New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-23

the old Tory squire could reconcile himself to
the situation IN the New World and write in
this spirit: II dread no enemy except America.
I see too with the greatest pleasure that the
capitulatlons Of Saratoga and Yorktown, with
a the other humilations and disasters or the
American war. are nearly obliterated.
II Monroe and mis- countryInen act in union with
us you and l may hope to finish our career
without seeing this country engaged in any long
or arduous contest" Mrs. Hartley propanly
shared her brothers extreme Whiggish views
respecting the American Revolution Tor she
lived with him at Belvedere on the crest Of the
hills north OF Bath and was devotedly attached
TO him. lie was one Of the earliest English
Abolltionists and opponents OF the slave trade
and as member of Parliament for Hull took
the American side IN the debates on Colonial
taxation. and published 4 series Of letters in OPP
position 10 the tea and stamp duties. He was
ardent admirer OF Franklin and after York
town signed, in Paris. the treaty OF peace. Mrs
Hartley was a poor politician and refrained
from argument on either American or French
questions, with which her brother was pre-
occupied In Hannah More's letters there are
references to General Oglethorpe. who returned
from Georgia with conviction that the Colon
lists never could be subdued in war, and was one
OF the earliest callers at the American Embassy
when John Adams arrived in London after the
Peace OF Paris.
This new budget of Pepys papers includes
bundle Of letters from Sir William to his cousin,
William Franks. a banker in which the opinion
is forcibly expressed that the happiest life is
that Of the successful man Of business who has
some literary pursuits. There is another SERIES
written mainly by Sir James Macdonald. High
land chieftain. with remarkable mind and
attractive personality. who died in Rome at
twen;y-four, after leaving a powerful impress
upon Adam Smith Boswell Hume and many
other distinguished Sir William Pepys
his intimate companion at Eton and OK
ford. and the letters in one OF these new vol
umes are the only literary memorial Of a man OF
exceptional talent and sweetness OF nature, who
was known as the Marcellus OF Scotland. There
many letters. also. from Sir Lucas Pepys,
the court physician, TO his brother, with a big
bundle OF correspondence between Sir William
and Hannah More who We're close friends. with
similar literary tastes and habits OF mind. The
ceremonious baronet and the prim old maid
compared their impressions of English politics.
French repubncanism. Napoleonc warfare, dip
lonatic coalitions, Scotch literature. Byron's
fiery poetry and fierce controversies. Miss Edge
worth's fiction and the decline OF conversation
in polite society; and so deliberate were their
movements. so measured We're their words and
so stately were their periods that they seemed
10 be leading q bluestocking minuet from year
TO year. He had his classical pedantry and cir
cui:ous. digniled style OF writing; and she was
always staid and quaint. and never talked OF |
having a Irritation with an admirer under nine
~. There might be a bad Georgian world
around them. where politicians had their price,
andthere were high bouts at cards. and drunken
jewellers were under the table nightly but they
were almost overnice in their talk and severe
and demure in their courtesles and bows. They
were the last OF the bluestockngs OF Mrs.
Montagu's salon. and their portraits have been
limned IN Mr. Dobson's Gentlemen" and 'Gen-
tlewoman Of the Old School"
The new Pepys letters lack the sparkle and
animation OF the famous diaries. with the guile
less old Samuel's snapshots at the free and easy
habits and manners OF the Restoration; but,
wearisome may be the correspondence and
stilted and formal the exchange OF conpIi-
ments and morals. there is realistic drawing
from the life OF the period. The Pepyses and the
Frankses were among the most reputable figures
in English society OF their day. ana their let
tiers starched and bristling with the de-
corum and artihciality OF Georgian manners
and piety. The first Lord Lyttelton. Sir William
Hamilton. Mrs Chapone. Mrs. Montagu. Mrs.
Thrale. Or. Johnson Sir Walter Scott, Boswell !
the Hon Miss Moncton. and the wits Of Tun-
bridge Wells and Bath are all here IN these vol
umes Sir Joshua Reynolds. Gainsborough
and Romney painted them. There are nearly
fifty Illustrations from portraits, miniatures
and old prints. and the binding is as handsome
and sumptuous the court dresses Of the
Georgian period; and the pages are turned
there is the fragrance OF oldtime manners so
that one half expects 20 see faded white roses
fan from between the leaves. Inf