I cannot help remarking, that you pay little attention to your sisters, except Jane. Poor Lucy, who is ill and dejected, is never thought of, notwithstanding I mentioned it would be flattering, as well as kind and affectionate, to notice her. How can you expect a sisterly affection and regard, where no notice is taken of them? They would each of them be ready enough to do you a favour, and would do it cheerfully. Your mother also is neglected: but this is a common thing at public schools, where the vicious endeavour to instil into the minds of young boys, that the old ones are not worth taking notice of. Those are boys who never say their prayers; and when they go to church, think it a proud boast to revile their superiors, and endeavour to degrade them to a level with themselves — Bill Such-a-one-Mother Such-a-one, &c. This, although it is too much the custom, is despised by the better thinking. It is only pride, and a self-assumed consequence, that actuates such boys: they are only degrading themselves for a time, which, in a few years, when they look back upon their conduct, they will be ashamed of themselves. What an example for boys is William Powell! he has never done an act to incur the displeasure of his father. Young Harvey, the son of Sir Ludford Harvey, the You cannot see those boys but you immediately recognise them to be the sons of gentlemen. No frivolity of dress, yet well dressed: not like men, but like what they are,— boys. same. It requires little discrimination, Richard, to mark the disposition of young people; and men who have had experience have always something to judge those by who have not had that experience; and the mildest observation they can make is, "What can you expect from boys?" This may apply to boys in general-boys who promiscuously go to various schools: but among the number of schools, we have but few of any note (I mean public schools), and those ought to be exceptions to the general rule; for boys who go to public schools are expected to make distinguished men, because they have the advantage of the best instruction. My limits will not allow me to say more than that I am your affectionate Father, B. O. To JOHN TAYLOR, Esq. SUN OFFICE. Tavistock Place, March 9, 1229. MANY thanks, my dear sir, for the very handsome notice you have taken of my party in your journal, and the high compliment you pay me. If you would give me more of your company, I should be able to carry with me into the drawing-room more of the "intellectual" than I now possess. I think with you, and am indeed surprised that assemblies of this nature are so seldom to be found. I could not but feel the contrast last night, when I was riveted down to a card-party for an hour and half, playing a stupid rubber: fortunately I escaped being plunged into a second, by taking advantage (while some idle gossiping was going on) of making my retreat, and happily brought my wife safe home about half past ten o'clock. You are determined to have my person about you: he will never interrupt your studies. Your own loquacity and good-natured cheerfulness will have free scope, and need not fear annoyance. you muscle," you will say, "then why should I?" but you cannot help it. You can no more put on that saturnine look, than you could "command the waters of the land" to pass through his " parched bosom." "Something too much of this." There is a little dinner party at my table, this day, at six. If you say (sans cérémonie) you will meet them, I will, for those sweet words, " applaud thee to the very echo that shall applaud again." Thine, B. O. MY DEAR BOY, To MR. R. R. OAKLEY. Royal Exchange, March 11, 1822. You have often heard me say, that "it is honourable to acknowledge an error, and that nothing is so praiseworthy as an avowal of having been in the wrong." Mr. Giles having unintentionally misrepresented the circumstance alluded to in my last letter, took the earliest opportunity this morning to undeceive me, and to express his concern, that what he said should have occasioned the least uneasiness to you or me. I assure you, Richard, it gave me a great deal of pain and very much damped my hopes, knowing, as I do, that with the previous instruction you had before you went to Harrow, I had formed the best opinion of your ability, and anticipated the pleasure of hearing that you advanced progressively in your studies; looking forward, as I do, to your attaining the proud eminence in Harrow School which has so distinguished a Byron and a Sheridan. Mr. Ravenhill called in just as I received your letter: he expressed a confident opinion of your success, and has betted me a hat that you will gain trial, and get into the shell. I shall not only be very glad to lose the hat; but shall, with pleasure, give you a new one if you win the battle. Mr. Ravenhill will order a carriage, as before, to bring his boys and you home, when he knows the day you are to break up. I had my conversazione last Thursday it will be repeated on the 4th of April, when I suppose you will join the party. Make my respectful compliments to Mr. Drury, and your mother's best inquiries after Mrs. Drury. Affectionately yours, B. O. To CHARLES MATTHEWS, Esq. KENTISH TOWN. MY DEAR MATTHEWS, Tavistock Place, April 15, 1822. I THINK every man who has a respect for the drama (and who, like myself, have been gratified with viewing the assemblage of portraits which enrich your gallery 'showing, as it were, the very age and body of the time," in illustration of the genius of the immortal bard), must feel more than ordinary delight in tracing the features of genius and talent which have adorned the stage, and made familiar to the world the poetry of Shakspeare. To you, Matthews, the praise is due of keeping alive that feeling; and as an humble testimony of my regard for you and attachment to the divine poet, I hope you will not deny me the pleasure of contributing to your collection of literary testimonials (which also embellish your gallery) the fourth folio edition of "The Swan of Avon." In addition to which, I beg to offer my name to the list of subscribers you procured at Stratford, as a mark of the love and affection I owe to him who has beguiled the weary hours of my pilgrimage during the three first acts of my appearance upon the stage of life; and to assure thee I am, "while memory holds her seat in this distracted globe,' " Thine, B. O. To MR. R. R. OAKLEY, HARROW. MY DEAR RICHARD, Royal Exchange, April 19, 1822. I AM rejoiced to find you are again settled in the shell: I have no doubt you will grow into a fine nucleus, and spread your fibres so as to take root in the extensive soil of Greek and Latin, and, in due time, gather fruit from the productive branches of the tree of learning. The following lines were occasioned by the sudden death of poor little Dot. Had old Trim met the shaft of death, I should not have been more concerned it would have been more in the course of nature. Why should thy ruthless arm, O Death! Deprive the innocent of breath? Why should" in cold obstruction rot". Why exercise thy vengeful ire To strike the young, yet spare the sire? : |