this is my case. Bile, that used to haunt me like a fiend, is gone without (much) medicine or regimen." As health improved, his active mind went more steadily to work. A new club was projected-a club for the middle classes; a new poem-the Pilgrim of Glencoe; with another literary enterprise, which he was never able to carry out. His chamber, as usual, was a sort of consultation-room for the distressed of all countries; where they were sure of a favorable hearing, with such prompt advice or assistance, as their various cases appeared to demand. In the absence of domestic duties, his sympathies in human misery became more and more sensitive. He not only relieved it in every shape, so far as his own means allowed, but he diligently sought the coöperation of those private friends, whose names were familiar to him as "friends of the unfortunate." We shall not multiply instances; but the following, which presents a rather singular coincidence in its history, speaks for the characteristic goodness of his heart. The letter is addressed to Mrs. Marryat : "61 LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, Oct. 2, 1838. "When humanity is concerned, I know you too well, my dear Mrs. Marryat, to fear you will be displeased with my applying to you. But, before I go farther, let me explain myself; I only ask for your good-will towards the person in whom I wish to interest you, and for your keeping her name and case in your memory. In the event of your hearing of any rich or noble family in want of such a housekeeper, I can recommend, with a full knowledge and a clear conscience, one who would be a treasure to any family requiring such a person. As to anything farther, I took up this poor widow's case, with due deliberation on my own circumstances, which--much unlike what you once knew them--are now easy, and, I may say, affluent. If I cannot get a situation for this person, it will not ruin me should I be obliged to support her for an indefinite time; but never shall I trouble my friends about her in a pecuniary way. I hate those horse-leeches of charity, who go about taxing others for the objects of their protection. No; but I wish the poor widow to get the means of supporting herself and her two daughters-much more for her own sake than for mine; because I have remarked that the acceptance of charity generally lowers the tone of human character; and this is a person who is proud at present, and whom I wish to remain so. ET. 61.] LETTER TO MRS. MARRYAT-BENEVOLENCE. 379 "Some thirty-three years ago (before I had the pleasure of knowing you), my deceased wife and I took some interest in a family, in which there was a little girl seven years old, who had remarkable beauty, and, for her years, wonderful sense, insomuch that we used to call her wise little Nancy.' She was a great pet with us both. She grew up, and married a ship's captain, who traded to Egypt, and there set up as a merchant. After eight years, he died, and left Nancy' with two daughters, and no means! The widow, after twelve years' absence, came back to London, thinking to find many friends-but she found none but my humble self! All were dead or absent. I assure you, when she came into my chambers with her daughter-a comely child of twelve years old-she looked like one saved from a shipwreck, and who has just got ashore. Oh, blessed be God!' she said, 'that I have found at last one friend!' 'Well, but who are you?' for not having seen her for so many years, I knew her not-and the beauty of wise little Nancy' is all gone away. She said, 'I was once little Nancy T―n.' I looked at her; and, through her skin-and-bone features, could still recognise her. She told me her history with more composure than I could hear it. I retired into another room to consider what I should do, and returned, after a few minutes, full of this feeling: that, as God has prospered me, and renewed my health, I am bound to do all the good I can to my fellow-creatures, as the smallest token I can give of my gratitude to Providence ! 6 "I told her I should befriend her, and get her some means of livelihood. Our conversation continued; and she showed me so much sense in describing the Greek islands, and Egypt, and all the places she had seen, that I could not help saying to mysel-why this is really wise little Nancy '* Now, dear Mrs. Marryat, will you remember my protegée? She has had servants herself; and, I'll answer for it, will keep a good look out after them. I fear I must aim at getting a high salary for her, because she has two daughters (twelve and thirteen) whom she wishes to educate for governesses, and who must be in her hands for a few years. Our darling M. M. has taken up the cause with her usual benevolence. Indeed, whether the cause This most respectable and deserving person is now, I have reason to believe, in the enjoyment of a small pension from the Trinity House, in consequence of a petition, which was lately in my hands.-ED. M. M. is the lady whom the Poet designated an "affliction-woman," from the fact of her devoting so much of her time and money to the relief of the afflicted. succeeds or not, I am glad that it brings me among my friends of your sex-for women's hearts are always kind! . . T. C." Affecting to have become a second Elwes, he says: "Oct. 18th.-Well, I am now as wretched and regular an old miser as ever kept money in an old stocking! but though my mind decays, my body keeps up. I find the editing of Archdeacon Coxe to be wearisome; yet I shall have done with it in two months, and then will come down upon me 2007., like Jupiter's gold upon Danaë. I am the lovely Danaë, and Colburn is my Jupiter! "As to my private life, I have nothing that could interest or amuse you. I lead a monotonously pleasant life-breakfast at nine, read till one, lounge at the club till four, make calls and dine at home at six, and scribble again till twelve. But one has always some annoyances in life, though, I thank God, mine are slight. Introductions are the greatest troubles I have. Everybody seems to think that everybody has a right to introduce everybody to my acquaintaince.* "Nov. 21st. I spent a very pleasant day yesterday at my Ivy-lane bookseller's, Mr. Virtue's. Our most important guest was the Scottish preacher, Mr. Fer, who had christened my bibliopolist's child. As we sat down to dinner, he said to me, 'Dr. Campbell, that child which I have just christened really does you credit; it is one of the finest babes I ever saw.' He supposed me the accoucheur-but I told him that I had no merit whatever in the good looks of the dear child. After this there was an awkward pause, to break which he doctored me again, and said, 'Are you acquainted with Campbell the poet?' Hem-we don't always know ourselves.' "The pastor is a handsome, agreeable man; and good looks, I think, are more important for a parson's profession than for any other. He has published a book which, I think, will be of great use to the Presbyterians of all the three kingdoms. It is, in fact, introducing a liturgy into the un-liturgic Presbyterian service. It contains a psalm to be sung, a text of Scripture to be read, and a prayer that may be prayed on every day of the year. Now, the Scotch in my remembrance, used to pray 'out of their own heads;' and sad havoc they often made of common * Here some recent and very provoking instances are detailed. ET. 61.] EPIGRAM-VERSES-MACREADY. 381 sense by their extempore prayers. My own dear father's prayers (I remember them by heart) were as venerable as his own character, and as beautiful as the voice in which he repeated them. But all other prayers I ever heard in Scotland made me regret our Church's want of a Liturgy. I have bought a copy of this work, illustrated, as a marriage-present to my nephew... "Nov.-Turner has given me two hundred guineas for the twenty drawings for which I paid him 550l. . . ." "Nov. 24th.-Have you seen my epigram to the United States of North America-the 'Slave' States-on their starred and striped banner? Here they are :— 'United States! your banner wears Two emblems-one of Fame : But what's the meaning of the stripes! "My verses to the Queen have been set to music by Charles Neate, and are first to be sung by Russell, and then published. I have another song on the same subject, which I mean to dignify to the character of an anthem, and which Macready promises shall be sung at Covent Garden when her Majesty visits the house : 'VICTORIA'S Sceptre o'er the waves Has touch'd and broken Slavery's chain; Her spirit is devout, and burns With thoughts averse to bigotry: But she, herself the idol, turns Our thoughts into idolatry.-T. C." "Nov. 26th.-I saw Macready, the evening before last, at Covent Garden, as Prospero, in the Tempest. Purcell's music in the play is enchanting. That divine air, 'Come unto these yellow sands!' and others of Purcell in the same piece, absolutely transported me, as they always do. How stupid are the * This epigram, written after hearing an instance of atrocious cruelty perpetrated upon the slaves in America, was answered with ability, and some bitterness, by an “Epigram on the British flag.” English-they generally suppose that they had no music until Handel came! Now, I could prove to you, for I have been dipping into the history of our native music, that Handel studied Purcell, and looked up to him as a master. But our musical historian, Burney, has done sad injustice to our old national composers. He has said too little of Purcell, and from Henry Lawes he extracts the only two indifferent things he ever composed. The fact is, that England, until fifty years ago, was fertile in great musical poets. Witness her Purcell, her Bull, her Locke, her Lawes, and Arne.—I ought not to omit that Miss Tree, who played Ariel, was excellent-oh! exquisite. T. C." A few days after the above date, Campbell paid another visit to Brighton; and falling, as usual, deeply in love with the fair daughters of his worthy host, thus playfully addresses them, on his return to London*: "Dec. 13th.-My two great little darlings.-Miss S-, I send you a copy of the engraving of Lawrence's portrait of me. You will, doubtless, stare and sigh, and say to yourself, 'Wo's me! this may have been like poor Campbell-but it is not so now; it is a beautiful caricature of him! Ah, yes--yes--it was taken a long time ago; and even then it was flattered. In truth, Miss Slet me speak in the words of a heroine of *'s novels :-Time and misfortune have much obliterated the beauty which nature once bestowed upon me.' But, in revenge for my portrait being better than myself, believe me, that it is the dim likeness of one who sees you in the clearest light of your excellence--and who has felt your society like a charm. * * * "My dear Rosalind, I promised you a copy of my illustrated edition; when I had promised one to you, and not to your sister, I felt like the Neapolitan mother, who had two sons condemned to death, but was allowed to choose one, whose life should be spared. She could not choose-and both suffered ! In like manner, my darlings, was I divided as to which of you I should send my poems; but I happened to mention the matter first to Rosy-and so she has them. "My dear great little darlings, don't forget me-don't let that *The letter is addressed "To Miss S- —, care of H- S-, Esq.," &c., with the express caution, “not to be opened by either father or mother !" "Whenever I look at this picture," he said to Miss F. W. M., "I seem to be viewing myself in the looking-glass of heaven." |