New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LEIGH HUNT.


ESSAYS OF LEIGH HUNT. Selected and edited by
Reginald Brimley johnson. With introduction, por-
trait by s. Lawrence and etchings by Herbert iSll-
POEMS OF LEIGH HUNT. Selected and edited by
Reginald BrImley johnson. With photography ana
etchings by He' bert Railton Two volumes i''"0'
Macmillan Co. -.
"The Temple Library" is enriched by this beauu.
full selection from the poems and prose works OIL
Leigh Hunt A daintier set it would be naru "
find. Typography, paper, pressworR ilusU"-
tions and binding are each and all pieasuie ~
the eve and a satisfaction TO the TASTE Vi 'ne
booklover 1t was well worth while, moieo'vi,
70 print such a careful SELECTION anu 80.
have been still more acceptable nau '.e 80
made his introduction fuller In so lar % IL ie'.
TO the personality of the author' for He"
Hunt though little read nowadays was wiz ..
and poet of decided force and OF s'rons iiiu,
viduality. and there is much OF his WORK "niOn
nossesses more than ephemeral interest "Il,i0
80 =, bie verses have long been classics The
character of Hunt received serious INJURY ,iUl" "a
oondtions under which he worked. He belonged
=. .ho. little hand of pioneers who, at the begin
r;r, NJ the century broke through the barriers OF
British Philstinism and dared to think for uheni'
selves He was natural reformer. and was
1soLod unon rs a revoutionist. Imprisoned for
publishing the truth about one Of the most proni-
cate and contemplate of princes, he OF course
WAS condemned by all the sycophancy OF the
kingdom. and nothing was too bad to say OF MIN.
Reinp moor. and lacking business capacity IL was
EASY 70 fix upon him the stigma OF an adVen'urer'
and so he got bad Dame.
II must he admitted that Dickens did him an
exceedingly i'll turn in using him for tne mouei
of Harold Skimpole, for though there was no
malice in the caricature, 1t exaggerated all 'he
Qualities and traits which were touched upon and
left the impression of a thoroughly heartless ana
selfish man. This was really not Leigh HUM s'
all He had no business faculty. and was III
deed always in difficulties But ne was certainly
not selfish or inconsiderate. for his family were
6eeplv attached to him and always happy with
him. The greater part of his time for forty years
was occupied in journalistic work. and while he
lacked the business sense necessary to the modern
editor his independent and progressive spirit and
ais literary talent made his political writings
effective on behalf of reform at time when the
cause sorely needed every friend. Could he have
had his own way he would have confined himself
20 pure literature in which he would surely have
made a deeper mark than was possible under the
actual circumstances His essays, which may ne
read with pleasure to-day, indicate high literary
qualities. extensive and well-remembered readng'
a knack of felcitous citation, wit, humor, ana
deep feeling for beauty. They moreover are per-
vaded by a rare geniality and kindness, and IN
the writer's bodest utterances there is no trace
of malice or harshness. Mr.. Johnson has included
in this edition the prospectuses of the Examiner
Indicator" and other journals which Leigh HUM
published, and they are well worth reading Tor
they exhibit ideas of journalistic duties and re-
sponsibilities not always lived up to even in these
advanced times
The volume of poems includes. we think, almost
everything of Hunts which deserves to hve lie
was not and perhaps could never have been,
poet of either the first second order; but in the
STORY of Rmini" and in the Eastern verses ana
one or two of the SOnncts he showed the true
poetic nature and there are not few OF his
verses which the world will not willingly let die
Leigh Hunts temperament was highly sensitive,
and he wanted frmness and balance But his
literary bent was elevated, his work honest and
careful and his ideas were often strongly original.
Much really admirable writing will be found In
his ESSAYS which, while they belong to an ooso-
lete literary form, will compare favoraby, as re-
cards polish, style and treatment, with most OF
the different modes which have come into vogue
since his time The friend of Shelley, Keats,
Lamb the Hazitts the acquaintance of Ihack-
cray. the Carlyles, the Brownings, and many other
famous folk Leigh Hunt must always be an In
terestng figure and he possesses in his own right,
as these beautiful volumes sufficiently prove,
valid claim to the remembrance and friendly feel
ing of posterity.