New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-01
SIR HENRY TAYLOR'S LIFE.
NrrprsrrNG ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES.

The singular charm which pervades these recoi-
,.a,;ons 90 the venerable author Of Philip Van
Arteyeldep IS not explainable either by the in-
terest of its selfdisclosures or the piquancy OF s
anecdotes and personal sketches. Although IL ID IN
acme respects remarkably frank, touching upon tio
writer's literary career especially with 1reeoo,
which would seem egotlstic but FOR its dignity ana
perfect simplicity, it IS an exhibition Oh tempera,
meot rather than of character. leaving the real
Henry TAYLOR still unknown; while of the personal
gossip for which our time Ihas developed so de-
pravedla taste it eontansivery little And yet 1t Is
n delightful work-onc of the most delightful OF
recent additions to q class of literature which en-
braces some of the peasantest books IN the worid.
The secret lies partly in its substance and very
largely in its manner Sir Henry Taylors long life
las been one of serious quiet. From his first man
hood until his retirement in old age he was haro-
working member of the permanent stan OF the
colonial Office he became one of the most import
ant and valuable functionares of. that department
and the honor of kuighthood conferred upon him
Just before he resigned was an Acknowledgements
certainly not excessive of the lifelong services OF
man of high intellectual powers rendered to GOV
crument in a very modest clerkship. His literary
product was not great in extent but 1t represented
great labor, and it never met with general appreca-
ton. He is q poet for poets, not for the puoiic;
and although his reputation has proved lasting
and perhaps with time it is not likely that
his audience will ever be large one. His double
life gave him to both literary and politicai
circles and his friends and family connections as
sursd him admittance to so much Of fashionable
society as he chose to cultvats but while he had
genius for friendship he Stunned the crowd. His
domestic attachments were strong; he was happlest
In retirement; and although he ingenuously avows
his love of praise and distinction he found his
highest qualification in communion with the lew
and the indulgence Of serious thought. In detail
ing the "reminiscences of placid and unainbtlous
life no displays all the beauty of calm. contented
and afectionate old age; and the effect of his mar
rative is enhanced by sngularly pure. natural,
and, at proper times slofty literary style.
1t seems like an injustice to offer our readers
string of random extracts from a work whose
peculiar tone can only be caught by connected
perusal but there is no help for it. Sir Henry
TAYLOR has been the contemporary Of three genera
tions of celebrities. He knsw Southey we'll; he was
acquainted with Wordsworth, Lamb. Sydney
Smith, Rogers, Wellington. Lord Melbourne; his
memories 90 back to the brilliant era of Holland
House and Lansdowpe House, when the best com
pany in London was accustomed to gather in those
historic mansions:
eminent political men of the day, with an oc-
casional man of letters. The dinners ut Lansdowne
House were and then of the like composition,
and still more agreeable because there were more
women; but, for the most part, they, or those OF
them to which | was invited, consisted or men OF
letters almost exclusively; and as had no love OF
knowledge or of instructive conversation ana none
of my own to produce, they did not charm me
much. But, greatly as | preferred the society OF
Holland House. a scruple came across me which led
me to withdraw from it, l did not like Lady |
cordinsly. / was not sufficiently man of the
world to think this compatible with accepting her
hospitalities, and l refused one invitation aIier
another till she became aware that more would be
sent in vain. In the diaries OF Miss Caroline Fox
published in 1882, account is given OF my seces
SION, taken by her to be my exclusion from iollsnd
House, which is founded on fact, but uniounded
in the inference. 1t true that, i'll conversation
with W Lady Holland, she sneered at WOrdswOrtL's
10 believe Lady Holland, that that has not been
the sJrt of thing to say about Wordsworth for the
last ten years" But she sent lie more than one IN
He was on very intimate terms withiCarlyle, with
whom nevertheless he can have had little intel
lectual sympathy and he offers-some acute Cd
servations upon the paradoxical position OF that
chartered libertine who, while always assailing
the people and their rights, and insisting that they
should every where be ruled with rod of iron, was
nevertheless more honored and admired by them
than any demagogue.who paid them knee worship:
1t is that the man being beyond all question
genuine man. there is nevertheless something unreal
about his opinions so that the splendid appari-
tions of them are admired ana o ~ t he
character of Corolanus and another in the charac-
ter of Menenius AgrIppa, and still more one VINO
could play both parts in turn 7 >,
But then 1t may be asked, how are we to reconcile
the undoubted sincerity of the man with the ques-
tionabe reality of the Oplnonsf And III IS the solu-
ton of this problem which, to my apprehension, DIS
closes the peculiar constitution OF Carlyle's MIND
He is impatient of the slow process by which most
thoughtful men arrive at q conclusion. His own
mind is not logical; and. while other eminent
writers of his generation have had perhaps 700
much reverence for logic, he has had too little;
With infinite industry in searching out historical
facts. his way of coming by political doctrines IS
sudden and precipitate. What can be known by
insight without conscious reasoning, or at least
without sef-questoning operations of the reason,
he knows well. and can fash upon us with words
which are almost like the word which Isaiah the
son of Amos saw" But when he deals with what is
not SO to be known, being intolerapt of lawful
courses and yet not content with negative or
passive or netrau position, he snatches his opinions
and holds them, as men commonly do hold what
they have snatchcd tenaciouly for the moment; bnt
mot securely. And thence comes the sort OF I'M
reality of opinion which have ventured to imDute
to the most faithful, and trUe-hearted of mankind
An unlimited freedom of speech is permitted to his
friends, and remember when some wild sentiments
escaped him long ago, telling MIN tnat ne was an
excellent man in all the relations OIL LIE but that ne
did not know the difference between right ana
wrong.
TAYLOR had some intercourse with Tennyson, in
the Isle of Wight and found the laureate very
gloomy and haggard, but "grumbling agreeaby
enough" alt is a sadness to see him. and one has
to think of his works TO believe that he can escape
from himself and escape into regions of light and
glory"
Alfred Tennyson came in the morning in an
agreeable mood. though it was in the morning
His agreeable moods are generally in the evening;
After was in bed. Mrs. Cameron wrapped shawl
round her head and went down to the beach, and,
finding most magnificent state OF things there,
she sent for Alfred, who joined her, and whom she
left to make the most of it. He seems to be indie
pendent of the weather. Mrs. Cameron says that
In one of the great storms OF this year he walked
ali along the coast to the Needles, which is six
miles Off With all his shattered nerves and uneasy
gloom he seems to have some sorts OF strength ana
6ardihood There is a great deal IN him that is like
Int fau is IN genuine. we'll