New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-24
LITERARY NOTES.


ago under the general title Of English Lands.
Letters and Kings" The fourth and last VOL
urne, Just published by Charles scrbners Sons
has for subtitle The Later Georges to Vic
toria-" Starting with southey the volume prac-
ticaly closes upon vivid portrait Of G. F. r.
James, there being no detailed reference to
Thackeray, Dickens, Carlyle, Tennyson and the
literary figures Of their time Mr.. Mitchell OBJ
serves referring to Scott that whatever newer
literary fashions may now claim allegiance and
whatever historic qudnuncs may say In deroga-
tion think there great multitudes who
will keep a warm place in their hearts Tor
Scott. and easily pardon a kindred warmth IN
our words" The persona! attitude disclosed IN
these words is the attitude to which the author
Is content to commit himself throughout his
volume. It constitutes his attraction and his
defect. 1t seems defect when 1t causes him
lightly to appraise De Quincy. Only personal
prepossession could inspire so decided dis
taste as Mr.. Mitchell reveals for the parts that
opium and tittle-tattle played in De Quincey's
life, and frank indifference TO the mans
scholarship and high imaginative quality. The
tributes here paid to the Opium Eaters success
full flights are hardly generous enough. Fur
thermore. It seems hardly fair especially AFTER
Mr.. Langs revelations concerning the person
loved literary digs with his stiletto-whch was
very sharp-and when he left Edinburgh TO
edit The Quarterly Review in London (as he
did In after days. he took his stiletto with him.
This confirms too willingly the old but now hap
PLY exploded conception of Lockhart as man
who had not only the appearance but some Of
the savagery Of Spaniard. On the other hand.
when the reader has deducted from Mr.. Mitchells
RACES few unsympathetic judgments like those
to which we refer-and they are very easily
discerned-he has nothing but enjoyment left.
Through his personal feeling for the authors
he discusses, Mr. Mitchell gets at what is most
human and lasting in their work. and puts it
before us still vitazed and eloquent. His ac-
count Of Byron, which is the longest episode In
his book is as wise as IT is tactfully expressed;
and II the estimate of Macaulay is pitched in a
more admiring key than is likely to find sup
porters to-day, II is at any rate just and timely.
providing a good set-of to the cheap patronage
which Is so often bestowed upon the historian
by latter-day crticasters. In his chapter
Macaulay we get one of those helpful vignettes
which Mr.. Mitchell has been enabled draw
through actual experience among the subjects
of his present volume Il remember catching
sight OF him." he says. speaking Of Macaulay
Somewhere between 1874 and 1S46-in his place
In the House of Commons and listening TO his
brilliant castigation Of Sir Robert Peel. in the
matter. think Of the Maynooth grant. He was
we'll toward fifty then. but sturdy-with the firm
tread of man who could do his three or four
leagues of walking If need were beetle browed,
his clothes III -adjusted his neck bundled in
big swathng of cravat. There silence when
he rose: there nothing oratorlike in his
bearing; rather awkward in his pose; having
scorn too, would seem for any Of the graces
Of elocu.ion But ne clear emphatic, direct,
with a great swift river Of words all bearing
toward definite aim Tory critics used TO say
he wrote his speeches and committed them 10
memory. There need for that. Words
trpped to his tongue as easily as to his pen.
But there were no delicate modulations OF voice:
no art Of pantomime; no conscious or uncon-
scious assumption of graceful attitudes and
when subject matter enfevered and kindled him
as 1t did on that occasion-there was the
hurry and the overstrained voice of extreme
earnestness"
Mr.. Mitchell has other portraits within these
pages vivid as th!s-for example captivating
sketch of Crabb Robinson. with his careful man.
ners. his tidy dress, his ceverness at cards, at a
picnic, at tea fights, at dinner. IF he had lived
till now, think he would have died-dining
out" There is a capital outline. too Of G. P. r.
James. whom Mr. Mitchell regarded in his boy
hood a very high priest Of chivalry. Il
ca dght sight Of this great necromancer Of mini
yer furs' and mantua making chivalry." he says.
''in younssh days. in the city Of New-York
where he making a little over-ocean escape
from the multtudlnous work that flowed from
him at home; q well-preserved man. Of scarce
fifty years stout, erect. gray-haired. and with
countenance blooming with milo uses Of mild
English ale-kindly. misunderstanding no signs
a Oh ~ or Of har toll
looked him over in boyIsh way. FOR traces Of the
court splendors had gaZed upon. under his min
istrations but saw none; nor any OF the manly
beauty of features. rendered scarcely less by a
deep upon the forehead nor of the gray
cloth doublets slashed with purple. stanch
honest arniable wel-dressed Englishman-that
was all"
1t is through this constant employment Of this
easy. flowing. gOod-tempered and acute vein OF
Renaissance anG observation that MIR Mitchell
holds his reader. The book moves gracefully
on through the field Of literature 1t sets out to
celebrate. like a brook meandering
through the rushes and among beautiful scenes.
1t is bound securely to It's predecessors not only
through it's chronology. but through its firm
maintenance Of the felici;ous style which the
author brought 20 the beginning OF his task
That task Is ended. and sympathy with Mr.. Nit
chelrs satisfaction is tinged with regret at the
cessation of talks that might well have been
continued until the record had been brought
down to the present day.
THE Atlantic Monthly" celebrates the fortieth
year of It's existence with the publication Of an
anniversary number full OF good things Per-
haps the most pertinent of ali the essays is the
one with which Mr.. James Lane Allen
opens the number. He writes Of Two
Principles IN American Recent Fiction" and
his conclusions are suggestive. We have