impressions of his character produced by his WRIT
ings In connection with De Quinceys letters, there
are numerous extracts from those which he received
from various literary men among his acquaintance,
some of which are now published for the first time,
ed form one of the most attractive features Of the
Sork One Of these letters is from Thomas CARLYLE,
who had become interested in De Quinceys contrbu-
tions to the London Magazine" and had met him
on some OF his visits to Edinburgh During his rus
ticaton in the wilds of CraigenputtOch Carlyle IN
vited the Opium Eater who was then at the
hight of his fame TO become his guest for while in
letter never before published, containing the fol-
lowing passages among others describing his lonely
country life half a century ago.
"CrAIGr NpUTroCH. 18th December. 1923.
Nv ms A T. the UNITY OF "a FRANK, l
cannot resist tie tatiou to send YOU lew lines,
were il only 10 SIGNIFY twn weislers of yours are
sl alive these remote aud often thinking OF
you with the old friendly feeiinss nv VIII CIV ,9
ne in this innocent rurpose she mas learned atN uu'
you were inQuring for her OF female riend; ~
esin sort botn OF atn to sly, therefore, that
your presence TINS iresde will dhnse no ordinary
warmest welcome. and such soacemcnts a. even tue
desert dos not reiu,e are u any ne ana ~ i x -l
t1n so imrractcabc. We lie but short way out OF yCn
roads wit Dunfries and other places IN the habrable
globe. Were you to warn us of your apfoien IL might
all he made easy enough Aud then sncl tret II Hota
hitherto quite s1vag VOLS where since me creioh %
tho world no such music, scarcely eN en- e. %
had been uttered DIRE med OIL Come, mere ore Goe
and see rs: for often long ater YOU Nay, eau
promise too tbat we are almost unigue sgn NH; W.
Bisl Empre such quantity OF GERMAN prIloui.t'is
aud mysc speculation en- bos0ned III pam oto'tls.
IctDoor being nowhere else thai Know oI 10 Dc met
with; - . .,,ot,.,os ,roioct foundine n sort of
coin,V 5rrr 10 he caiiei the Misantnropic Society :;
the settlers all 10 be men o. certain pmcs1iIic
Sach no nave his own cottage encrced with roses or
thes rs he mi .ht prefer library and pantry within,
and iIce stack of turf fuel without; fenced OF iron lis
glbOIs by fir woods and when ne pleiseu, ny V"s.
metal rang that each might feel himself s SnS 1ii
Individual. free son OF the wilderness; bu te
whole settlement TO meet we'kl over con a. d ami
unite in Their hiSereTe, or what were pe.teI h'r i
forth their defiance, pity exlOstulatOn over TIE W0e
pace rnrcl, litter site Tor such an establishment tn
your IAIe C,ntry-a region aboundlng IN IatHtal
tufosque tourists. aud otherwise exceedingly desttiaId
by too frequent resort whereas here, though sun III
cpuru utff
solitude altogether Druidicil-gum mis- telahted
chiefly by the Wild grouse and brooks that have
soaked aad sumbcrcd unmOlested siuce The DEUCE
Oi Noah, and nothing 10 disturb you with siecch except
Arctdrus ana Orion, and the spirit Of nature. III IN
heaven AND n the Cath rs IL malicss sel III anger OF
love ard utt,s its ineXllcabe udnss, unheid ny 'ne
mortal ear. ut The misery l. the almost total want OF
couuists NOulC V4u hther and be king over Us
ee indeed We hea made far 6eg i ana u
self. and hope I've one day recognized oil ali men
IN IIlin pros what tc can be said Of my own welfare
and inquire in the same dialect after yours IL WI
CRAFTY learn THAI here, IN the DESERT as IN te
crowded city. am moderated! active ana "ei bet,eI III
heath not worse aud though active oS On tne S,i n
ult ias been usual VITA pe at any time We nave
horses 10 ride on gardens to cultivate usht walls ana
strong fires To dc end against Winter; books to aG
paper scribblc aud no Inan or tliuE az itsst III
this visible eutl TO make US dlad or Ttaot .,o ~
securely seqa,steIcd are We not Ony w%nid no Oanoo
rebellion but even no new iiensisi ana hosa & on,
society; but has, the sfct sense OF tina wordf
have never had worth speaking muoh about since
came into TINS wOiid' IN ti' next my ~ 'Do' va.
order matters better. Meanwhile II we nave not tne
ito - The cEaG wGicn often in this mdtOer IL highly an
moving 10 weak nerves. Ny wIfe and are busy earn
ing Spanish advanced in DON O"trCte ALREADY /
lnrpose wiring mystical ReviocS for somewhat more
than twclVelnOuth to come; nave Greek 10 icd du Ie
whole ~ study dor less anu less OF
~ $50 that mere as well elsewhere nnd In ~ nan
may 6ree tcieTd" scrve Out ills EARN apprentice
Shin, with r,.isntDe composurc, aud tae
lgut of years ~ bring him. ttr dsPpOlitcI uhIvsa
h. /, a fO,D bring aim ucr HOth"t1 save WhaD ne
has already body and soul u cunning ana cosby
pleasures than all GocOnda and PotoSi could purchase
for hih'
Some interesting "reminiscences OF DE Qnlncey
wine, ab,nt sixty years old are given By Professor
Mason who was among the most ardent admirers OF
his genius and its peculiar traits 1t had been his
habit at this time for years TO read and write to
late hour of the night refreshing himself with tea
and coffee in large quantity and going to bed early
in the morning. lie rose at and spent great
mart of the time rs long as light to wandering
about the country, in the pleasant lonely lanes in
;lc ueighborhood of his home. If by any chance he
was deprived Of this enjoyment, he would indulge
in starlight ranbic frightening the country natives
bv his thin hight figure in whimsical attire his feet
n list shoes coming upon them silently and snd-
dcnly in the darkness II was easy matter 10
secure his company az a dinner party. Nothing was
gained by inviting him personally or by note. lie
would soleInnly promise 10 make his appearance at
the appointed time, AMI If you expressed a doubt
would rcassur- you by a discourse on the beauty Of
punctualty But when the hour arrived there was
no De Ouinccy. You could only send cab ana
sone one in IL 20 bring him, and he would come as
meekly as though it were his DOOM and he believed
that in ease Of resistance he would be taken only
tbe uape of his neck Professor Mason writes -
The first time him WIS. most pleasantly. one
evening i'm room high ny of the tai houses OF tue
Old Town. lie came ~ charge OF strong deierInu,d
man WHO took all The necessary trouble. There were bat
toy vp-t d