第3章

8。MR。HOME’SMIRACULOUSINFANT

\"Onthe26thApril，oldstyle，or8thMay，accordingtoourstyle，atsevenintheevening，andasthesnowwasfastfalling，ourlittleboywasbornatthetownhouse，situateontheGagarinesQuay，inSt。Petersburg，wherewewerestillstaying。Afewhoursafterhisbirth，hismother，thenurse，andIheardforseveralhoursthewarblingofabirdasifsingingoverhim。Alsothatnight，andfortwoorthreenightsafterwards，abrightstarlikelight，whichwasclearlyvisiblefromthepartialdarknessoftheroom，inwhichtherewasonlyanight—lampburning，appearedseveraltimesdirectlyIoveritshead，whereitremainedforsomemoments，andthenslowlymovedinthedirectionofthedoor，whereitdisappeared。Thiswasalsoseenbyeachofusatthesametime。

Thelightwasmorecondensedthanthosewhichhavebeensooftenseeninmypresenceuponpreviousandsubsequentoccasions。Itwasbrighterandmoredistinctlyglobular。Idonotbelievethatitcamethroughmymediumship，butratherthroughthatofthechild，whohasmanifestedonseveraloccasionsthepresenceofthegift。I

donotliketoalludetosuchamatter，butastherearemorestrangethingsinHeavenandearththanaredreamtof，eveninmyphilosophy，Idonotfeelmyselfatlibertytoomitstating，thatduringthelatterpartofmywife’spregnancy，wethoughtitbetterthatsheshouldnotjoininSeances，becauseitwasfoundthatwhenevertherappingsoccurredintheroom，asimultaneousmovementofthechildwasdistinctlyfelt，perfectlyinunisonwiththesounds。Whentherewerethreesounds，threemovementswerefelt，andsoon，andwhenfivesoundswereheard，whichisgenerallythecallforthealphabet，shefeltthefiveinternalmovements，andshewouldfrequently，whenweweremistakeninthelatter，correctusfromwhatthechildindicated。\"

Weshouldaskpardonofourreadersforsullyingourpaperwiththisnauseousmatter，ifwithoutittheycouldadequatelyunderstandwhatMr。Home’sbookis。

9。CAGLIOSTRO’SSPIRITCALLSONMR。HOME

Prudentlyavoidingthedisagreeablequestionofhisgivinghimself，bothinthisstateofexistenceandinhisspiritualcircle，anametowhichheneverhadanypretensionswhatever，andlikewiseprudentlysuppressinganyreferencetohisamiableweaknessasaswindlerandaninfamoustraffickerinhisownwife，theguilelessMr。Balsamodelivered，ina\"distinctvoice\"，thisdistinctcelestialutterance——unquestionablypunctuatedinasupernaturalmanner：\"Mypowerwasthatofamesmerist，butall—misunderstoodbythoseaboutme，mybiographershaveevendonemeinjustice，butI

carenotfortheuntruthsofearth\"。

10。ORACULARSTATEOFMR。HOME

\"Aftervariousmanifestations，Mr。Homewentintothetrance，andaddressingapersonpresent，said，’Youaskwhatgoodaresuchtrivialmanifestations，suchasrapping，table—moving，etc。？Godisabetterjudgethanwearewhatisfittedforhumanity，immenseresultsmayspringfromtrivialthings。Thesteamfromakettleisasmallthing，butlookatthelocomotive!Theelectricsparkfromthebackofacatisasmallthing，butseethewondersofelectricity!Therapsaresmallthings，buttheirresultswillleadyoutotheSpirit—World，andtoeternity!Whyshouldgreatresultsspringfromsuchsmallcauses？Christwasborninamanger，hewasnotbornaKing。Whenyoutellmewhyhewasborninamanger，I

willtellyouwhythesemanifestations，sotrivial，soundignifiedastheyappeartoyou，havebeenappointedtoconvincetheworldofthetruthofspiritualism。’\"

Wonderful!ClearlydirectInspiration!——Andyet，perhaps，hardlyworththetroubleofgoing\"intothetrance\"for，either。Amazingastherevelationis，weseemtohaveheardsomethinglikeitfrommorethanonepersonagewhowaswideawake。Aquackdoctor，inanopenbarouche（attendedbyabarrel—organandtwofootmeninbrasshelmets），deliveredjustsuchanotheraddresswithinourhearing，outsideagateofParis，nottwomonthsago。

11。THETESTIMONYOFMR。HOME’SBOOTS

\"Theladyofthehouseturnedtomeandsaidabruptly，’Why，youaresittingintheair’；andonlooking，wefoundthatthechairremainedinitsplace，butthatIwaselevatedtwoorthreeinchesaboveit，andmyfeetnottouchingthefloor。ThismayshowhowutterlyunconsciousIamattimestothesensationoflevitation。

Asisusual，whenIhadnotgotabovetheleveloftheheadsofthoseaboutme，andwhentheychangetheirpositionmuch——astheyfrequentlydoinlookingwistfullyatsuchaphenomenon——Icamedownagain，butnottillIhadremainedsoraisedabouthalfaminutefromthetimeofitsbeingfirstseen。Iwasnowimpressedtoleavethetable，andwassooncarriedtotheloftyceiling。TheCountdeB—lefthisplaceatthetable，andcomingunderwhereIwas，said，’Now，youngHome，comeandletmetouchyourfeet。’ItoldhimI

hadnovolitioninthematter，butperhapsthespiritswouldkindlyallowmetocomedowntohim。Theydidso，byfloatingmedowntohim，andmyfeetweresooninhisoutstretchedhands。Heseizedmyboots，andnowIwasagainelevated，heholdingtightly，andpullingatmyfeet，tillthebootsIwore，whichhadelasticsides，cameoffandremainedinhishands。\"

12。THEUNCOMBATIVENATUREOFMR。HOME

Asthereisamaudlincomplaintinthisbook，aboutmenofSciencebeinghardupon\"the’Orphan’Home\"，andasthe\"gentleanduncombativenature\"ofthisMediuminamartyredpointofviewispatheticallycommentedonbytheanonymousliteraryfriendwhosupplieshimwithanintroductionandappendix——ratheratoddswithMr。Howitt，whoissomightilytriumphantaboutthesameMartyr’sreceptionbycrownedheads，andaboutthecompetencehehasbecomeendowedwith——wecullfromMr。Home’sbookoneortwolittleillustrativeflowers。SirDavidBrewster（apestilentunbeliever）

\"hascomebeforethepublicinfewmatterswhichhavebroughtmoreshameuponhimthanhisconductandassertionsonthisoccasion，inwhichhemanifestednotonlyadisregardfortruth，butalsoadisloyaltytoscientificobservation，andtotheuseofhisowneyesightandnaturalfaculties\"。ThesameunhappySirDavidBrewster’s\"charactermaybethebetterknown，notonlyforhisuntruthfuldealingwiththissubject，butalsoinhisowndomainofscienceinwhichthesameunfaithfulnesstotruthwillbeseentobethecharacteristicofhismind\"。Again，he\"isreallynotamanoverwhomvictoryisanyhonour\"。Again，\"notonlyhe，butProfessorFaradayhavehadtimeandampleleisuretoregretthattheyshouldhavesofoolishlypledgedthemselves\"，etc。AFaradayafoolinthesightofaHome!Thatunjustjudgeandwhitedwall，LordBrougham，hashisshareofthisMartyrMedium’suncombativeness。\"InorderthathemightnotbecompelledtodenySirDavid’sstatements，hefounditnecessarythatheshouldbesilent，andIhavesomereasontocomplainthathisLordshippreferredsacrificingmetohisdesirenottoimmolatehisfriend。\"

M。AragoalsocameoffwithverydoubtfulhonoursfromawrestlewiththeuncombativeMartyr；whoisperfectlyclear（andsoarewe，letusadd）thatscientificmenarenotthemenforhispurpose。Ofcourse，heisthebuttof\"utterandacknowledgedignorance\"，andof\"themostgrossandfoolishstatements\"，andof\"theunjustanddishonest\"，andof\"thepress—gang\"，andofcrowdsofotheralienandcombativeadjectives，participles，andsubstantives。

Nothingiswithoutitsuse，andeventhisodiousbookmaydosomeservice。NotbecauseitcoollyclaimsforthewriterandhisdisciplessuchpowersaswerewieldedbytheSaviourandtheApostles；notbecauseitseesnodifferencebetweentwelvetablerappersinthesedays，and\"twelvefishermen\"inthose；notbecauseitappealsforprecedentstostatementsextractedfromthemostignorantandwretchedofmankind，bycrueltorture，andconstantlywithdrawnwhenthetorturewaswithdrawn；notbecauseitsetsforthsuchastrangeconfusionofideasasispresentedbyoneofthefaithfulwhen，writingofacertainsprigofgeraniumhandedbyaninvisiblehand，headdsinecstasies，\"WHICHWEHAVEPLANTEDANDIT

ISGROWING，SOTHATITISNODELUSION，NOFAIRYMONEYTURNEDINTO

DROSSORLEAVES\"——asifitfollowedthattheconjuror’shalf—crownsreallydidbecomeinvisibleandinthatstatefly，becauseheafterwardscutsthemoutofarealorange；orasiftheconjuror’spigeon，beingafterthedischargeofhisgun，areallivepigeonflutteringonthetarget，mustthereforeconclusivelybeapigeon，fired，whole，livingandunshattered，outofthegun!——notbecauseoftheexposureofanyoftheseweaknesses，orathousandsuch，arethesemovingincidentsinthelifeoftheMartyrMedium，andsimilarproductions，likelytoproveuseful，butbecauseoftheiruniformabuseofthosewhogototesttherealityoftheseallegedphenomena，andwhocomeawayincredulous。Thereisanoldhomelyproverbconcerningpitchanditsadhesivecharacter，whichwehopethissignificantcircumstancemayimpressonmanyminds。Thewriteroftheselineshaslatelyheardovermuchtouchingyoungmenofpromiseintheimaginativearts，\"towardswhom\"MartyrMediumsassistingateveningpartiesfeelthemselves\"drawn\"。Itmaybeahinttosuchyoungmentosticktotheirowndrawing，asbeingofamuchbetterkind，andtoleaveMartyrMediumsaloneintheirglory。

Asthereisagooddealinthesebooksabout\"lyingspirits\"，wewillconcludebyputtingahypotheticalcase。SupposingthataMedium（Martyrorotherwise）wereestablishedforatimeinthehouseofanEnglishgentlemanabroad；say，somewhereinItaly。

SupposingthatthemoremarvelloustheMediumbecame，themoresuspiciousofhimtheladyofthehousebecame。Supposingthatthelady，herdistrustoncearoused，wereparticularlystruckbytheMedium’sexhibitingapersistentdesiretocommither，somehoworother，tothedisclosureofthemannerofthedeath，tohimunknown，ofacertainperson。SupposingthatsheatlengthresolvedtotesttheMediumonthishead，and，therefore，onacertaineveningmentionedawhollysupposititiousmannerofdeath（whichwasnottherealmannerofdeath，noranythingatalllikeit）withintherangeofhislisteningears。Andsupposingthataspiritpresentlyafterwardsrappedoutitspresence，claimingtobethespiritofthatdeceasedperson，andclaimingtohavedepartedthislifeinthatsupposititiousway。Wouldthatbealyingspirit？Orwoulditheasomethingelse，taintingallthatMedium’sstatementsandsuppressions，eveniftheywerenotinthemselvesofamanifestlyoutrageouscharacter？

THELATEMR。STANFIELD

EveryArtist，behewriter，painter，musician，oractor，mustbearhisprivatesorrowsashebestcan，andmustseparatethemfromtheexerciseofhispublicpursuit。Butitsometimeshappens，incompensation，thathisprivatelossofadearfriendrepresentsalossonthepartofthewholecommunity。Thenhemay，withoutobtrusionofhisindividuality，stepforthtolayhislittlewreathuponthatdearfriend’sgrave。

OnSaturday，theeighteenthofthispresentmonth，ClarksonStanfielddied。Ontheafternoonofthatday，Englandlostthegreatmarinepainterofwhomshewillbeboastfulageshence；theNationalHistorianofherspeciality，theSea；themanfamousinallcountriesforhismarvellousrenderingofthewavesthatbreakuponhershores，ofhershipsandseamen，ofhercoastsandskies，ofherstormsandsunshine，ofthemanymarvelsofthedeep。HewhoholdstheoceansinthehollowofHishandhadgiven，associatedwiththem，wonderfulgiftsintohiskeeping；hehadusedthemwellthroughthreescoreandfourteenyears；and，ontheafternoonofthatspringday，relinquishedthemforever。

Itissuperfluoustorecordthatthepainterof\"TheBattleofTrafalgar\"，ofthe\"VictorybeingtowedintoGibraltarwiththebodyofNelsononBoard\"，of\"TheMorningaftertheWreck\"，of\"TheAbandoned\"，offiftymoresuchworks，diedinhisseventy—fourthyear，\"Mr。\"Stanfield。——HewasanEnglishman。

Thosegrandpictureswillproclaimhispowerswhilepaintandcanvaslast。Butthewriterofthesewordshadbeenhisfriendforthirtyyears；andwhen，ashortweekortwobeforehisdeath，helaidthatoncesoskilfulhanduponthewriter’sbreastandtoldhimtheywouldmeetagain，\"butnothere\"，thethoughtsofthelatterturned，forthetime，solittletohisnoblegenius，andsomuchtohisnoblenature!

Hewasthesouloffrankness，generosity，andsimplicity。Themostgenial，themostaffectionate，themostloving，andthemostlovableofmen。Successhadneverforaninstantspoiledhim。HisinterestintheTheatreasanInstitution——thebestpicturesquenessofwhichmaybesaidtobewhollyduetohim——wasfaithfultothelast。HisbeliefinaPlay，hisdelightinone，theeasewithwhichitmovedhimtotearsortolaughter，weremostremarkableevidencesofthehearthemusthaveputintohisoldtheatricalwork，andofthethoroughpurposeandsinceritywithwhichitmusthavebeendone。

Thewriterwasveryintimatelyassociatedwithhiminsomeamateurplays；anddayafterday，andnightafternight，therewerethesameunquenchablefreshness，enthusiasm，andimpressibilityinhim，thoughbrokeninhealth，eventhen。

NoArtistcaneverhavestoodbyhisartwithaquieterdignitythanhealwaysdid。Nothingwouldhaveinducedhimtolayitatthefeetofanyhumancreature。Tofawn，ortotoady，ortodoundeservedhomagetoanyone，wasanabsoluteimpossibilitywithhim。Andyethischaracterwassonicelybalancedthathewasthelastmanintheworldtobesuspectedofself—assertion，andhismodestywasoneofhismostspecialqualities。

Hewasacharitable，religious，gentle，trulygoodman。Agenuineman，incapableofpretenceorofconcealment。Hehadbeenasailoronce；andallthebestcharacteristicsthatarepopularlyattributedtosailors，beinghis，andbeinginhimrefinedbytheinfluencesofhisArt，formedawholenotlikelytobeoftenseen。Thereisnosmilethatthewritercanrecall，likehis；nomannersonaturallyconfidingandsocheerfullyengaging。Whenthewritersawhimforthelasttimeonearth，thesmileandthemannershoneoutoncethroughtheweakness，still：thebrightunchangingSoulwithinthealteredfaceandform。

Nomanwaseverheldinhigherrespectbyhisfriends，andyethisintimatefriendsinvariablyaddressedhimandspokeofhimbyapetname。Itmayneed，perhaps，thewriter’smemoryandassociationstofindinthisatouchingexpressionofhiswinningcharacter，hisplayfulsmile，andpleasantways。\"YouknowMrs。Inchbald’sstory，NatureandArt？\"wroteThomasHood，once，inaletter：\"WhatafineEditionofNatureandArtisStanfield!\"

Gone!Andmanyandmanyadearolddaygonewithhim!Buttheirmemoriesremain。Andhismemorywillnotsoonfadeout，forhehassethismarkupontherestlesswaters，andhisfamewilllongbesoundedintheroarofthesea。

ASLIGHTQUESTIONOFFACT

Itisneverwellforthepublicinterestthattheoriginatorofanysocialreformshouldbesoonforgotten。Further，itisneitherwholesomenorright（beingneithergenerousnorjust）thatthemeritofhisworkshouldbegraduallytransferredelsewhere。

Somefewweeksago，ourcontemporary，thePallMallGazette，incertainstricturesonourTheatreswhichweareveryfarindeedfromchallenging，remarkedonthefirsteffectualdiscouragementofanoutrageupondecencywhichthelobbiesandupper—boxesofevenourbestTheatreshabituallyparadedwithinthelasttwentyorthirtyyears。FromthoseremarksitmightappearasthoughnosuchManagerofCoventGardenorDruryLaneasMr。Macreadyhadeverexisted。

Itisafactbeyondallpossibilityofquestion，thatMr。Macready，onassumingthemanagementofCoventGardenTheatrein1837，didinstantlysethimself，regardlessofprecedentandcustomdowntothathourobtaining，rigidlytosuppressthisshamefulthing，anddidrigidlysuppressandcrushitduringhiswholemanagementofthattheatre，andduringhiswholesubsequentmanagementofDruryLane。Thathedidso，ascertainlywithoutfavouraswithoutfear；

thathedidso，againsthisownimmediateinterests；thathedidso，againstvexationsandoppositionswhichmighthavecooledtheardourofalessearnestman，oralessdevotedartist；canbebetterknowntonoonethanthewriterofthepresentwords，whosenamestandsattheheadofthesepages。

LANDOR’SLIFE

PrefixedtothesecondvolumeofMr。Forster’sadmirablebiographyofWalterSavageLandor，{1}isanengravingfromaportraitofthatremarkablemanwhenseventy—sevenyearsofage，byBoxall。Thewriteroftheselinescantestifythattheoriginalpictureisasingularlygoodlikeness，theresultofcloseandsubtleobservationonthepartofthepainter；but，forthisveryreason，theengravinggivesamostinadequateideaofthemeritofthepictureandthecharacteroftheman。

Fromtheengraving，thearmsandhandsareomitted。Inthepicture，theyare，astheywereinnature，indispensabletoacorrectreadingofthevigorousface。Thearmswereverypeculiar。Theywererathershort，andwerecuriouslyrestrainedandcheckedintheiractionattheelbows；intheactionofthehands，evenwhenseparatelyclenched，therewasthesamekindofpause，andanoticeabletendencytorelaxationonthepartofthethumb。Letthefacebeneversointenseorfierce，therewasacommentaryofgentlenessinthehands，essentialtobetakenalongwithit。LikeHamlet，Landorwouldspeakdaggers，butusenone。Intheexpressionofhishands，thoughangrilyclosed，therewasalwaysgentlenessandtenderness；justaswhentheywereopen，andthehandsomeoldgentlemanwouldwavethemwithalittlecourtlyflourishthatsatwelluponhim，asherecalledsomeclassiccomplimentthathehadrenderedtosomereigningBeauty，therewasachivalrousgraceaboutthemsuchaspervadeshissofterverses。ThusthefictitiousMr。

Boythorn（towhomwemayreferwithoutimproprietyinthisconnexion，asMr。Forsterdoes）declaims\"withunimaginableenergy\"

thewhilehisbirdis\"percheduponhisthumb\"，andhe\"softlysmoothsitsfeatherswithhisforefinger\"。

FromthespiritofMr。Forster’sBiographythesecharacteristichandsareneveromitted，andhence（apartfromitsliterarymerits）

itsgreatvalue。Asthesamemasterlywriter’sLifeandTimesofOliverGoldsmithisagenerousandyetconscientiouspictureofaperiod，sothisisanotlessgenerousandyetconscientiouspictureofonelife；ofalife，withallitsaspirations，achievements，anddisappointments；allitscapabilities，opportunities，andirretrievablemistakes。Itisessentiallyasadbook，andhereinliesproofofitstruthandworth。Thelifeofalmostanymanpossessinggreatgifts，wouldbeasadbooktohimself；andthisbookenablesusnotonlytoseeitssubject，buttobeitssubject，ifwewill。

Mr。Forsterisofopinionthat\"Landor’sfameverysurelyawaitshim\"。Thispointadmittedordoubted，thevalueofthebookremainsthesame。Itneedsnottoknowhisworks（otherwisethanthroughhisbiographer’sexposition），itneedsnottohaveknownhimself，tofindadeepinterestinthesepages。Moreorlessoftheirwarningisineveryconscience；andsomeadmirationofafinegenius，andofagreat，wild，generousnature，incapableofmeanself—extenuationordissimulation——ifunhappilyincapableofself—repressiontoo——

shouldbeineverybreast。\"Theremaybestilllivingmanypersons\"，WalterLandor’sbrother，Robert，writestoMr。Forsterofthisbook，\"whowouldcontradictanynarrativeofyoursinwhichthebestqualitieswereremembered，theworstforgotten。\"Mr。Forster’scommentis：\"Ihadnotwaitedforthisappealtoresolve，that，ifthismemoirwerewrittenatall，itshouldcontain，asfarasmightliewithinmypower，afairstatementofthetruth\"。Andthiseloquentpassageoftruthimmediatelyfollows：\"Fewofhisinfirmitiesarewithoutsomethingkindlyorgenerousaboutthem；andwearenotlongindiscoveringthereisnothingsowildlyincrediblethathewillnothimselfinperfectgoodfaithbelieve。WhenhepublishedhisfirstbookofpoemsonquittingOxford，theprofitsweretobereservedforadistressedclergyman。WhenhepublishedhisLatinpoems，thepoorofLeipzigweretohavethesumtheyrealised。Whenhiscomedywasreadytobeacted，aSpaniardwhohadshelteredhimatCastrowastobemadericherbyit。WhenhecompetedfortheprizeoftheAcademyofStockholm，itwastogotothepoorofSweden。Ifnobodygotanythingfromanyoneoftheseenterprises，thefaultatalleventswasnothis。Withhisextraordinarypowerofforgettingdisappointments，hewaspreparedateachsuccessivefailuretostartafresh，asifeachhadbeenatriumph。Ishallhavetodelineatethispeculiarityasstronglyinthelasthalfasinthefirsthalfofhislife，anditwascertainlyanamiableone。Hewasreadyatalltimestosetaside，outofhisownpossessions，somethingforsomebodywhomightpleasehimforthetime；andwhenfrailtiesoftemperandtonguearenoted，thisothereccentricityshouldnotbeomitted。Hedesiredeagerlytheloveaswellasthegoodopinionofthosewhomforthetimeheesteemed，andnoonewasmoreaffectionatewhileundersuchinfluences。Itisnotasmallvirtuetofeelsuchgenuinepleasure，ashealwaysdidingivingandreceivingpleasure。Hisgenerosity，too，wasbestowedchieflyonthosewhocouldmakesmallacknowledgmentinthanksandnoreturninkind。\"

Someofhisearliercontemporariesmayhavethoughthimavainman。

Mostassuredlyhewasnot，inthecommonacceptationoftheterm。A

vainmanhaslittleornoadmirationtobestowuponcompetitors。

Landorhadaninexhaustiblefund。Hethoughtwellofhiswritings，orhewouldnothavepreservedthem。Hesaidandwrotethathethoughtwellofthem，becausethatwashismindaboutthem，andhesaidandwrotehismind。Hewasoneofthefewmenofwhomyoumightalwaysknowthewhole：ofwhomyoumightalwaysknowtheworst，aswellasthebest。Hehadnoreservationsorduplicities。

\"No，byHeaven!\"hewouldsay（\"withunimaginableenergy\"），ifanygoodadjectivewerecoupledwithhimwhichhedidnotdeserve：\"I

amnothingofthekind。IwishIwere；butIdon’tdeservetheattribute，andIneverdid，andInevershall!\"Hisintenseconsciousnessofhimselfneverledtohispoorlyexcusinghimself，andseldomtohisviolentlyassertinghimself。Whenhetoldsomelittlestoryofhisbygonesocialexperiences，inFlorence，orwherenot，ashewasfondofdoing，ittooktheinnocentformofmakingalltheinterlocutors，Landors。Itwasobservable，too，thattheyalwayscalledhim\"Mr。Landor\"——ratherceremoniouslyandsubmissively。Therewasacertain\"CaroPedreAbeteMarina\"——

invariablysoaddressedintheseanecdotes——whofiguredthroughagreatmanyofthem，andwhoalwaysexpressedhimselfinthisdeferentialtone。

Mr。ForsterwritesofLandor’scharacterthus：

\"Amanmustbejudged，atfirst，bywhathesaysanddoes。ButwithhimsuchextravaganceasIhavereferredtowaslittlemorethanthehabitualindulgence（onsuchthemes）ofpassionatefeelingsandlanguage，indecentindeedbututterlypurposeless；themereexplosionofwrathprovokedbytyrannyorcruelty；theirregularitiesofanoverheatedsteam—enginetooweakforitsownvapour。ItisverycertainthatnoonecoulddetestoppressionmoretrulythanLandordidinallseasonsandtimes；andifnooneexpressedthatscorn，thatabhorrenceoftyrannyandfraud，morehastilyormoreintemperately，allhisfireandfurysignifiedreallylittleelsethanill—tempertooeasilyprovoked。Nottojustifyorexcusesuchlanguage，buttoexplainit，thisconsiderationisurged。Ifnotuniformlyplacable，Landorwasalwayscompassionate。Hewastender—heartedratherthanbloody—

mindedatalltimes，andupononlythemostpartialacquaintancewithhiswritingscouldotheropinionbeformed。Acompleterknowledgeofthemwouldsatisfyanyonethathehadaslittlerealdispositiontokillakingastokillamouse。Infactthereisnotamoremarkedpeculiarityinhisgeniusthantheunionwithitsstrengthofamostuncommongentleness，andinthepersonalwaysofthemanthiswasequallymanifest。\"——Vol。i。p。496。

Ofhisworks，thus：

\"Thoughhismindwascastintheantiquemould，ithadopeneditselftoeverykindofimpressionthroughalongandvariedlife；hehaswrittenwithequalexcellenceinbothpoetryandprose，whichcanhardlybesaidofanyofhiscontemporaries；andperhapsthesingleepithetbywhichhisbookswouldbebestdescribedisthatreservedexclusivelyforbooksnotcharacterisedonlybygenius，butalsobyspecialindividuality。Theyareunique。Havingpossessedthem，weshouldmissthem。Theirplacewouldbesuppliedbynoothers。Theyhavethataboutthem，moreover，whichrendersitalmostcertainthattheywillfrequentlyberesortedtoinfuturetime。Therearenoneinthelanguagemorequotable。Evenwhereimpulsivenessandwantofpatiencehaveleftthemmostfragmentary，thisrichcompensationisofferedtothereader。Thereishardlyaconceivablesubject，inlifeorliterature，whichtheydonotillustratebystrikingaphorisms，byconciseandprofoundobservations，bywisdomeverapplicabletothedeedsofmen，andbywitasavailablefortheirenjoyment。Nor，aboveall，willthereanywherebefoundamorepervadingpassionforliberty，afiercerhatredofthebase，awidersympathywiththewrongedandtheoppressed，orhelpmorereadyatalltimesforthosewhofightatoddsanddisadvantageagainstthepowerfulandthefortunate，thaninthewritingsofWalterSavageLandor。\"——Lastpageofsecondvolume。

Theimpressionwasstronguponthepresentwriter’smind，asonMr。

Forster’s，duringyearsofclosefriendshipwiththesubjectofthisbiography，thathisanimositieswerechieflyreferabletothesingularinabilityinhimtodissociateotherpeople’swaysofthinkingfromhisown。Hehad，tothelast，aludicrousgrievance（bothMr。Forsterandthewriterhaveoftenamusedthemselveswithit）againstagood—naturednobleman，doubtlessperfectlyunconsciousofhavingevergivenhimoffence。Theoffencewas，thatontheoccasionofsomedinnerpartyinanothernobleman’shouse，manyyearsbefore，thisinnocentlord（thenacommoner）hadpassedintodinner，throughsomedoor，beforehim，ashehimselfwasabouttopassinthroughthatsamedoorwithaladyonhisarm。Now，Landorwasagentlemanofmostscrupulouspoliteness，andinhiscarriageofhimselftowardsladiestherewasacertainmixtureofstatelinessanddeference，belongingtoquiteanothertime，and，asMr。Pepyswouldobserve，\"mightyprettytosee\"。Ifhecouldbyanyeffortimaginehimselfcommittingsuchahighcrimeandmisdemeanourasthatinquestion，hecouldonlyimaginehimselfasdoingitofasetpurpose，underthestingofsomevastinjury，toinflictagreataffront。Adeliberatelydesignedaffrontonthepartofanotherman，itthereforeremainedtotheendofhisdays。Themannerinwhich，astimewenton，hepermeatedtheunfortunatelord’sancestrywiththisoffence，waswhimsicallycharacteristicofLandor。Thewriterremembersverywellwhenonlytheindividualhimselfwasheldresponsibleinthestoryforthebreachofgoodbreeding；butinanothertenyearsorso，itbegantoappearthathisfatherhadalwaysbeenremarkableforillmanners；andinyetanothertenyearsorso，hisgrandfatherdevelopedintoquiteaprodigyofcoarsebehaviour。

Mr。Boythorn——ifhemayagainbequoted——saidofhisadversary，SirLeicesterDedlock：\"Thatfellowis，ANDHISFATHERWAS，ANDHIS

GRANDFATHERWAS，themoststiff—necked，arrogant，imbecile，pig—

headednumskull，ever，bysomeinexplicablemistakeofNature，borninanystationoflifebutawalking—stick’s!\"

ThestrengthofsomeofMr。Landor’smostcaptivatingkindqualitieswastraceabletothesamesource。Knowinghowkeenlyhehimselfwouldfeelthebeingatanysmallsocialdisadvantage，orthebeingunconsciouslyplacedinanyridiculouslight，hewaswonderfullyconsiderateofshypeople，orofsuchasmightbebelowthelevelofhisusualconversation，orotherwiseoutoftheirelement。Thewriteronceobservedhiminthekeenestdistressofmindinbehalfofamodestyoungstrangerwhocameintoadrawing—roomwithagloveonhishead。Anexpressivecommentaryonthissympatheticcondition，andonthedelicacywithwhichheadvancedtotheyoungstranger’srescue，wasafterwardsfurnishedbyhimselfatafriendlydinneratGoreHouse，whenitwasthemostdelightfulofhouses。

Hisdress——say，hiscravatorshirt—collar——hadbecomeslightlydisarrangedonahotevening，andCountD’Orsaylaughinglycalledhisattentiontothecircumstanceaswerosefromtable。Landorbecameflushed，andgreatlyagitated：\"MydearCountD’Orsay，I

thankyou!MydearCountD’Orsay，IthankyoufrommysoulforpointingouttometheabominableconditiontowhichIamreduced!

IfIhadenteredtheDrawing—room，andpresentedmyselfbeforeLadyBlessingtoninsoabsurdalight，Iwouldhaveinstantlygonehome，putapistoltomyhead，andblownmybrainsout!\"

Mr。Forstertellsasimilarstoryofhiskeepingacompanywaitingdinner，throughlosinghisway；andofhisseeingnoremedyforthatbreachofpolitenessbutcuttinghisthroat，ordrowninghimself，unlessacountrymanwhomhemetcoulddirecthimbyashortroadtothehousewherethepartywereassembled。Surelytheseareexpressivenotesonthegravityandrealityofhisexplosiveinclinationstokillkings!

Hismannertowardsboyswascharming，andtheearnestnessofhiswishtobeonequaltermswiththemandtowintheirconfidencewasquitetouching。Few，readingMr。Forster’sbook，canfalltoseeinthis，hispensiveremembranceofthat\"studiouswilfulboyatonceshyandimpetuous\"，whohadnotmanyintimaciesatRugby，butwhowas\"generallypopularandrespected，andusedhisinfluenceoftentosavetheyoungerboysfromundueharshnessorviolence\"。Theimpulsiveyearningsofhispassionatehearttowardshisownboy，ontheirmeetingatBath，afteryearsofseparation，likewiseburnthroughthisphaseofhischaracter。

Butamorespiritual，softened，andunselfishaspectofit，wastoderivedfromhisrespectfulbeliefinhappinesswhichhehimselfhadmissed。Hismarriagehadnotbeenafelicitousone——itmaybefairlyassumedforeitherside——butnotraceofbitternessordistrustconcerningothermarriageswasinhismind。Hewasnevermoreserenethaninthemidstofadomesticcircle，andwasinvariablyremarkableforaperfectlybenignantinterestinyoungcouplesandyounglovers。That，inhisever—freshfancy，heconceivedinthisassociationinnumerablehistoriesofhimselfinvolvingfarmoreunlikelyeventsthatneverhappenedthanIsaacD’Israelieverimagined，ishardlytobedoubted；butastothispartofhisrealhistoryhewasmute，orrevealedhisnoblenessinanimpulsetobegenerouslyjust。Wevergeondelicateground，butaslightremembrancerisesinthewriterwhichcangratenowhere。

Mr。Forsterrelateshowacertainfriend，beinginFlorence，senthimhomealeaffromthegardenofhisoldhouseatFiesole。Thatfriendhadfirstaskedhimwhatheshouldsendhimhome，andhehadstipulatedforthisgift——foundbyMr。Forsteramonghispapersafterhisdeath。Thefriend，oncomingbacktoEngland，relatedtoLandorthathehadbeenmuchembarrassed，ongoinginsearchoftheleaf，byhisdriver’ssuddenlystoppinghishorsesinanarrowlane，andpresentinghim（thefriend）to\"LaSignoraLandora\"。TheladywaswalkingaloneonabrightItalian—winter—day；andtheman，havingbeentoldtodrivetotheVillaLandora，inferredthathemustbeconveyingaguestorvisitor。\"Ipulledoffmyhat，\"saidthefriend，\"apologisedforthecoachman’smistake，anddroveon。

Theladywaswalkingwitharapidandfirmstep，hadbrighteyes，afinefreshcolour，andlookedanimatedandagreeable。\"Landorcheckedoffeachclauseofthedescription，withastatelynodofmorethanreadyassent，andreplied，withallhistremendousenergyconcentratedintothesentence：\"AndtheLordforbidthatIshoulddootherwisethandeclarethatshealwaysWASagreeable——toeveryonebutME!\"

Mr。Forsterstepbystepbuildsuptheevidenceonwhichhewritesthislifeandstatesthischaracter。Inlikemanner，hegivestheevidenceforhishighestimationofLandor’sworks，and——itmaybeadded——fortheirrecompenseagainstsomeneglect，infindingsosympathetic，acute，anddevotedachampion。NothinginthebookismoreremarkablethanhisexaminationofeachofLandor’ssuccessivepiecesofwriting，hisdelicatediscernmentoftheirbeauties，andhisstrongdesiretoimparthisownperceptionsinthiswisetothegreataudiencethatisyettocome。Itrarelybefallsanauthortohavesuchacommentator：tobecomethesubjectofsomuchartisticskillandknowledge，combinedwithsuchinfiniteandlovingpains。

AlikeasapieceofBiography，andasacommentaryuponthebeautiesofagreatwriter，thebookisamassivebook；asthemanandthewriterweremassivetoo。Sometimes，whenthebalanceheldbyMr。

Forsterhasseemedforamomenttoturnalittleheavilyagainsttheinfirmitiesoftemperamentofagrandoldfriend，wehavefeltsomethingofashock；butwehavenotoncebeenabletogainsaythejusticeofthescales。Thisfeeling，too，hasonlyflutteredoutofthedetail，hereorthere，andhasvanishedbeforethewhole。WefullyagreewithMr。Forsterthat\"judgmenthasbeenpassed\"——asitshouldbe——\"withanequaldesiretobeonlyjustonallthequalitiesofhistemperamentwhichaffectednecessarilynothisownlifeonly。But，nowthatthestoryistold，noonewillhavedifficultyinstrikingthebalancebetweenitsgoodandill；andwhatwasreallyimperishableinLandor’sgeniuswillnotbetreasuredless，orlessunderstood，forthemoreperfectknowledgeofhischaracter\"。

Mr。Forster’ssecondvolumegivesafacsimileofLandor’swritingatseventy—five。Itmaybeinterestingtothosewhoarecuriousincalligraphy，toknowthatitsresemblancetotherecenthandwritingofthatgreatgenius，M。VictorHugo，issingularlystrong。

Inamilitaryburial—groundinIndia，thenameofWalterLandorisassociatedwiththepresentwriter’soverthegraveofayoungofficer。Nonamecouldstandthere，moreinseparablyassociatedinthewriter’smindwiththedignityofgenerosity：withanoblescornofalllittleness，allcruelty，oppression，fraud，andfalsepretence。

ADDRESSWHICHAPPEAREDSHORTLYPREVIOUSTOTHECOMPLETIONOFTHE

TWENTIETHVOLUME（1868），INTIMATINGANEWSERIESOF\"ALLTHEYEAR

ROUND\"

IbegtoannouncetothereadersofthisJournal，thatonthecompletionoftheTwentiethVolumeontheTwenty—eighthofNovember，inthepresentyear，IshallcommenceanentirelyNewSeriesofAlltheYearRound。Thechangeisnotonlyduetotheconvenienceofthepublic（withwhichasetofsuchbooks，extendingbeyondtwentylargevolumes，wouldbequiteincompatible），butisalsoresolveduponforthepurposeofeffectingsomedesirableimprovementsinrespectoftype，paper，andsizeofpage，whichcouldnototherwisebemade。TotheLiteratureoftheNewSeriesitwouldnotbecomemetorefer，beyondglancingatthepagesofthisJournal，andofitspredecessor，throughascoreofyears；inasmuchasmyregularfellow—labourersandIwillbeatouroldposts，incompanywiththoseyoungercomrades，whomIhavehadthepleasureofenrollingfromtimetotime，andwhosenumberitisalwaysoneofmypleasantesteditorialdutiestoenlarge。

Asitisbetterthateverykindofworkhonestlyundertakenanddischarged，shouldspeakforitselfthanbespokenfor，IwillonlyremarkfurtherononeintendedomissionintheNewSeries。TheExtraChristmasNumberhasnowbeensoextensively，andregularly，andoftenimitated，thatitisinverygreatdangerofbecomingtiresome。Ihavethereforeresolved（thoughIcannotadd，willingly）toabolishit，atthehighesttideofitssuccess。

CHARLESDICKENS。

Footnotes：

{1}WalterSavageLandor：aBiography，byJohnForster，2vols。

ChapmanandHall。