New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-23
A LATER PEPYS.
Bundles of old Letters from the
Georgian Period.

the memory OF Samuel Pepys from obliEloil'
While he was an efficient Secretary OF the AZ
miralty, closed his career by short term q
service as president OF the Royal Society
and left 10 Magdalen College a valuable col
lection OF books. manuscripts and prints
he would have been among d thousand
faithful but forgotten servants Of the Crown II
he had not kept an amusing diary in cipher
Before that unique record Of the manners ana
gossip OF the reign OF Charles II was de-
cifhsred and published another Pepys OF the
same line was rounding out an emlnentIy re-
s,actslle career This was Sir William Weller
Pepys Baronet Master in Chancery. and an
ornament OF polite society during the latter hall
~ the eighteenth century. II he did not keep
diary in either long short hand, he Wrote
oifruse letters to his son and 10 various literary
and social scquaintances. and filed the replles
with Mr. Gladstone's painstaking care. These
bundles Of yellow manuscript with faded INK
have been sealously guarded by descendants ana
have finally found their way into print. The son
Of the Master OF the Chancery was Lord Chan
ceuor CottenhaIn: Sir Richard Pepys was Lore
chief Justice OF Ireland: there was bishop IN
the family, and Sir Lucas Pepys was phSsi-
clan IN attendance upon George III The memo
ries Of al these WORTHLESS revived IN Two
handsome volumes. edited by Miss Gaussen'
rneraber OF the Pepys family and published 10y
Mr.. John Lane The editors purpose is 10
prove that the reputation OF the family does
not depend upon the scandalmongeT's precious
diary in cipher: but she does not hesitate 10
make use OF the old legend in the tiue. =
Later Pepys
The original Pepys salt has lost much OK as
SAVIOR. There are fresh glimpses Of the manners
.,d social ife OF the eighteenth and earlier
decades OF the nineteenth century. but mo
world had become more sedate and p-igglsh
when the Master IN Chancery wrote his stlteo
Letters 70 Hannah More and other friends
Fanny Burney gave him credit for having
shrewdness and drollery. as well as fashloh-
able cir and address: but there is no touch OF
either wit or frsvolity IN these letters lie Was
a most serious person. with oinuse ana IA
volved style and an Unborn love OF platltdce'
II the famous diar1st's ciphers had been trans
lated before the death OF the Master In Chah-
Gerry, tho letters might have gained ViVaoly
and ughtness OF touch. As matters slaho inc
reader nnds himself nodding over the stateS
per,ods. ana when he closes his eyes finds him
SELF wondering what Hannah More would have
sa,a IN reply II Sir William had discussed his
ancestors revelations Of the RIGHTEOUSNESS Oh
The Merry odonarch's reign in place Of the SIM
,,la n,etv OF wattss hymns. His conversation
could not have been as duh his letters Tor
le was one OF the most conspicuous figures IN
Mrs Montagu's bluestocking circle. and ola
mt allow Dr. Johnson 10 silence him when uhey
had an arg1lmentative bout over the Lives OF
the Poets" He took pains after their quarre1
10 have last word with the dictator "l'hou'
revealing his identity. when 1 heard OF poor
Johnson's dependency toward the conclusion OF
his life" are the words OF the amiable lawyer
II wrote him an anonymous letter (for he would
NOT have regarded st. had he known It came from
mel TO place IN a strong light the good pro-
duced by his writings. and trust that II ao-
mnistered some consolation" This was pref
IA display OF nagnanirnity worthy OF the good
buestocking's heart; but the reader OF this de-
corous sentence cannot help wishing that the
letter had been signed and DR.. Johnsons reply
been preserved. The answer might have been
as impressive document the famous letter
sent from Cough Square 10 Lord Chesterfield
Sir William Pepys's letters 10 his children are
pious and atfectionate but less racy and enter
tanning than Lord Chesterheld's paternal
homuies his friends tried TO brighten him by
telling him when he first undertook 10 educate
his sons that they would hate him as their
schoolmaster. but he continued 10 receive proofs
OF their attachment He gave them much ad-
vice about their reading. their companions and
their oevotions; he recommended Lord Claren-
don's History OF the Rebellion" as a source Of
vices ss coach In elocution; he discussed in de-
tan the merits OF Gray's and Dryden's odes. and
oisclaimed any intention Of making a boy a phi
iosopher at seventeen; and he invariably in
Tated the confidence Of his children and made
them feel that they were loved and honored for
their good qualities and affectionate conduct.
he wrote 70 his with much stateliness
and dignity he discussed morality. religion
and literature with Hannah More. and he was
ceremonious with them in small de-
tan as the expediency OF dropping minor Incl
dents IN telling a story. In Of his letters
he objected 20 an account which one Of his sons
had given OF getting into a front box instead Of
an upper box ''as too long and circurnstantial
Tor the importance OF the catastrophe" He
added; This happen TO remember because
very often catch myself at relating a story
with many circumstances when perhaps at
last the final event IS not at all interesting
which Is certainly a fault In conversation. tires
the company very much. and entities the mar
rator TO the modern application Of q Boar" Sir
William married late. although several OF his
friends. notably Mrs. Chapone. had interested
themselves In finding q wife for him; and he
nerVeo himself for the venture by reflections
on TIE age experience and past conduct OF the
laoy' added 70 her marked devotion TO himself
Her person. he wrote circumspectly 10 his
aunt is tail and beautifully shaped, and her
countenance without beauty is expressive OF
goodness. She is OF q cheerful though sober
turn OF mind. but what / rely most upon for
my future happiness is the uncommon attach
ment which she has. long time since, discov-
cred for me. and which equals anything that
modern times boast Of nd which will
make us. II not the richest yet the happiest
couple on earth" With less discretion, whiun-
ole