New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-15
IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
BY CHARLES T. CoNGDoN.
SIR EGERToN BRIDGES.

MI. Goodwin Smith in his Essay on Cowper asserts
that all formal autobiography is cooked" IheIe
a. truth in this, though only a partial TRUTH nor
docs il seem 10 have occurred to Mr. Smith that an
sutobiographer, through his very want oil sncell'!
OF vcracity aud modesty, may just as surely pe'I"S
his Deficiencies OF character TO the acute reaoef a.
II he had freely recorded them. The AUTOBIOGRAPHY
of Sir Egerton Bridges. a charming DOOR, Wh'"
remember reading forty years ago with uncommon
delight. is perhaps 10 somc extent an arnholai
work Bridges thought that as writer he hau
bcen neglected and admits that he has been called
"a,-il of praise and resentful Of fancful wrongs
Rnt lac adds. what may give As a specimen OF ms
lcautiful style: a. am fully conscious OF the 1amI
Of nv morbid constituencies; and that 1t has oeeh
ny bane through life. But am more serene ana
cheerful now in my old age than l have ever been
before when in comparative prosperity; ana LOOK
mon the elories of creation with still more viva
and rapturous delight. | still continue TO DeDoiu
with inefiabe pleasure the rosy sun rise over 'he
gigantic Aims; and never for four years nave ior
one day been sleeping at the dawn; -Whh7 WHO
these words il is in full blaze over the
lake. which glittsrs with splendor so
dazzling AZ TO almost blind me" This
No, written at Geneva in 1884 when Bridges was
,ever,v.two wears of age. He philOsOphicaly adds
"Of all gratifying convictions, what Is more noOIe
and eNaltng than that of having earned the appro-
baton and sympathy of high mindsf-Ihe dignity
of intellect is the only proud dominion worthy "a
the dignity of our nature Riches ana rank ana
ofice are comparative baubles!" With this touch
of our authors quality, sufficient perhaps to engage
Tho readers attention, we may proceed to details.
Il ought to be promised, however that the Oooh
gives comparatively few personal details, and Is one
If suctulation and criticism rather than narrative
Sir Samuel Egorton BrydCes was born on the 3Oth
Oft l,a ma pr-hO
between Canterbury and Dover. He won't to Qneens
COLLEGE Cambridge in 1850, and kept his terms I'll
Christmas. 1882 He then removed to the Middle
Temple and was called to the bar in 1887, at the
ace Of Twenty-Five He had. while at Cambridge
after studying Millions noble sonncts "conVnced
himself of the force and majesty OF PLAIN languages
anc had resolved never to be scduced into depart
uie from it, lie seems to have Published a VoIume
of poems IN 17S5. but the GOODNESS with when II
was received, chilled and bhgbted him for some
wears. From 1885 to 1901 he wrote no more verse.
III, novel of MARY de Clifford published
ANONYMOUSLY in January, 1890, was more success
ful Bridges mentions II as book of rapid compo-
sition lie began il in October 1871. and the sheets
were sc1t 10 the press aTsf a. they were scnbhed
But he could nlL~0nsideT himself popular winter.
Il alwaps~fas damped,' he says I'm all M efforts
hysn oppo,ite feeling; and for some wears sunk
into eentalcgist, topogaphcr and photographer.
These were unworthy pursuits in which wasted
much of NY precious time they overald the hre 81
ny bosom. but did not eXtinguIsh IL; they sup
dressed ia me that self-conhdence without when
uothng great can he done, and bound my eHthusl-
1stie spirit in chains" Bridges WAS dlscontented
aod unhappy. lie saw GOODIES mounting over his
head" lie coufesses. that no "timIdly y1el led to
disbursement" From studying genealogles ana
from the minor business of compilation he was sud-
Gsnly aroused THE SPELL" he says "waS broken
Ii was a mist that broke it, too-a walk Of an Octo
Der morning through the tmckest gray Vapors |
aver encountered.n He went TO work upon " Mary
de Clifford the novel above mentioned. Alter
publishing this, he relapaed for six years more
making several vain efforts to get into Parliament
and for two years commanding troop OF fehclble
ravairv. Then he retired to Denton, an old manor
house which lie had purchased, in repairing
which he foolishly laid out es 900. Here he took
Up the amusement of agriculture on a large
SCALE but in consequence of the dishonesty of his
baihN he lost large sums Of money. His words
of warning viii always be timely: No receiver OF
money will he honest unless he Is very sharply looked
20 and in making up long account cunning
man can turn the balance either way IN surprising
manner. Practiscd agents hahitually do this, and
il tie course Of twenty years may absorb the
largest fortune" Bridges, who could not SIT
bills, cast up accounts examine prices and MAKE
BARGAINS
cheated the booldsh squire. HIS butchers weekly
I'LL amounted &c an incredible sum All was
thunder and all was waste. All this woefu waste
ful time il is odd 70 notice that Bridges was pur
guics TIE study Of political economy. and writing
upon tAat subject in the newspapers. lie lost the
power of writing hut he never lost the power OF
reading. AT tlat time" he remarks, " a new book
wac like wine to me and produced temporary de
li.ium If oblivion" 81 had be continues, "
DO alo room for my library. aud beautiful scenery
around ne. Before me rose hill skirted with
wood ard behind, another hill more preclptous' at
fhe foot of which the mansion stood, and over the
brow Of which was placed the dear oldsoa in which
Twas born; to the east those meadows of
emerald green. of which Gray the poet speaks in
his letters" Here Bridges kept mp a cor
respog denco with SoiJhcy. Sir Walter
Scott and many others; here he be-
ean the "Cenoura Literaria,' which was
carried on TO ten volumes: edited Coiiinss
Pserage". compiled tho British BibnogIsp PIN er.'
i9ur volumes; and the Restituta" four volumes.
There vas not much mind" he admits in all
This: il was principally manual labor Most OF
these arc books dear TO the hearts OF Collectors ana
hsla IN high estimation by all antiqnarcs in litera-
iuIe.
Bridges was q great admrer Of Collins lie Wis
flea hester School in 1879 and when be saw the
nane Of William Collins written Cd the walls, It
ran through his veins and filed him with awe. He
saws that Pitt liked to have about him subservient
young men. 1t was a meanness IN his character lie
wasnot one who could beara brotherncarthc thrOnc.'
and he was willing to perform almost all the funo
tions Of state himself He had no poetical ideas or
feelings and did not far enough. because he
nothing by the blaze of Imagination. Bridges met
him sometimes in the field, on hunting days, when
he came down to Walmer He seemed to delight IN
riding hard with his chin in the air; but had no
skill as a sportsman
Boswell, the biographer OF Johnson Bridges