New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14
SOME TRUTHS ABOUT CARLYLE.
from Temple B1r.


The letters of Carlyle printed by Mrs. Proctor are
full of gush and affection for Mr. and Mrs Basil Mon
tagqc and, as an eminent writer has remarked,
might have been written by Sir Pcrtnax McSyco-
plant. Mrs. Proctor seems to fear that the whole
reading world will believe the malignant lios y
OF Mr. Thomas Carlyle. The reading world will do
nothing of the kind. Even if the paltry charges
that he brings against his former benefactors were
true nobody will deny that he ought to have been
the last man to inter them. How different was DR..
,1ohnsons behavior to his early friends! Call a
dog Hervey, and snail love him" he said and
when someone observed to him. You always pre-
served respect for Warburton,r the answer was.
~hes a.. and Justly when as yet was in no favor
never forget the obligation"
The lion promoted from caravan to the zoologi-
San 1ardens naturally looks with contempt his
that the cause of Carye's outbreak was that he
in js24 that he was in 1850. When he was pro.
NOTED to Lady Ashburtons establishment ne IAN
Gled that his presence had conferred too great an
Be that as it nav every honest man will agree
with Mrs Proctor when she writes;
, There Is something shameful in the spectacle of
the successful literary man sitting down ueliber-
ately to Willy the memory of those who smiled npon
fendicss lie should beware how he strns ana
strikes with dead hand! NV
1t is sore trial to the friends of Carlyle TO read
SUCH charge us this, and to be unable TO sav that
it is untrue. ~ '"S 'A"'
=, Did Carlyle know the sad history of Charles az
moods he meyer would have written thus:
." Charles Lamb and his sister came daily once or
oi,ohci very sorry pair OF PHENOMENA InSuppr
able procyty to gin in poor old Lamb His fnlk
contemptibly small indicating wondrous ignorance
anu Snaaiowness even when IL was serious and good
nered TO dcgreel, screwed into frosty artificiaii
ties; CHASTITY make-believe of with fact more like
diluted insanity las defined il tEan anything of
real jocosity, humor or geniality." 9 Va
Many readers of these bitter words must have felt
as if they had received blow personally The
frolic and gentle" Charles Lamb the friend and
favorite of everyone who knew him, to he trentnd
in this fashion, Such an attack However VIII Jn
Io,,, n :.
VII intiict an indehbe stain the reputation of
Thomas Carlyle. ~ "
istence IRON his biography. Mr.. Proctor writes: >
he had an insane sister, who, in a moment of
stroyed her own mother and to protect and save
tins slster--a gentlewoman, who had watched like
of his life was s' deSoied Wha he whole length
The space of nearly forty years. from the incessaSt
fear and frequent occurrences of his sisters INSANITY
can now only be conectnred. In this constant and
accomplishing endurance, and in his steady ajhe
renee to great principle of conduct his life was
heroic N'' was
:" We read of men giving up all their DAVIS ia n
single object: to religion, to vengeance to- some
avert death disgrace, or some oppresslna nlsfor
tune. we read mythical tales of friendship: but
WE 90 not reGoect any instance in which great
throughout n whole life, in defiance of a thonsond
ii i and Of numberless temptations strain
ing the good resolution TO the utmost excent in the
case OF our poor clerk of the Iudia House, " '"0
1, Charles Lamb had q far greater burden to bear
bore IT. Some men take great sorrow quietly,
Others whine and howl. Snarling is not a necessary
cism we know of Charles Lambs was that he said
Scotcanen ought to suffer a double punishmcnt in
he proponndcd this grim jest to Carlyle, who natnr
ally considered it as diluted insanity" Then the
had that one failing. He liked to hear tie chimes
&c midnight 7; But we infinitely prefer Charles
quantity exclaiming Charles Lamb C6arIes,
Lamb! Is this the temperance and soberness nro.
missed for thee by thy godfathers at thy baptsm d,
TO the mercess writer who has made snch An an
saught on one whose essays still held in admirn
tlon by thousands: The dear friend of Wordsworth
being caricaturvd by Carlyle.