New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-27
STUDIES IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
ny CHARLES T. coxGDoS.
1npn HERBERT oF cHERBURY.

20 H. ore.test ornaments" gays Horace
WalpoIc. in his Lives OF koyh III" w.
Authors, of the learned peerage, was n'aH
of n martial spirit and a profound unuoI
ptandinpp This was Edward, Loru iioioo,'
of Chcrburv. The autobiography seems 10 ha'o
been unknown to Walpole when ne mauo MS
not;oo oI Lord Herbert at least he does not men
zion IL in his own book, although ne glyesa bloloe
raphy of Lord Herbert's other writings. lie
,r;rtad the Life afterward at the Strawberry Hill
nress and in a preliminary advertisement he gives
an account of the Ms. of the autobiography when
il appears was in great danger of being lost to the
world" Ii could not be found among the repre-
sentatves of the family in 17l4, was afterward
discovered al Ignore, the seat OF the family
among some old papers, in very bad condition, sew
eral leaves being torn out and Others stained 70
such degree as TO make it scarcely legiDIe'
duplicate of the memoirs was found IN the possess
sion OF another branch of the family. II was from
this MS that Walpole printed in l'04. Inc DOCK
afterward fell into the trade AID was puDiished Oy
Dodslev. in Pail Mall, London. whose editions are
dated 1870, '7s, '92. There was an edition, with
nrefatorv notice aserlbed to Sir Walter Scott in
1909 follow mainly In this notice the edition of
Dodsley printed in 1892. 1t contains the fine told
ing DOR, raft of Lord Herbert painted by Oliver and
engraved by Walker The book was written by
Lord Herbert when past sixty, and was never com
pleted With these preliminarles we may proceed
to its consideration.
After n long and interesting account OF his ances-
tors Mr.. Herbert announces that he was born at
Eyton. IN Shropshire He does not consider 1t ne
cessary to state the year, which was 1881 lie Is
like Goethe in the particulars which he gives us
of his infancy. any head" he says, continued
purging itself very much by the eaIs, whereupoh
also il WAS so long before ] began to speak that
Hoa 1np Ia
began TO talk one of the first inquiries he made was
how he came into the world, for which he was
launched mt by his nurse and some other women
present His health was such that 1t was not nj 10
teach him the alphabet until he was seven years
old Then in the house of his grandmother ne
began his studies AT twelve years OF age he was
sent TO Oxford. where he disputed at first coming
In logic and made in Greek the exercises required
In University College oftener than ID Latin sud
denly he was recalled from the University that lie
might marry a daugt ter of Sir William Herbert. to
whom her father had lett his estate on condition
that she should marry Herbert. The bridegroom
was fifteen the bride was twenty six; and these
nuptials over the student went back with his wife
and his mother to continue his studies ut Oxford.
He saws that he followed his books more closely
than over" Between this and the age of twenty
one he had several children, of whom when he
wrote none were remaining save d" Beatrice, Richard
md Edwacdn At the University he had learned
without any master teacher the French, Italian
and Spanish by the help of some books III Latin or
English translated into those idOms, and the d1c-
tionaries of those several languages" lie learned
languages that no might be citizen of the world.
GAfy learning of music" he says, was for this
end, that | might entertain myself at home and
. refresh nv mind after my studies to which was
exceedingly inclined, and that might not need the
company of young men in whom | observed In
those times much ill example and debauchery."
Mr. Herbert was in London in 1000. Curiosity
rather than ambition brought him to conrt. Queen
Elizabeth then reigned, and the young man was
upon his knees in the presence chamber as she
passed by TO the chapel at Whitehall. AS soon as
she saw him she stopped. and swearing her usual
OATH" demanded. who is thisY Nobody knew him,
till Sir James Croft pensoner, finding that the
Queen still fingered, came back and told her that
this was Edward Herbert, who had married the
daughter of Sir William Hert ert of St Gillians.
Then Queen Bess, swearing again her ordinary
path. said /" 1t is pity he is married so young"
Bhe gave him her hand to kiss twice. both times
qeatly clapping him on the check. Her Majesty
knew a handsome yonng man when she saw one
Upon the accession of James l. Mr. Herbert was
made Knight of the Bath On the third day
after his installation he wore gold and silver knot
which ho was obliged to bear till some lady Of
honor took it off and fastened II her sleeve, say
ing that he should prove her true knight. q" had
not long worn this thing" he says. "but prncl-
pal lady of the court, and certainly in most mems
opinion the handsomest, took mine OIL. and said she
would pledge her honor for mine" The name OF
this lady has never been discovered but she is sup
NJ posed to be the same of whom Lord Herbert after
N ward spoke as The Fairest of her Time"
We come to very singular narrative. Sill
Edward called all his children before his ife ask
Ing her how she liked them, to which she answered
that she liked them well. He demanded then
xhethcr she would do so much for them as he
would; that for his part he was but young for a
man. and she not old for woman that if God
pleased TO call either away, the survivor might
marry again. and have children by some other to
which the estates of each might be disposed. lie
offered If she would assure upon her son any guam
tity of lands from 1900 year to 81 900, that he
would do the like The lady does not appear to
have been of an obliging DISPOSITION; at any rate
she declined TO enter into the arrangement. Upon
this Sir Edward declared his intention OF going
abroad. | am afraid that this looks little like
separation from what in modern phrase is called in
compatibility of temper. There is only one men,
tion anu that slight one, of the lady in the
Memoirs aiterward.
In the account which Sir Edward gives OF his trav
els find an adventure which befel him in France
which may be cited as an example OF that lingering
chivairy of which he is one of the comparatively
modern representatives. At the house of the Duke
of Vantadour, short distance from Paris and
where he was guest. it happened that daughter
of tho Duchess, walking out attended by several
gentlemen and wearing q knot of rband on her
head q French cheyaer took it suddenly and fas-
tened it upon his hat band. The lady asked him to
restore it, and when he refused she appealed to
Herbert. no courteously his hat in his hand,
begged that be might have the honor of delivering
to the lady her riband again. The answer was
ado you think that will give it to you. when
have refused it to her" The champion preparing