The New York herald., 1877-07-08
LITER AZURE.

THOMAS DE- QvrscKy HIS LIPS AND WRITINGS. With
unpublished correspondence BY H. A. Page In two
volumes. Now York: Scrbner, Armstrong Co
De Quincy himself gave such a minute and
graphic history Of his life that really no place
for another account until Mr.. Page came along and
made place for his story. biographer can say what
would not sound we'll from autobiographer. and
here is whore Mr. Page has the advantage OF De
Quincy. Mr.. Psgo's book contains many letters OF
De Quincy TO his family whicn characterized by
iagenuousness which part OF the man. In this
volume will also be found achaptor OF fresh rsm:nis-
ccnces by Mr.. James Hogg, tho former publisher Of
his works. and al app endx giving smsdical view oil
De Quincy g case,' by Or. Eatwe Mr. Page is an
ardent admirer Of the famous opium eater but he Is
NOT slow 10 acknowledge his faults He says
Do Quincey had faults many faults, some fratiss
clined to censure least. He often unpunctual TO
engagements; though courteous IN the extreme, ne
OF some reputc has named general weakness OF the
moral nature" II Is easy 10 be severe, and not
seldom severity comes OF inoompste snd nas.y SUI. sur
written with more rgor anu compactncss, and have
exercised self-denal and self-suppression. HIS
himself knew this we'll, and never sought 10 palliate
his offences This, Tor example, Is one most touch
ing record OF this kind:-'ln 1924 ] had come
up 10 London upon an errand or itself sufficiently
vcxstious-of ngnting against peeunsry embarrass-
meuts by literary labors; but, as had always hap
psned hitherto with very imperfect success through M
deed, that could satisfy my own Judgment even
toleraby, with the quality OF any literary article
produced; and my power TO make sustained exertons
drooped Ia way cold not control, ovcry other hour
OF the day. insomuch that what vita parts 70 be can
detect OF power to produce anything at ALL very often
It turned out that all my labors were barely sufficient
somctmes not sufficiently 10 moet the cnrrent expenses
Of my residence IN London"
Alter reading Mr.. Pages biography we have a very
home-like feeling for DO Quincy, and cannot help
saying "Dear old man 70 as read his lettors Mr..
Page prepares the reader in his introduction TO trace
in the earlier stages OF De Quincey's career the IN
fuences which afterwsrd became so express and
powerful In his writings; to see how his fine genius
built up, approprlang Its own proper nutrlmcnt
from tho most extraordinary and exceptional circum-
stances after which he passes TO general blo-
graphical survey.
Tho De Quinceys were Of Morse origin, and came
from Normandy to England, where they rose to rank
and influence. younger branch Of tho family was
among the earliest emigrans 10 Now England, wnsro
they aid aside the arstocratic prefix De aud became
simple Quiuceys, and made their new name one OF the
most honored In America Do Quincey q father y
Manchester merchant, and carried trans
actions with America and the West Indies His
mother the daughter OF an English officer, and a
highly gifted woman Of whom her son says:-
My mother, l may mention with honor. as still
moro highly gifted; Tor though unprsiendng to the
call her (what many literary women are nOt)
telectual woman aud believe that II ever her letters
should be collected and published they would be
thought generally to exhibit much strong ard
cunc sense. delivered in as pure smother English"
racy and fresh with 'dtomattc graces. as any 10 our
lapEuagc-hardly excepting those OF Lady Nary WORT
ley Montagu
Thomas De Quincy the NTH child Of his parents
and born in Greenheys, near Manchester. He
was \ dreamer IRON his infancy long before he knew
the taste OF opium. He was never strong child and
he INDUCED his antusies when other boys
with their balls and kites As o scholar he was
prodigy, and ut thirteen could have harangued an
Athenian mob in It's native Greek with much ease
Gladstone writes letter.
The correspondence Of De Quincy 10 one OF the
interesting features OF this book His letters
very socisbe and OIL hand and touch upon a great
many people with whom familiar. In letter
TO the Wordsworths, he says
The other night Mrs. Hannah Moro returned from "a
progress among her people u Cambridge. Huntingdon
shire and different parts OF England and t you think
that any honor made very minute inquiry respecting
Mr. Lloyd's pursuits habits and tastes. Shc told
that she had met The senior Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd at
Mr. Gallons, think, and had had good deal OF con-
versatlon Win them.
have been twoo In London since l saw YOU On
my las. visit saw littio Of Coleridge; but during
the latter part of my stay he would SEQ nobody not
oven Mrs. Morgan Or her sistcr He fancica that he
haa . NJ OF the eout coming on, and one day Mrs.
Morgan told me that he had lung note from tho top
OF the stars to this effect the gout had already
mounted to his stomach, and II he were at all DIS
turbed agitated, would speedily attack the brain.
II happened, however, GU q night alter this when
had stayed till past one O'Clock with tho two ladies,
that they perceived body Of smoke turning tho cor
from Oxford street into Berners street, accom-
panied with a strong smell Of burning. Colerdse
was dressed IN reading IN his room, and on Mrs.
Morgan knocking nt his door he instantly came out
and tripped down stairs with her as lightly
Rere Is an extract from letter showing his playful
VEIN
By the way speaking of gluttony as foible OF our
interesting human race, am reminded of another
little ioibe which they have rather ngy-viz,
fancy Tor being horribly dirty. II had happened u
forget this fact u would lately have been recalled
my remembrance by Mrs Butler. formerly Fanny
neither chrysalis nor butterfly she, in nor book
on Italy, &c, lot TOO good, fear, makes this ''ob-
sublunary world has the misfortune - be very dirty,
with the exception OF some people IN England, but
Continent, Allowing for the ..somo' IN England, ali
the rest OF The clean people, you perceive clearly.
must be out at sea For myself, id not need Mrs
Butler's authority on this matter One fact OF my
daily experisnce renews II most impertinenty and
will not suffer mo 70 forget II. As The slave said
every morning 70 Philip OF Macedon. 'Philp, begging
Your Houor's pardon, you are mortal;' does this
infamous fact say to me truly as dawn revovcs Tom,
take It as you Ike your race Is diry.n The fact
speak OF Is ths-that cannot accomplish my diurnal
abutions IN fewer minutes than sixty, AT the least
seventy-dvo at tie most Now, having an accurate
most people, well know that II would nevor stand
this l allow that If people are not plagued
with WoSnlnB tnelr naIs OF NOS Al the same
t,me much lsss may sulce yot hardly less than
thirty minutes think Professor Wilson tells on
this subject the story Of Fronchman which pleasos
by It's nGirets; that IL, you know, by It's uncon-
scious ingenuousness. He was illustrating the incon
sistences of man, aud ho went on thus:-'Our iaccs
Tor instance, our hsnds--why bless mol wash
them every day. our feet. on the other hand never
And echo answered, Never"
Mr. Hogg's "reminiscences are very entertaining and
show the GENIAL side OF Do Quinceys nature and Dr.
Ea,weps medical view IS curious and interesting.
Altogether Mr. Pages iifo Of Thomas DO Quincy Is
one Of the valuable books OF the year, and IL as
full o. anecdotc u nut is OF meat
LoG-LgrTEKs PROM THR CHALLHSCHR BY Lord George
Campbell Macmillan Co: London and New
York, 1877. Second edition.
Great interest attaches TO the researches OF the
party OF scientists who in 1872 commenced on the
Challenger, sthor now famous examination of the
depths Of the ocean, tho character Of Its bottom and
tho various forms OF animal and vegetable life VIII ch
Her Mnic "a etoa Chull