New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-05


academy at Petersburgh. Stockdale thought OF APP
plying for the appointment but gave it up when ne
found that the salary was only fl00 year. Dr.
Johnson declared that he did right "Sr,' said he
"pcople generally go to settle in foreign countries
for strong and persuasive reasons; for inter
est; for pleasure; or Tor information. The op
ject of interest that IS proposed to yon is wietcheu
indeed nor would anybody think OF going I" the
sxtieth degree of latitude if Ia had pleasure in
view and If you DESTROYS of improving your
knowledge. you might certainly learn more I'D q
London coffee house than in the whole capital oi
Potersburgi.' This is an excellent specimen oil Dr
Johusons succinct way of summing up q matter
1t is much better than his remark to Stochdae that
d" Voltalre and D'Alembcrt were childish authors
Stocklale saws of Gibhon: " He got higher fame
than he deserved. His face and person were The
reverse Of graceful and there was a stiffness ana
solemnty in his social which resembIed his literary
manner" Burke WAS very friendly to Stockdale'
| and declared that something should be done Tor
him." This transports our author into aiirmlhg
that the ethereal euoGy of Burke more than ami
mated HIM for future literary achievements Dr.
Goldsmith, we are told " looked like taylor" Or
Ganick with whom Stockdale was intimate we
get the information that he never dined on tic
day on which he played that day be only ate at
o'clock some light pudding; or took a crust of
likewise he "wished to see nobody; it was his
custom to pass il alone: hr then in close and
intent meditation the fire and the graces."
When Garrick returned to the grecn-rOom after
being upon the stage he avoided social intercourse;
went to a retired corner; and still gave tO his part
the possession of his thoughts. This habit I'M
Justly attributed to pride and sef-imporance
Stockdale however, tells the old story of Garrcks
love of mdiscrimlnate praise. He was extremely
vain lie Jealous OF his fellow actors. Ills
vanity was restless and childish; aud yet we must
remember what johnson sand of him: More pains
have been taken to spoil that fellow than if he had
been her-apparrnt to the Empnc of India"
Stockdale records that there was very little inter
course between the moraliSt and the actor in the
latter years Stockdae had been applied to at first
to write the " Lives of the Poets for the book
sellcs edition, and he hints that DR.. Johnson did
moi behave very well i'll the affair in accepting the
commission.
l'por The recommendation of DIR. F@nchn
Stockdalc was for time tutor in tho family of
Lcrd Craven: but tsc situlton was diSagueable
and he gave 1t mp. Afterward he was "pov-
crtv-sruck in the extreme and knew no. what TO
do with himself" He wished to try his lurR as
clergyman in the Wcsc Indies but could not Get
money enough together for The VOYAGE. He was
only IN dcacors orders. AMI DR.. lowth. the Bishop
of London. with impeuetrahle and rcsontful
heart refused to make hun priest DR.. johnson
thought that Socky.' as he called Inn, had be en-
hardly treated by the aged prclite. The Doctor
wrote a letter to the Bishop. but it availed not.
Stockdale artcrward cot priests orders from the
Bishop of Lincoln. But he did not much prosper
In the sacred ministry. Finally, M obtained
conple Of small HyIues in northumberland; and
hope that his Pensioners enjoyed listening 10 his
sermons rs much aS he probably enjoyed preaching
Il IL. labOTe
ing tragedy called "Ximines." Harris the
manager cruelty refused to bring il out, and even
Miss Young the actress feared that il was too sub
lime for the stage" Lord Chancellor Ihurlow adj
miIed it, but that did not help the author much ut
the theatre, and the tragedy of Nmines" was in
glOriouslv shclved. MIR. Stockdale's moods were
often melancholy, and in fatal fl Of dependency
ne committed TO the flames a 4" Life of Cardinal
Ximine-," and n History Of Gibraltar for winch |
no publisher could be found.
We next find Stockdalc a chaplain in the navy
stationed again at Gibraltar. He incapable of
STAYING long in any place. He soon got tired of the
ship aud went of to Agcrs i'll quest of preferment,
which he did not, of course get. SO he went back,
this restless man. to London to toll as a booksellers
hack. Finally. weary OF wandering, he went again
to his yicarage home at Lesbury where at last he
STAYED and wrote the book which we have been !
considering. Here he also wrote sermons and !
and all manner OF things, Tor some OF when
he got publisher, but not by any means for all |
He became particularly interested in Chatterton
and constructed an ESSAY his genius. Great is !
his indignation against Horace Walpoe. who did
not il is true treat the unfortunate and wonderful
boy considerably. In TACT. WalpOle Is denounced |
bv Stockdae as "a proud cold-hcarted being |
which he undoubtedly was. though something !
more Stockdalc returns TO the subject in his APP !
pcndix and SAYS: 1t is my ardent zeal that this
miscrcant may be damned to everlasting fame |
THIS ebullition of wrath probably would not very |
much have disturbed the serenity Of Strawberry !
Hill
The reader who desires to know more Of the Rev |
Percival Stock lale will find notices OF him in
Boswcrs " Life of Johnson Unjust be confessed !
that upon tie whole hIs autobiography is little |
disappointing. though his character is a |
good onc-f0r warning and instruction! In litera- |
ture he really dill lutte leaving behind him not /,
line of the slightest Importance. Yet all his life he
posed a man of genius. He was tickle, shallow !
aud full of sclf-cOnceit. He was unsuccessful be-
cause he had no stability AMI could stick to nothing
long with half the learning and gcnus which he |
claims he ought to have been the greatest man in |
England, whereas he was one Of the least of his
kind. What he printed has fallen into utter OBJ
liYion: yet have thoughtIt worth while to put him
into this series if only as an example TO my younger
readers of the Jolly and danger of trusting TO mere
impulse and of induging an uncertain disposition !
Of mind.