Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/71

 12 is. I. JAN. 22, 1916. J

NOTES AND QUERIES.

65

the sea of adventure, and the Atlantic, and to try a new scene in a New World."

The second (ibid., 159 ff.) is addressed to William Dunlap himself :

DEAR SIR, I received your last letters dated May and October ; as I had done others some months ago, in which you wished me to read your manuscripts. Your friend, Mr. Brewer, offered to put these manuscripts into my hands ; this I declined, and I will state my motives.

The reading of manuscripts 1 have found to be attended with danger. I once read two acts of a manuscript play, and was afterwards accused of having purloined one of the characters. The accusation had some semblance of truth : latent ideas floated in my mind, and there were two or three traits in the character drawn by me similar to the one I had read ; though I was very un- conscious of this when I wrote the character.

A still more potent reason is the improbability of good that is to result from reading manuscripts. To read carefully, examine conscientiously, and detail with perspicuity the errors which the judgment of a critic might think deserving of amendment, is a laborious task : it devours time and fatigues the mind, and but seldom to any good purpose. Books of criticism abound, and may be consulted by an author who is anxious to improve. I grant that the critical remarks of a friend may be of great service. If a man have attained that elegance of diction, depth of penetration, and strength of feeling which con- stitute genius, to criticize his works before they are presented to the public may be a useful and a dignified task. Men acquire these high qualities gradually, when compelled by that restless desire which is incessant in its endeavours after excellence, and for these gradations the books already written are, in my opinion, sufficient. Your friend gave me ' William Tell ' to read : it proves you have made some progress ; but it likewise proves, so far as I am a judge, that much remains for you to accomplish. Common thoughts, common characters, and common sensations have little attraction : we must soar beyond them, or be contented to walk the earth and join the crowd. Far be it from me to discourage these efforts of mind in which I delight : but far be it from me to deceive. If you would attain the high gifts after which you so virtuously aspire, your perseverance must be energetic and unremitting. I consider America as unfavourable to genius : not from any qualities of air, earth, or water : but because the efforts of mind are neither so great, nor so numerous, or so urgent as in England or France.

You wish for an independence. That man is independent whose mind is prepared to meet all fortunes, and be happy under the worst ; who is conscious that industry in any country will supply the very few real wants of his species ; and who, while he can enjoy the delicacies of taste as exquisitely as a glutton, can transfer that luxury by the activity of his mind and body to the simplest viands.. Every other man is a slave, though he were more wealthy than Midas.

I send you my narrative, but am surprised that there should be any difficulty in procuring it at New- York. To a bookseller, the conveyance of such things is familiar and easy ; to an indivi- dual it has the inconvenience of calling his atten- tion to trifles and disturbing his ordinary progress.

I am not certain that the man of literature is not benefited by these little jolts that awaken him, or rather endeavour to awaken : but I know from experience he is very unwilling to notice them, they therefore easily slip his memory' This is the reason I did not send it before as you desired.

With respect to the stage, it is a question which cannot be effectually discussed in a letter : but I have no doubt whatever of its high moral tendency. Neither, in my opinion, was Rousseau right relative to Geneva : for that which is in itself essentially good, will, as I suppose, be good at all tunes and in all places.

T. HOT.CROFT. London, Newman Street,

December 10th, 1796,

ELBRIDGE COLBY-

STATUES AND MEMORIALS IN THE

BRITISH ISLES. (See 10 S. xi., xii. ; US. i.-xii., passim.)

PIONEERS AND PHILANTHROPISTS

(continued}.

COUNTESS WALDEGRAVE. Hastings. Near the church of the Holjr Trinity in Robertson Street, the first stone of which was laid by the Countess Waldegrave- in 1851, a drinking fountain was erected to her memory by the inhabitants of Hastings in 1861. It is constructed of Portland stone,, and beneath a groined canopy over the fountain are represented figures of our Saviour and the Woman of Samaria. The canopy is surmounted by richly carved finials, and supported by four marble columns. At the corners are figures of the Four Evangelists. Over the fountain ia the following inscription :

To Sarah, Countess Waldegrave, in grateful commemoration of the constant support by her- afforded to the religious and benevolent institu- tions of the borough and neighbourhood.

SIR JOSIAH MASON.

Birmingham. In the square at the back of the Town Hall is a seated figure of Sir Josiah Mason. It bears upon it the sculp- tor's name, " F. J. Williamson, Esher, 1885." The pedestal has the following inscrip- tion :

Sir Josiah Mason

Founder of the

Mason College and Mason Orphanage. Born 23 February, 1795.

Died 16 June, 1881.

On the back of the chair in which the figure- is seated are : Arms, a lion rampant ;. crest, a mermaid regardant ; motto, " Dunk spiro spero."

(See also US. ix. 323.)