The sun., 1885-02-08
Biographical ~ osaies.

The second volume Of the well-planned
compilation Of anecdotical biography PERSONAL
Traits Of British Authors. by EDWARD 7. MA
SON iScribners). deals with six Englishmen Of
letters. three OF whom. Wordsworth. Colerdae.
and Lamb are almost as much read by tho
present generation rs they ever were. This Is
SO far from being true OF their three COM
panions. Leigh Hunt. Hazlitt. and Barry Corn
wall (B. W. Proctor). that 1t may be doubted
whether any OF their writings with the posi-
bic exception of two or three OF Proctor's poems.
will outlvo the century. We are by 10 means
certain. therefore. that the novel aud effective
method of portrature by glimpses from many
independent points OF view, and the present
compiler's nainstakinG application Of the pro-
cess. might not have found more deserving OBJ
jects than mon about whom public curiosity Is
growing languid for tho reason that their
works are fast sinking into oblivion. 1t is
probable enough. for instance. though the
thought is far from welcome to those who
recall how much their own relish for good
literature was quickened and enlightened by
Leigh Hunt. that tho memory OF the genial
essayist will be effnced long before the carica-
ture OF Harold Skimpole. though the glaring
injustice oti,s unpleasant features was eagerly
acknowledged by Dickens himself.
William Haz,itt will ba interesting rs an
antetype Of the journalist and professional
the essays, lectures. and table talk by which
he was once widely known. He does not secm
to have cherished any illusions regarding the
permanence OF tho mark he had made on ltera-
ture. According 10 Barry Cornwall. "IIazlitt's
sole ambition was to sell his essays. which he
rated scarcely beyond their marketable value"
And another acquaintance, Petor q. Patmore
tells us that " Hasltts judgment and tact rs
to what would suit the public taste were
sLot vul, 4, -
tain sale in various quarters and at
LIBERAL price," 1t is true that. according to
tho samo authority. he was greatly depressed
by IA abusive article In Bidckln0od. but
the feeling uppcrmost and deepest In his own
mind seems to havo been missivlnR ms to the
effect Of the attack on his relations to his pub
fishers and other persons brought in contact
with him In a business or social way. As o
matter OF fact. the vi!inending did him no
material harm. for he seems to have been al
ways able to supply all his wants for a week by
tho labor OF II couple OF mornings had he
chosen to employ himself regularly with that
purpose. But he lived At an epoch when writ
srs for the periodical and daily press had not
learned to take commonplace and msrcan-
tile view OF their vocation. Haz.itt was an in.
vetsrate bohemian. and Bohemia In his dny
WAS populour land for many reasons.
and especially because It's denizens wero as
yet refused a foothold in Pniistia. Peter q.
Patmore tells US that Nothing could over per-
suade him TO set to work until his last sov-
sreiGn was gone and his credit exhausted with
his landndy and hi. tavern keeper. and hsvo
repeatedly known him to leave himself without
II half crown to buy hun dinner or. what was
still more necessary OF life with him. n quar-
tor ~ n pound Of tea;" and this at a time. per-
haps. when ho had not single friend TO whom
he could apply for loan. As is hinted at in
uu-ntsrs Of ANCIENT Bohemia. and especially
from hisfrlend Lamb, in oschewlnI nll a!conoiic
nnn tn. was nd
"asy rsirainsd from sas,Ine sSiri,s. he ds"rIy
trisna's glass % wouii f, sat TIT It dawn dawn with % dser
sigh OF gns,o nnd regret. In his method Of
application, ilazliit WAS a true precursor OF
tie modern manufacturer Of lsading articles.
hour, and who often has to furnish u rIsd
systematic plan of composition recon m Sn drd
nna e%Daahne". idss. s !" On "nGs paSsr 'ns
ns hsE ~ reaay oay .nT rnsa Hnnit
On ,his head wa once more 'guo's from pstsrr
q. PAtmore's rtcoIlectinns. First as 10 the sub
Thought for half an hour 6sforehsnd as nt 10 what
he should say on any given subject or evon
merry MhsSe wa. sS,n", s snSu o
! which he had though, iutentiY nt any previous
| pericd OF bis hie aud whether 1t WAS susc-pti-
h!e OF u devo. .opmnnt consistent with tho i'm
| mediate object he might have in vcw." Then
again. with reference to IN. literary structure
and form: He never cons sid~red for NOR. han
q few moments beforehand the scheme or con-
duct OF any com po.ition that he had nnderiaken
or ioterinnsd To write. He merely thou sht for
4" brIef snnc, more or sss until h had h,t upon
| an oponin. sentence that p.rassd Or satisfied
| him, and whnn tina; WAS achieved he looScd
upon the thing as done for eysrything else
seemed to follow Rs n natural consequence" 4"
| Patmore adds, what is doubtless trus Of many
manage to do work not below the average OF
their calling viz, that - Hazlitt hated writing
desd never did. I'LL his Necessities com led
| him tn do so. To think was. and ever had bee n
the business and the pleasure Of his In ual
lie. But to promulgats biz thoughts to per: