The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-11

Berkeley the Banker" Under these circum-
stances II 10 not surprising thatMss Martincau's
position should have been singularly strong. or
that advlation should have boon rather lircd
than chilled by her almost savage independence
and incorporating self respect II Is refresh
ing ~ note her persistent refusal to visit Ls.ns
downe House. because the Warehouses had not
seen fit TO call upon her mother. while she con-
scnts 10 pass some time in the country with
Lady Durham. who had not omitted that civil
ity. We may be sure that one 80 totally devoid
OF that tuft-hunting fobc. from which the most
cynical Brton in all Vanity Fair" did in real
life find II so hard 10 free himself will not be
warped In her judgments Of contemporary men
OF letters by regard TO their com arativc status
in tho world Of rank and fashion.
Lord Brougham she never esteemed or liked
and at the height Of his reputation, when he had
Just taken his scat upon the wOolsack. she did
not share the general expectation OF large ma
tional benefits from him. She suspected that
much Of his effort for popular objects. even for
education. was for party and personal pur-
poses. and that he had no genuine popular
sympathy or real desire that the citizens at
large should have any effoctual political train
ing. With reason. in short. as the event proved.
she distrusted his steadness and his disinter-
estodncss, as well as his knowledge Of the men
and interests Of his own time. believing him
too vain and selfish. too low in morals and un-
restrained in temper TO turn out really great
man when the day Of action came" Miss Mar
tineau has by no means a lofty opinion Of
Macaulay. and says that in hs speeches there
WAS detected the same fundamental weakness
as in his writings. namely. unsoundness in the
prosontment Of his case. Some one element was
sure TO be left out which vtiatcd his conclu-
sions. and the cause OF the defect, she thinks.
was constitutional. Tho evidence" she says
" seems to indicate that no wants heart
He appears to be wholly unaware Of
this deficiency. and the superficial fer
vor which runs over his discourses
probably deceives himself as It deceives good
many other people She reminds us of his sig
nal failure as politician. and she was witness
to the " grief and amazoment Of some able law
yers in studying his penal code for India, OF
which they could scarcely lay their finger on a
provision through which you could not drive a
coach and six" She notes further. that Macan-
lay was dscomposed' under the eye OF sgd
ney Smith. although the latter seldom inter-
rupted him. We learn that the poet Campbell
visits were not agreeable TO the writer of these
memoirs. because she could never be quite
sure whether he was sober. his irritable brain
being at the mercy OF a single glass OF sherry"
She was not at all impressed by Whatey with
his odd overbearing manners. and unequal
conversation. sometimes rude and tresome
and at others full OF instruction. and an
occasional drollery coming out amid "a
world Of effort. Perhaps no person" she says.
Of all my Acquaintance has from the first
appeared TO me so singulsrly overraed as
was the Bishop" She was naturally a
good deal dazzled by the cleaning outgivings
Of Coleridge. who nj their first meeting resolved
her with q characteristic paradox. After pay
ing some compliments no avowed that there
were points on which they differed; for in
stance. said he. you appear to consider that
society is an aggregate Of individuals" Cole
ridge seemed TO her constitute nally defective
In WILL in conscentiousness. and in apprehen-
sion Of the real and true" while gifted with IN
ordinate reflective and analogical faculties. For
Bulwer she always felt cordial interest,
amid any amount Of vocation and pity for his
weakness" He seemed 10 hcr woman Of
genius enclosed by misadventure In q mans
form. How many time says our author
" have his friendly temper. his generous heart
and his simple manners (when he forgot him
self loft me mourning tina, such being should
allow himself to sport with pcrlltion." Robert
Owen likewise won her good will. 10y the cheer
fulness. benevolonce. and charming manners
which " would make him the most popular man
in England II he could but distinguish be-
tween assertion and argument. and abstain
from wearying his friends with his
monotonous doctrine" She did not rate
very highly his intellectual candor Robert
Owen Ia not the man TO think differently Of a
book for having read it." Coming down to
smaller people she deduced from Henry +.
Chorey. well known from his connection with
the "Atheneum." her conception Of Il literary
adventurar. No doubt. she says every author
l.. L..
once is that ono has something 10 say that
presses for utterance and is uttered at length
without Il view 10 future fortunes. whereas Tia,
other has a sort of general inclination toward
literature without any specific need Of utter
ance. and very definite desire for the honors
and rewards of the literary career" She adj
mired and esteemed Macrcady. but Charles
Kenbe and his daughters were " of a different
sort" They were full of knowledge and no.
complishment. of course. but there seemed to
me an incurabe vulgarty cinging to Thorn
amid all tho charms of their genius. their cul-
tiNation. and their social privileges" Their,
WAS "a "green-r room cast Of mind " about tnrin
all from which Macready was singularily free.
! - strove hard she says. to like and approve
Fanny. but could not carry 1t on for long
While citing these expressions Of cautious and
certainly not spitetul disparagement We may
mention that there were only three persons to
whom she refused to be introduced. Two ui
these were Lockhart and Sterling OF the
Tunes. each Of whom had published seurril-
Gus. indecent. and wholly irritaiipual attack ON
this young lady's adhesion to Malthus'- We've
on Population. The other was the poet Nose.
who was known - he tho author Of ribai
song In the Tunes. addressed 10 her. II must h,
owned that in her Auecdute the author Of Ialia
Rookh - plays a sneakirg role. At somebody's