The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 48 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 48 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.
penchant for lionizing, and who desired to be introduced to Dr. Southey in “the way of business.”  With this vexatiously facetious and laconic scrawl, poor Mr. L. made his way to the Lakes, and in due time was ushered into the Parnassian presence of the author of “Thalaba.”  The address of one of Southey’s celebrity might well perplex a “man of straw;” and it had somewhat of this effect on our tradesman-artist; who, however, according to his own account of the affair, bustled through pretty tolerably; adopting the nonchalance of Geoffrey Crayon’s uncle on entering a superb drawing-room—­looking around him with an air of indifference, which seemed to say, “he had seen finer things in his time.”  After some desultory conversation, regarding the heights of hills, the breadths of lakes, and the curative influence of the sentimental region on the smoke-dried citizens, mixed with some elaborate eulogies on the “Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society,” the “last new work” of the Doctor’s, he began to evince a little uneasiness at so much ceremony with a mere tradesman; which was more than was called for towards even the modest and retiring “bard of Sheffield,” on Mr. Southey’s difficultly-acquired interview with the latter.  Mr. L., however, before parting, thought it due to the poet, as a mark of an artist’s respect for the “classic nine,” to present him with a few sketches of the scenery, which he had already taken.  Unrolling a bundle of drawing paper, Southey, who thought he had been talking to a bonnet-maker, come to solicit orders, remarked, “Your latest spring patterns, I suppose?” “Sir!” faintly articulated the now-enlightened Mr. L., “I merely beg leave to present you—­” “Really, Sir,” said the impatient poet, “I thank you sincerely; but I have no taste in selecting bonnets; had the ladies—­” a sentence which was interrupted by the abashed and confounded bonnet-maker grasping his hat and drawings, and hastily wishing the Laureate a good morning.

* * H.

* * * * *

BEST’S MEMS.

Dr. George Horne was a man of unaffected piety, cheerful temper, great learning, and, notwithstanding his propensity to jesting, dignified manners.  He was much beloved in Magdalen College, of which he was president; the chief complaint against him being, that he did not reside the whole of the time in every year that the statutes required.  He resigned his headship on being promoted from the Deanery of Canterbury to the See of Norwich; the alleged reason was, the incompatibility of the duties; though other heads of houses, when made bishops, have retained their academical situations.  He never manifested the least ill-humour himself, and repressed it, but with gentleness, in others.  Having engaged in a party at whist, merely because he was wanted to make up the number, and playing indifferently ill, as he forewarned his partner would be the case,

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The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.