The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
The Donne Correspondence.

The DOnne Correspondence.
As a rule, letters pepned by persons never
very we'll known. and perhaps forgotten
are scarcely worthy of reproduction In print,
but this cannot be said OF the volume OF
correspondence entitled William Bodhdm
Dome and His Friends (E. p. Dutton d
Coz When We mention that this volume
includes many letters written by Edward
FitzGerald, Archbishop Trench and Mrs.
Fanny kemble, we shall have sufficiently
commended it to public interest. We
ought to add that there is much OF value in
Mr. Donne's own letters, although, being a
man of an extremely modest and retiring
disposition, he would have expected to be
remembered by his friendships rather than
by his personal des rts. In the few who
were brought in close contact with him he
inspired warm and lasting attachment.
Like his cousin, the poet Cowper, he pos
sessed the power Of fascinating those who
were admitted to his narrow circle. The
reader will understand why Dean Blakesley,
one of his correspondents. said Of him:
Many men are liked, but Dome is lored."
Mrs. Fanny kemble, in her Records OF Later
Life" speaks Of him as follows: william
BodhaIn Dome, my brother Johns school
and college mate, for more than fifty years
Of this changeful life the unchanged dear
and devoted friend of me and mine-ac-
complished scholar. elegant writer. man Of
exquisite and refined taste. such a gentle
man that my sister Mrs Sartoris) always
said he was the original OF the hero in
Boccacco's story of the Falcon"
There is q tradition. which cannot be
10
was descendant OF the poet Dome. Dean
of st. Paul's, who died in 1881. W. B. Dome
himself set but little store by genealogy,
and writing to friend in September, 1880.
observed that, as a matter OF taste, he would
rather have a gallery of his posterity than
of his predecessors. His grandfather on
his fathers side was surgeon in Norwich,
noted for the number and success OF his
operations. The surgeons son followed
his fathers profession for time, but, while
still young, retired and settled down on a
property in Norfolk, which W. B. Dome
inherited Here the last named was born
in 1907, and, twelve years later, was sent
to the Edward VI. Grammar School at
Bury ST. Edmunds. Among his school,
fellows were the Romillys, John Mitchell
Kembe Danny kemble's brother, James
SPEEDING (author Of the monumental Lie
of Bacon and editor of the philosophers
works., Edward Fitz Gerald and others
who were to make their mark in the world.
Some Of these went up to Cambridge with
Dome in 1925. At the university he was
one of the original twelve members Of the
Apostles Club, which included such men
as Monckton Mines Uord Houghton).
James Speeding, John Sterling, R. c. Trench,
John Mitchell Kehble. F. D. Maurice.
Charles Butler, Spencer Walpole and. a
little later, Arthur Hallam, Alfred Tennyson
and Charles Merivale. The Apostles agreed
on leaving Cambridge to dine together
once year, and the gathering is referred
10 many times in the correspondence here
published MIR. Donne left the university
without taking his degree. having con-
scientious objections to signing the Thirty
nine Articles. That he had proflted by
his opportunities. however. is evident
from the fact that he was fine classical
scholar and we'll versed in classical history
and antiquity. He continued throughout
his quiet life to devote himself to methodi-
cal study, and eventually made himself
master of the finer English literature, more
especially of the drama. He published a
few books which had success Of estime."
but which now, doubtless, are out Of print,
and he was a freq ent, but, of course,
anonymous, contribut or to the Edinturgh,
We stminster Matt nal, Saturday and
Britt III and Forei1n Rerievs, as we'll az
to Frdeer's Magazine.
We can here merely indicate by few
excerpts the attractive quality OF this cor.
In a letter written by John
Kemble in 1882 he tells his friend that
Alfred Tennyson is about to give the world
a volume of stupendous poems, the lowest
toned of which ia strung higher than the
highest Of his former volumes. He has
been in London for some time, and happy
time it was, a happy time and holy time;
for it is the mighty privilege of such men
to spread their own glory around them
upon all who come within the circuit Of
their life, and to exalt and purify them also. "
In June. 1888. Kemble expresses the hope
that Dome will come up to Cambridge,
where I'VE will have soma magnificent
with Hallam and the Tennysons,
who, in all human probability. will be here
He had previously forwarded some estrscts
and now says az them: The fragments I
sent You are superb; and You are. 10 far
as can see quite OF my own mind ergo.
quite right, about Alfred's alterations:
what in fhe name of all mischief, could he
mean by changing in the Lotus Eaters
Full faced above the valley stood the
moon,' into Above the valley burned the
golden moon except that some friend
or other told him that the full moon was
never seen while the sunset ling ered in