kappiest mood, he used to dwell on the conver- | He paused for an instant, and then added in sational powers of his friends, and live over his sturdiest and most impressive manner, "an again the delightful hours he had passed with act which realizes the parable of the Good Sathem; repeat the pregnant puns that one had maritan," at which his moral and delicate made; tell over again a story with which ano-hearers shrunk rebuked into deep silence. He ther had convulsed the room; or expand in the eloquence of a third: always best pleased when he could detect some talent which was unregarded by the world, and giving alike, to the celebrated and the unknown, due honour.

was not eloquent in the true sense of the term; for his thoughts were too weighty to be moved along by the shallow stream of feeling which an evening's excitement can rouse. He wrote all his lectures, and read them as they were written: but his deep voice and earnest manner suited his matter well. He seemed to dig into his subject—and not in vain. In delivering his longer quotations, he had scarcely continuity enough for the versification of Shakspeare and Milton, "with linked sweetness long drawn out;" but he gave Pope's brilliant satire and divine compliments, which are usually complete within the couplet, with an elegance and point which the poet himself would have felt as their highest praise.

Mr. Hazlitt delivered three courses of Lectures at the Surrey Institution, to the matter of which we have repeatedly alluded-on The English Poets; on The English Comic Writers, and on The Age of Elizabeth—before audiences with whom he had but "an imperfect sympathy." They consisted chiefly of Dissenters, who agreed with him in his hatred of Lord Castlereagh, but who "loved no plays;" of Quakers, who approved him as the opponent of Slavery and Capital Punishment, but who "heard no music;" of citizens, devoted to the main chance, who had a hankering after "the improvement of the mind," but to whom his favourite doctrine of its natural disinterestedness was a riddle; of a few enemies who came to sneer; and a few friends, who were eager to learn and to admire. The comparative insensibility of the bulk of his audience to his finest passages, sometimes provoked him to awaken their attention by points which broke the train of his discourse, after which he could make himself amends by some abrupt paradox which might set their prejudices on edge, and make them fancy they were shocked. He startled many of them at the onset, by observing, that, since Jacob's Dream, "the heavens have gone farther off and become astronomical," a fine extravagance, which the ladies and gentlemen, who had grown astronomical themselves under the preceding lecturer, felt called on to resent as an attack on their severer studies. When he read a well-known extract from Cow-as an author, and he sometimes alluded to per, comparing a poor cottager with Voltaire, them with bitterness: but he, and he alone, and had pronounced the line " a truth the bril- has done justice to the immortal works of the liant Frenchman never knew," they broke into one, and the genius of the other. The very a joyous shout of self-gratulation, that they prominence which he gave to them as objects were so much wiser than a wicked Frenchman! of attack, at the time when it was the fashion When he passed by Mrs. Hannah More with to pour contempt on their names-when the observing, that she had written a great deal public echoed those articles of the "Edinburgh which he had never read," a voice gave ex- Review" upon them, which they now regard pression to the general commiseration and with wonder as the curiosities of criticism, surprise, by calling out "More pity for you!" proved what they still were to him; and, in the They were confounded at his reading with midst of those attacks, there are involuntary more emphasis perhaps than discretion, Gay's confessions of their influence over his mind, epigrammatic lines on Sir Richard Blackstone, are touches of admiration, heightened by fond in which scriptural persons are freely hitched regret, which speak more than his elaborate into rhyme; but he went doggedly on to the eulogies upon them in his "Spirit of the Age." end, and, by his perseverance, baffled those With the exception of the works of these, and who, if he had acknowledged himself wrong by of two or three friends to whom we have alstopping, would have hissed him without mer-luded, he held modern literature in slight escy. He once had an edifying advantage over them. He was enumerating the humanities which endeared Dr. Johnson to his mind, and at the close of an agreeable catalogue, mentioned, as last and noblest, "his carrying the poor victim of disease and dissipation on his back through Fleet-street," at which a titter arose from some, who were struck by the picture as ludicrous, and a murmur from others, who deemed the allusion unfit for ears polite.

Mr. Hazlitt had little inclination to write about contemporary authors,—and still less to read them. He was with difficulty persuaded to look into the Scotch Novels! but when he did so, he found them old in substance though new in form, read them with as much avidity as the rest of the world, and expressed better than any one else what all the world felt about them. His hearty love of them, however, did not decrease, but aggravate, his dislike of the political opinions and practices of their author; and yet, the strength of his hatred towards that which was accidental and transitory, only set off the unabated power of his regard for the free and the lasting. Coleridge and Wordsworth were not moderns to him; for he knew them in his youth, which was his own antiquity, and the feelings which were the germ of their poetry had sunk deep into his heart. His personal acquaintance with them was broken before he became known to the world

teem; and he regarded the discoveries of science, and the visions of optimism, with an undazzled eye. His "large discourse of reason" looked not before, but after. He felt it his great duty, as a lover of genius and art, to defend the fame of the mighty dead. When the old painters were assailed in "" The Catalogue Raisonnée of the British Institution," he was "touched with noble anger." All his own vain longings after the immortality of the works

which were libelled, the very tranquillity and beauty they had shed into his soul,-all his comprehension of the sympathy and delight of thousands, which, accumulating through long time, had attested their worth-were fused together to dazzle and to blast the poor caviller who would disturb the judgment of ages. So, when a popular poet assailed the fame of Rousseau-seeking to reverse the decision of posterity on what that great writer had done, by fancying the opinion of people of condition in his neighbourhood on what he seemed to their apprehensions while living with Madame de Warrens, he vindicated the prerogatives of genius with the true logic of passion. Few things irritated him more than the claims set up for the present generation to be wiser and better than those which have gone before it. He had no power of imagination to embrace the golden clouds which hung over the Future, but he rested and expatiated in the Past. To his apprehension human good did not appear a slender shoot of yesterday, like the bean-stalk in the fairy-tale, aspiring to the skies, and ending in an enchanted castle, but a huge growth of intertwisted fibres, grasping the earth by numberless roots, and bearing vestiges of "a thousand storms, a thousand thunders."

which fell to his portion. We have endeavoured to trace his intellectual character in the records he has left of himself in his works, as an excitement and a guide to their perusal by those who have yet to know them. The concern of mankind is with this alone. In the case of a profound thinker more than of any other, "that which men call evil"-the accident of his condition-is interred with him, while the good which he has achieved lies unmingled and entire. The events of Mr. Hazlitt's true life are not his engagement by the "Morning Chronicle," or his transfer of his services to the "Times," or his introduc tion to the "Edinburgh Review," or his contracts or quarrels with booksellers; but the progress and the development of his understanding as nurtured or swayed by his affec tions. "His warfare was within;" and its spoils are ours! His "thoughts which wandered through eternity" live with us, though the hand which traced them for our benefit is cold. His death, though at the age of only fifty-two, can hardly be deemed untimely. He lived to complete the laborious work in which he sought to embalm his idea of his chosen hero; to see the unhoped-for downfall of the legitimate throne which had been raised on It would be beside our purpose to discuss the ruins of the empire; and to open, without the relative merits of Mr. Hazlitt's publica- exhausting, those stores which he had gathered tions, to most of which we have alluded in in his youth. If the impress of his power is passing; or to detail the scanty vicissitudes not left on the sympathies of a people, it has of a literary life. Still less do we feel bound (all he wished) sunk into minds neither unre to expose or to defend the personal frailties | flecting nor ungrateful.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES.

THE LATE DOWAGER LADY HOLLAND.

[MORNING CHRONICLE, Nov. 25, 1845.]

close his own share in the perils and glories of some famous battle-field; to encourage the generous praise of friendship, when the speaker and the subject reflected interest on each other, or win the secret history of some effort which had astonished the world or shed new lights on science;-to conduct those brilliant deve lopments to the height of satisfaction, and then to shift the scene by the magic of a word, were among her daily successes. And if this extraordinary power over the elements of social enjoyment was sometimes wielded without the entire concealment of its despotism; if a decisive check sometimes rebuked a speaker who might intercept the variegated beauty of Jeffrey's indulgent criticism, or the jest announced and self-rewarded in Sydney Smith's delighted and delighting chuckle, the authority was too clearly exerted for the evening's pros perity, and too manifestly impelled by an urgent consciousness of the value of those golden hours which were fleeting within its confines, to sadden the enforced silence with more than a momentary regret. If ever her prohibition, clear, abrupt, and decisive, indi

Ir seems scarcely fitting that the grave breathing picture of his most imminent danshould close over the remains of the late Dow-ger, or to embolden the bashful soldier to disager Lady Holland without some passing tribute beyond the paragraph which announces, with the ordinary expression of regret, the decease of a widow lady advanced in years, and reminds the world of fashion that the event has placed several noble families in mourning. That event, which a fortnight ago was regarded by friendly apprehensions as probably at the distance of some years, has not merely clouded and impaired the enjoyments of one large circle, but has extinguished for ever a spirit of social happiness which has animated many, and severed the most genial link of association, by which some of the finest minds which yet grace the literary and political world were connected with the mightiest of those which have left us. The charms of the celebrated hospitalities of Holland House, in the time of its late revered master, have been too gracefully developed, by one who has often partaken and enhanced them, in the Edinburgh Review for July, 1841, to allow a feebler expression; but death had not then bestowed the melancholy privilege of expatiating on the share of its mistress in crowding those memorable hours with various pleasure, or oncated more than a preferable regard for livethe energetic kindness with which she strove, against the perpetual sense of unutterable loss, to renew some portion of their enjoyments. For the remarkable position she occupied, during many years of those daily festivals in which genius, wit, and patriotic hope were triumphant, she was eminently gifted. While her own remarks were full of fine practical sense, and nice observation, her influence was chiefly felt in the discourse of those whom she directed and inspired, and which, as she impelled it, startled by the most animated contrasts, or blended in the most graceful harmonies. Beyond any other hostess we ever knew-and very far beyond any host-she possessed the tact of perceiving and the power of evoking the various capacities which lurked in every part of the brilliant circles she drew around her. To enkindle the enthusiasm of an artist on the theme over which he had achieved the most facile mastery; to set loose the heart of the rustic poet, and imbue his speech with the freedom of his native hills; to draw from the adventurous traveller a

lier discourse, it was when a depreciatory tone was adopted towards genius, or goodness, or honest endeavour, or when some friend, personal or intellectual, was mentioned in slighting phrase. Habituated to a generous partisanship by strong sympathy with a great political cause, she carried the fidelity of her devotion to that cause into her social relations, and was ever the truest and the fastest of friends. The tendency, often more idle than malicious, to soften down the intellectual claims of the absent, which so insidiously besets literary conversation, and teaches a superficial insincerity even to substantial esteem and regard, found no favour in her presence; and hence the conversations over which she presided, perhaps beyond all that ever flashed with a kindred splendour, were marked by that integrity of good nature which might admit of their exact repetition to every living individual whose merits were discussed, without the danger of inflicting pain. Under her auspices, not only all critical, but all personal talk was tinged with kindness; the strong interest

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How often, during the last half century, has the steep ascent of fame been brightened by the genial appreciation she bestowed, and the festal light she cast on its solitude! How often has the assurance of success received its crowning delight amid the genial luxury of her circle, where renown itself has been realized for the first time in all its sweetness! How large a share she communicated to the delights of Holland House will be understood by those who shared her kindness, first in South-street, and recently in Stanhope-street, where, after Lord Holland's death, she ho

which she took in the happiness of her friends | out, and bring it within the sphere of his noble shed a peculiar sunniness over the aspects of sympathy, was the delightful study of her's. life presented by the common topics of alliances, and marriages, and promotions; and not a hopeful engagement, or a happy wedding, or a promotion of a friend's son, or a new intellectual triumph of any youth with whose name and history she was familiar, but became an event on which she expected and required congratulation, as on a part of her own fortune. Although there was naturally a preponderance in her society of the sentiment of popular progress, which once was cherished almost exclusively by the party to whom Lord Holland was united by sacred ties, no expression of triumph in success, no viru-noured his memory by cherishing his friends lence in sudden disappointment, was ever permitted to wound the most sensitive ear of her conservative guests. It might be that some placid comparison of recent with former times spoke a sense of freedom's peaceful victory; or that, on the giddy edge of some great party struggle, the festivities of the evening might take a more serious cast, as news arrived from the scene of contest, and the pleasure be deepened with the peril; but the feeling was always restrained by the present evidence of permanent solaces for the mind, which no political changes could disturb. If to hail and welcome genius-or even talent which revered and imitated genius-was one of the greatest pleasures of Lord Holland's life, to search it

and following his example; where, to the last, with a voice retaining its girlish sweetness, she welcomed every guest, invited or casual, with the old cordiality and queenly grace; where authors of every age and school-from Rogers, her old and affectionate friend, whose first poem illuminated the darkness of the last closing century "like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear," down to the youngest disciple of the latest school-found that honour paid to literature which English aristocracy has too commonly denied it; and where, every day, almost to her last, added to her claim to be remem. bered as one who, during a long life, culti vated the great art of living happily, by the great means of making others happy.

ADDRESS

AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE MANCHESTER ATHENEUM, Oct. 23, 1845.

[MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, OCT. 25, 1845.]

If there were not virtue in the objects and purposes, and power in the affections, which have called into life the splendid scene before me, capable of emboldening the apprehensive and strengthening the feeble, I should shrink at this moment from attempting to discharge the duties of the high office to which the kindness of your directors has raised me. When I remember that the first of this series of brilliant anniversaries, which is still only beginning, was illustrated by the presidency of my friend, Mr. Charles Dickens,-who brought to your cause not only the most earnest sympathy with the healthful enjoyments and steady advancement of his species, but the splendour of a fame as early matured and as deeply impressed on the hearts of his countrymen as that of any writer since the greatest of her intellectual eras when I recollect that his place was filled last year by one whose genius, singularly diversified and vivid, has glanced with arrowy flame over various departments of literature and conditions of life, and who was associated with kindred spirits, eager to lavish the ardours of generous youth, on the noble labour of re

newing old ties of brotherhood and attachment among all classes, ranks, and degrees of the human family,-I feel that scarcely less than the inspiration which breathes upon us here, through every avenue of good you have opened, could justify the hope that the deficiencies of the chairman of this night may be forgotten in the interest and the majesty of his themes. Impressive as such an assembly as this would be in any place, and under any circumstances, it becomes solemn, almost awful, when the true significancy of its splendour is unveiled to the mind. If we consider that this festival of intellect is holden in the capital of a district containing, within comparatively narrow con fines, a population scarcely less than two mil lions of immortal beings, engrossed in a proportion far beyond that of any other in the world, in the toils of manufacture and com merce; that it indicates at once an unprece dented desire on the part of those elder and wealthier labourers in this region of industry to share with those whom they employ and protect, the blessings which equally sweeten the lot of all, and the resolution of the young

to win and to diffuse them; that it exhibits literature, once the privilege only of a cloistered few, supplying the finest links of social Σ union for this vast society, to be expanded by those numerous members of the middle class whom they are now embracing, and who yet comprise, as the poet says, "two-thirds of all the virtue that remains," throughout that greater mass which they are elevating, and of whose welfare they, in turn, will be the guardians,we feel that this assembly represents objects which, though intensely local, are yet of universal concern, and cease to wonder at that familiar interest with which strangers at once regard them.

not merely to claim, but to select for his own a portion in that inheritance which the mighty dead have left to mankind,--secured by the magic power of the press, against the decays of time and the shocks of fortune; or to exult in a communion with the spirit of that mighty literature which yet breathes on us fresh from the genius of the living; to feel that we live in a great and original age,of literature, proud also in the consciousness that its spirit is not only to be felt as animating works elaborately constructed to endure, but as, with a noble prodigality, diffusing lofty sentiments, sparkling wit, exquisite grace, and suggestions even for serene contemplation through the most Personally till a few days ago a stranger to rapid effusions, weekly, monthly, daily given almost every member of your institution, or to the world; and, far beyond the literature rather cluster of institutions, I find now to-day, of every previous age of the world, aiding the in the little histories of your aims and achieve- spirit of humanity, in appreciating the sufferments, which your reports present, an affinity, ings, the virtues, and the claims of the poor. sudden indeed but lasting, with some of the And if I must confess, even when refreshed by best and happiest passages in a thousand earn- the invigorating influences of this hour, that I est and laborious lives. I seem to take my can scarcely fancy myself virtuous enough to place in your lecture room, an eager and join one of your classes for the acquisition of docile listener, among young men whom daily science or language, or young enough to share duties preclude from a laborious course of in the exercises of your gymnasium, where studies, to be refreshed, invigorated, enlight- good spirits and kind affections attend on the ened-sometimes nobly elevated, sometimes development of physical energy, there are yet as nobly humbled, by the living lessons of phi- some of your gay and graceful intermixtures losophic wisdom-whether penetrating the of amusement to which I would gladly claim earth or elucidating the heavens, or developing admission. I would welcome that delightful the more august wonders of the world which alternation of gentle excitement and thoughtlies within our own natures, or informing the ful repose by which your musical entertainPresent with the spirit of the Past ;-happy to ments tend to the harmony and proportion of listen to such lessons from some gifted stran- life itself. I should rejoice to share in some of ger, or well-known and esteemed professor, those Irish Evenings by which our friend Mr. scattering the gems of knowledge and taste, to Lover has suggested, in its happiest aspects, find root in opening minds;-but, better still, that land which is daily acquiring, I hope, that if the effort should be made by one of your degree of affection and justice which it so selves, by a fellow-townsman and fellow- strongly claims. I would appreciate with the student, emboldened and inspirited by the as- heart, if not with the ear, the illustrations of surance of welcome to try some short ex- Burns, by which some true Scottish melodist cursion of modest fancy, or to illustrate some has made you familiar with that poet, and enacherished theory by genial examples, and pri- bled you to forget labour and care, and walk vileged to taste, in the heartiest applause of with the inspired rustic "in glory and in joy" those who know him best and esteem him most, among his native hills; and with peculiar grathat which, after all, is the choicest ingredient titude to your directors for enabling you to in the pleasure of the widest fame. I mingle snatch from death and time some vestiges of with your Essay and Discussion Class; share departing grandeur in a genial art, which the in the tumultuous but hopeful throbbings of soonest yields to their ravages;-I would hail some young debater; grow placid as his just with you the mightiest and the loveliest dramas self-reliance masters his fears; triumph in his of the world's poet, made palpable without the crowning success; and understand, in his blandishments of decoration or scenery by the timid acceptance of your unenvying congra- voice of the surviving artist of the Kemble tulations, at the close of his address, that most name-in whose accents, softened, not subexquisite pleasure which attends the first as- dued, by time, the elder of us may refresh great surance of ability to render palpable in lan- memories of classic grace, heroic daring, and guage the products of lonely self-culture, and softened grief, when he shared the scene with the consciousness that, as ideas which seemed his brother and his sister; and those of us who obscure and doubtful while they lurked in the cannot vaunt this privilege of age, may guess recesses of the mind, are, by the genial inspi- the greatness of the powers which thrilled their ration of the hour, shaped into form and kindled fathers in those efforts to which your causeinto life, they are attested by the understand the cause of the youth of Manchester-breathing ings and welcomed by the affections of num- into the golden evening of life, a second spring, bers. I seek your Library, yet indeed but in redolent with hope and joy, have lent a more its infancy, but from whence information and than youthful inspiration. And while I am inrefined enjoyment speed on quicker and more dulging in a participation of your pleasures, multitudinous wings than from some of the let me take leave to congratulate you on that stateliest repositories of accumulated and gracious boon, which I am informed-(and I cloistered learning, to vindicate that the right rejoice to hear it, as one of the best of all which the youngest apprentice lad possesses, prizes and all omens in a young career)—your

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