New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-10

The next time visited the Becches was after an
interval of some years, when went thither with
my Kind aud constant friend Mr.. Rogers. NV
circumstances had altered very painfully and was
again ldboring for my own support.
/ went down TO Burnhanl with the old poet. and
was sorry to find that, though he had consented 10
pay Mrs Grote this visit he was not IN particularly
harmonious tune Tor her society. which was Away
rather trial to his fastdous nerves and refined
taste. The drive of between three and tour miles III a
fly VERY different IRON ais own uNrlous carrlagel,
through intricate lanes and rural winding avenues,
did not tend 10 soften his acerbltes. and per
ceiveu at once, on alightnr from the carriage that
the aspect of the place did not find favor IN his ewes.
Mrs. Grote mad inst put up an addition to her
house, a sort uf single wing, which added good
sized draw ing room to the modest mansion had
before visited. Whatever accession of comic the
Ouse received within from this addition to It's size,
its beauty, externally, was not improved by It, and
Mr. Rogers stood before the Offending eGice. survey
ing it with a sGrdonIc sheer that should think
even brick and mortar must have found 1T hard to
bear. He had hardly uttered his three first Glspar-
aging bitter sentences of utter scorn aud abhOr-
renee of tho architectural abortion, which. indeed,
il was, when Mrs GrOte herself made her appear
aucc in her usual country costume. bOx-cOaJ, hat
on her head, and stick III her hand. MIR. Rogers
turned to her with verjuice smile, and SAID, |
was lust rcmaIkng that in whatever part of the
world ] had seen this building | should have
guessed to whose taste might attribute ITS erection"
To which, without ali Instants hesitation, she re-
piled. "Ah. tits bcastly thing. TO be sure. The
COMPOUNDED workmen played the devil with the
place whIle'I was away Then, without any more
ton aud could not but wonder whether her blunt
stra ghtfUrwardness did not disconcert and Iebukc
Mr.. Rogers tor his treacherous sheer.
During this visit, much interesting conversation
passed with reference to the letters OF sydney
Smith, who was Just dead and the proprIcty of
publishing all his correspondence. which. OF course
contained structures and remarks upon the people
with whom he had been living in hab Is Of friendly
social intimacy. remember one morning par
ticuarly lively discussion the subject, between
Mrs Grotc and Mr. Rogers. he former had a
great many letters from sydney Smith, and urged
the impossiblity Of publishing them with all their
comments On members of the London world.
Rogers on the contrary. apparently delighted at the
idea OF the mischief such rev Citations would make,
urged Mrs. Grote to give them nngarbled to the
press. "Oh but now" said the latter. here, for
instance, Mr.. Rogers such q letter us this, ABOUT
-; do see how he cuts up the poor fellow. IL
really never would do 10 publish it, Rogers took
the letter from her, and read it with stony grin OF
dIabolicsl delight on his cOuntenance and occa-
siona chucklIng EXPLANATIONS of " Publish 1t pub
hsh il Put an X, dash, or an and four stars for
the name He'll never know IT, though every body
else will" While Mr.. Rogers WAS thus detecting
himself in antici patton. with Rs execution. Mrs.
GrOte, by whose side ! wss sitting on a low stool.