Year: 1872

and determination to be funny at all hazards Mr..
Forster gives a whimsical account of an incident
which occurred on a voyage from Marsellles 10
Genoa. which he doubtless regards as an
accurate specimen of the language and man
ners of the barbaTous people in the states"
In a confusion between the two rival packets for
Genoa. he unwillingly detained one of them more
than an hour from sailing; and only managed at
last TO get TO her Just she moving out OF har
Dor. As he went up the side,ihe saw strange SEN
saton among the angry travellers whom he had de-
tanned so long heard voice eXclaim i am blarmed
il it amt Dickensp and stood in the center OF
group of Fire Am0icaHs! But the pleasantest part
Of the story is that they were, one aud all glad 10
see him that their chief man, or leader VINO had
met him In New-York. at once introduced them all
round with the remark, Personally our country
men. and YOU. can fix it friendly, sir I do expectu-
ate; and that, through the stormy passage to Ge-
noa which followed they were excellent friends.
For the greater part of the time, it is true,
Dickens had to keep to his cabinj but he
contrived TO get enjoyment out of them
nevertheless The member of the party VINO had the
travelling dictionary wouldn't part with it, though
he was dead sick in the ca3n next to my TRENDS;
and every now and then Dickens was conscious oil
his fellow-traveers coming down TO him, crying out
in varied tones of anxious bewildcrment, / say,
what's French for pillow Is there any Italian
phrase for lump of sugar Just look, viii your
What the devil does echo meant The garsohg
says echo to everythingP They were excessively
curious to know, tOo the population OF every lltte
town on the COrnice and all its statistics;
perhaps the very last subjects within the
capacity of the human intellect, remarks
Dickens that would ever present themselves to an
Italian stewards mind. He was very willing fel-
low, our steward and, having some vague idea that
they would like a large number, said at hazard nifty
thousand, ninety Thousand, four hundred thousand
when they asked about the population OF
place not larger than Lincolns-lnn-helds. Ana
when they said Non Possible! (which was the
leaders inyariable reply, he doubled or trebled
the amount to meet what he supposed to
be their views and make it quite satisfactory"


The letters, however from which Mr. Forster has
furnished extracts consist mainly, if not wholly Of
those addressed to himself, and abound in almost


fusome expressions Of attachment to his person, and
reliance upon his cOunsels For the omission OF other
specimens of Mr.. Dickenss correspondence 1t Is not


easy toconecture any motive, except that they've


take the place fseectiOns that gTated the personal


vanity of the author No doubt his relations with NJ
| Dickens were those of intimate confidence. He was


not only allied with him by the lies of sympathy and
] friendship but he appears to have been his most


trusted guide in practical affairs curious illustra-
ton Is thus afforded of Mr.. Dickenss character.
With all the ardor and energy Of his nature, he
often exhibits weakness Of purpose in singular con-
trast with his vigor in action. Without the advice
of his counselor, he sometimes seems as helpless
rs a child. Mr.. Forster has taken care to exhibit
this trait in the strongest light. He presents the
subject of his memoir in leading-strngs and
scarcely able to take step without the almost pa
ternal authority OF his friend. Those who knew Mr..
Dickens best will probably demur at the accuracy Of
the portraiture but there is nothing in the volume
to enable stranger to determine whether it Is due
to the nRruity Of the novelist the conceit Of the
biographer. -