New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-26


especially of young cergymen and never attempted
to shake their faith. After he could afford them he
gave elegant dinners and suppers, and the best
claret. I" For innocent mirth and agreeable rail-
leryr says Carlyle, al never knew his match'
These recollecions confirm his repuatio as inose
pleasant ana agreeable letter-writer
Adam Smith was not good talker. Ills voice
was harsh his enunciation was thick. approaching
to stammering He did not talk; he lectured'
Besides, he was very absent-minded III company.
If anybod checked or doubted him, he retracted
with the utmost ease. and cOntradicted what lie
had been saying. But Smiths benevolence was M
bounded and one of his most amiable traits was
his abiding affection for his mother. He deferred
everything TO her comfort and convenience RoD-
ertson. the historian, is again set down as great
master of the art of conversation. though so fond OF
talking as to be sometimes tedious. DR.. Blair was
timid, unambitious, and had no wish but to be
admired as a preacher, especially by tho ladies.
His conversation was so infantine" that people at
first sight thought it impossible for him to be
man of genius. On the other hand he was de-
lighted to show people in their best guse to his
friends Although vain, he was totally free from
envy. He sometimes talked seltishy enough. yet
he never failed in generous actions.
John Home, already mentioned, "infused JOY
and social exhilaTation wherever he came y; but he
had thorough contempt for such as neglected or
disapproved his poetry "a weakness not entirely
unknown among verse-makers even in these days.
Home must have been really of soft nature, for
when he beard of the death OF his friend Logan lie
almost tainted and sobbed and wept. But though
he heard simultaneously Of his brothers DEATH he
took supper and. Carlyle says, insisted on my
making bowl of good punch" over which they
discussed the projections of the deceased. In the
OH wi
mourning which he was 10 order When the
tragedy of douglas" was finished, Home and
CARLYLE carried it to London. 1t did not ave good
luck there Garrick read il and did not like it. re
turning it as totally unfit for the stage. On this
disastrous occasion Home relieved his feelings by
writing a pathetic copy OF verses addressed 10
Shakespeare image in Westminster Abbey. so
the III treated tragedy was carried back to Edln-
burgh. There happened to be pretty good set OF
players there-among them Digges. who PLAYED
Young NOrval." The people of Edinburgh went
mad with pleasure over this stiff, stlted tragedy,
and were enraptured to find that ScOtchman could
produce such drama. The town in general was
ain an uproar of exultation." But there was also
dissent 1t was thought by the oyer-righteous not
a little scandalous that a clergyman should write
play. Many pamphlets upon both sides were
published; Dr. Carlyle wrote one in its defence;
there was a fIghtful clamor. a Reverend Thomas
Whytc was suspended for six weeks for going to
the playhouse DR.. Carlyle was summoned to at
tend the Presbytery to answer for his conduct. He
came out triumphant, however and was thereafter
at liberty to 90 to the play whenever he pleased.
Home withdrew from the church, and wrote other
plays, none of which were very successful.
Carlyle was again in London in 1888. with Home
and Robertson. He heard the elder Pitt speak in
the House of Commons. He thought his eloquence
of the highest order but he compares him to Z" a
domineering schoomaster who kept his boys in
order by raising their fears without wasting argu-
meDt upon them But he admits that at that
time a civil and condescendng man in the House
would soon have lost his authority and been
trampled on Dr. Carlyle became quite intimate
with Garrck, and often went to the theatre to see
him play The actor used to say that he was moro
at home in comedy than in tragedy and the Doc
tor Is of the same opinion. Mrs. Garrick. the once
graceful dancer had grown fat, but was still very
lively and woman of uncommon good sense. Dr.
CARLYLE had some public commission about the
window tax from which the Scotch clergy wished
to be excepted. This OccasiOned visit to LORD
Butte. whose manner proved TO be dry and cold and
dictatoria
On his way back to Scotland Dr. Carlyle saw. at
Birmingham. Baskerville, the great printer,who was
then engaged upon his celebrated folio Bible
What struck the tourist was the kitchen in Basker
yile's house. which was most completely furnished
with everything which could be wanted, and kept
as clean and bright as if it had come straight from
the shop" Shenstone was also encountered at a
dinner party He was a large, heavy, fat man III
white clothes and silver lace, with his gray hairs
tied behind and much powdered. He was shy and
reserved, until his tongue loosened by punch
.,t Iao fInn
DR.. Carlyle speaks with sufficient freedom of his
love affairs any youth" he says had been
spent in vain pursuit" His first passion begin
ming in 1885, had kept entire possession OF his
heart till 1853 by means of the ladyS coquetry and
the wooer's irresOution The Doctor did not fairly
put the question to her until 1852 when she refused
him. Then another woman came in his way,
whose beauty and attractions extinguished his old
flame But the Doctor was unfortunate again; the
lady suddenly gave her hand to somebody else.
He secured the heart of third young lady,
after nine months couTtship, and "nO man" he
saws with rapture, {" ever obtained a happier con-
duestn She was less than half his age, but she
made him an excellent wife, and the manse happy
home.
The famous Edinburgh club, "The Poker" is
David Hume was one of the most dis
tinguished of its members of whom there were
thirty-sx in all. ApropOs of a visit of Dr. Franklin
to Edinburgh, DR.. Carlyle writes that lie met our
great American philosopher at dinner IN London in
1863 or 1870 when he was silent and inconversi-
ble perhaps il is surmised, because " he had been
refused the office of PostmasterGeneral of America,
and had got severe dressing from WedderburnW
Mentioning that everything was good and cheap at
Earrowgate. which he visited except the WINE,
which was very bad indeed, Dr. Carlyle adds:
" John Bull however. has little taste and does not
much care; for, provided he goes to bed muzzy,
whether it be with his own native drink, ale, or
sophisticated port, he Is perfectly contented." AT
Harrowgate the Doctor met General Charles Lee,