New-York tribune., 1902-04-26

sure my dear Friend would think herself aoah-
doned If she were treated otherwise
Walpole's character appears in peculiarly
pleasant light throughout this episode his
solicitude IS unfailing; and though we are pou'io
TO smile his reiterated regret 'ha' 'iie "
loved invalid not dosed with Ia'iie'
Powder" famous quack remedy OF tha' ''Ne'
to which by the way, the editor reinihuS US
Fielding alludes in one Of his novels We caiiiio'
but like Walpole the better for his rethdrhS Oh
the subject. He is very much the kihuIy seH''e-
man in what he says when Wharf. Nine. ou Lei
fand.s servant writes to him with many hum
bic apologies for taking the liberty to'u
him. he writes to his cousin. that was very
far from having any such foolish pride q thA'
bis attachment to his mistress leveled all dis
tinction. that | should be always glad 10 near
from hin, G. of his welfare, & that he needed
not make any secret Of my writing TO MIN.
He had some exasperating experiences Win 'he
ladys executors over the papers WHICH she
wished him to have and our sympathy lor MIN
&c tho keener in view of the attitude he had
adonted on these matters long before her death
He writes:
Several wears ago my dear old friend told me
cba should leave me her Porcelaine other
,hi,os assured her If she did not promise
me I'm the most solemn manner not to DO any
such thing. / would never set my ioot III
E-an
should be thought to have paid court to her win
that view: and l protested that, II she LETT me
anything of value would Immediately give up
all To her family, & then perhaps What she iei1
would not he distributed. just in the manner sne
would have wished. After some contest, & va
rious requests from her to name "hat %o Wou u
accent as her books. &c, all which posltiFeIS
refused she said would l. at least take her
papers? To satisfy her, as there would be noth-
ing mercenary in that acceptance did SohSsit' 1
This was during the life OF Monsieur de Pont
de Veille who was to have been her executor
The last time l was at Paris. she pressed me 10
chuse and then take some of her porcelaire.
refused She persisted. At last. TO pacify her,
took one of the cheapest cups and saucers &
pretended / preferred ii because 1t mad straw
berries on it, & 1t is now in this room
In spite of all this he had extraordinary difl-
Guilty in obtaining possession of the manuscripts
TO which he was entitled and his letters are full
of paintive protests He is, in regard to certain
other topics. tart enough. He writes almost flip
/ nantiv of the death of Frederick the Great, not
ing that n makes little public sensation in Lon
don and adding mot much as DR.. Johnson s
but Of him there is end too. His devo;ees
have convinced the public what fools tney were
for idolizing him they did Elsewhere ne
complains that the English press produces little
entertainment and goes on to say we lved TWO
wears upon the Dotage of DR. johnson & his
foolish Btographers.' He talks disdainfully OF
Iondon's having Hen Novellists & Poetesses in
everv parish" His political illusions are stead
uy sarcastic though he is delightfully."- cordial
in his tributes to Fox Rockingham is "a mop
net in Grosvenor Square and others are as
cavalierly dismissed He is never at loss for
/ vivacious comment. When the Empress or
! Russia commissions Sir Joshua Reynolds to
paint picture for her. and the artist tells him
that he has hit The Infant Hercules and
the Serpents'' for subject he exclaims: Lord.
People will say she is strangling the two En-
perors'' But there is nothing venomous in these
pages They are simply clever. witty, and in
imitably entertaining. 1t is to be hoped that
when the new edition of the great mass OF his
correspondence. now being prepared by Mrs
Toynbee is completed, these thoroughly char
acteristic snecimens will be included in il.