Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09
THACkERAY AND MACAULAY.
The Impressions of the Men by the Au-
thor of "The Dutch Republic.o

Some piquant extracts from the forthcoming
collection of Motley's letters are given in the
March Harper. Here is an interesting glimpse
of Thackeray:
He has the appearance Of colossal infant,
smooth, white, shiny, ringlety hair, Aaxen,
alas, with advancing years, a roundish face,
with little dab Of a nose, upon which il Is a
perpetual wonder how he keeps his spectacles,
a sweet, but rather piping voice, with some
thing of the childish treble about it, and very
tall slightly STOPPING fgure-such are the
characteristics of the great 'snob" Of England.
His manner is like that of everybody else in
Misunderstanding original, all planned down
into perfect uniformity with that Of his fellow
creatures. There was not much more distinc-
ton in his talk than in his white choker or
black coat or waistcoat. As you like detail,
however, / shall endeavor to Boswellize
him little, but it was very hard work.
Something was said Of Carlyle, the author.
Thackeray said: Carlyle hates everybody that
has arrived-f they are on the road he may,
perhaps, treat them civilly." Macintosh
praised the description in the French Revolu-
ton" Of the fight Of the king and queen (Which
painted with ink), and Thackeray agreed with
him and spoke of the passages very heartily.
I remember old Carlyle snarling ut you at Ores
den, with Eye like bis Beckies and Dobbinses,
do YEP" but did not mention the circumstance
OF the Cosmopolitan club Thackeray said:
Everybody is or il supposed to be q celebrity,
nobody ever says anything worth hearing, and
every one goes there with his white ehoker at
night to appear a. il he had just been dining
with the aristocracy. I have no doubt" be
added, that half Of us put on the white cravat
after q solitary dinner at home or at our club,
and 20 60 down among the Cosmopolitans"
Carlyle's reference to VANITY Fair" is char
acteristic. Il was Is impossible for the clever
and boorish Scotch peasant to understand the
manly sweetness of Oobbins' nature ss to per-
ceive the wonderful truth and humor with
which Becky is drawn.
OF Macaulay's talk Motley wrote:
His voice 10 agreeable, and his intonstion de-
lightful, although that is 90 common o gift
with Enklishmen as to be almost a national
characteristics. As usual, he took up the rib
ands OF the conversation, and kept them in
his own hands, driving wherever il suited him.
believe he is thought by many people bore,
and you remember that Sydney Smith spoke Of
him as .'our Tom, the greatest engine OF social
oppression in England" / should think he
might be to those who wanted TO talk also, for
it would take s. TO talk him down thoroughly.
I can imagine no better fun than to have Car
lyle and himself meet accidentally at the same
dinner table with q small company. II would
be like two locomotives, each with long train,
coming against each other at express speed
Both, have no doubt. would be smashed into
silence at the first collision. Nacaulay, how
ever, ID not 90 dogmatic or - outrageously ABB
surd a. Carlyle often IL, neither y he half 90
grotesque or amusing. His whole manner has
the smoothness and polished surface Of the man
Of the world. the politician. and the new peer,
spread over the man Of letters within
------~oS---------