cessful in finding a publisher until a year afterwards he being then twenty-eight. This was in 1805. In 1806, he published a pamphlet with the title of "Free Thoughts on Public Affairs.” In 1807, he abridged to one volume Tucker's large work in seven - the "Light of Nature," and wrote for Messrs. Longman and Co. a "Reply to Malthus's Works on Population." In 1808, he married Miss Stoddart, sister of the present Chief Justice of Malta. By this lady, who still lives, he had several children, all of whom died in early childhood except the Editor of these "Remains.' Shortly after his marriage, he went to live at Winterslow, in Wiltshire. An English Grammar, written about this period, was published some years afterwards. In 1808, he also published a compilation, entitled "The Eloquence of the British Senate, being a selection of the best Speeches of the most distinguished Parliamentary Speakers, from the beginning of the reign of Charles I to the present time. We are told also, that in the autumn of this same year he was engaged in preparing for publication his Memoirs of Holcroft'"'. the first seventeen chapters of this work were written by Holcroft himself. In 1811, Mr. Hazlitt removed to London and tenanted a house once honored in the occupation of Milton." In 1813, he delivered at the Russell Institution, a series of "Lectures upon the History and Progress of English Philosophy." Shortly after this he became connected with the public press. For a short time he was engaged with the "Morning Chronicle" as a Parliamentary Reporter — but relinquished the occupation on account of ill health. He afterwards wrote political and theatrical criticisms for the "Champion,' "" the "Morning Chronicle," the " Examiner," and the

66 <Times." It was about this period, if we understand his biographer, that the collection of Essays appeared called The Round Table. Of these, forty were written by Mr. Hazlitt, and twelve by Leigh Hunt. In 1818, his Theatrical Criticisms were collected and published under the title of "A view of the English Stage." In this year also, he delivered at the Surrey Institution a series of Lectures on the "Comic Writers, and the Poets of England," and on the "Dramatic Literature of the age of Elizabeth." These were subsequently published in single volumes under their respective titles. In 1819, the whole of his Political Essays appeared in one volume. His next published work was the Characters of Shakspeare's Plays." In 1823, Mr. Hazlitt was under the law of Scotland having given to the world

divorced from his wife

shortly before this epoch Liber Amoris," a publication for many reasons to be regretted. In this same year appeared a "Critical Account of the Principal Picture Galleries of England also the first series of Table-Talk," in two volumes, consisting of Essays on various subjects, a few of which had previously appeared in the "London Magazine." In 1824, Mr. H. married Isabella, widow of Lieut. Col. Bridgewater, a lady of some property; proceeding, after the wedding, on a tour through France and Italy. "Notes" of this journey appeared in the " Morning Chronicle," and were afterwards collected in a volume. In 1825, appeared the second series of Table-Talk," and the "Spirit of the Age," a series of criticisms on the more prominent literary men then living. In 1826, the Plain Speaker was published, and another edition of the Table-Talk." At this period, and for some years previous, Mr. Hazlitt was a frequent contributor

66

to the Edinburgh Review," the "New Monthly," Monthly," and "London" Magazines, and other periodicals. In 1829, he published "Selections from the British Poets," and in 1830, "Northcote's Conversations," the "Life of Titian," (in which Mr. Northcote had a large share, and whose name, indeed, appeared as author on the title-page) and his chief work, "The Life of Napoleon," in four volumes. In August of this year he was attacked by a species of cholera, and on the 18th of September he died. We are indebted for the facts in this naked outline of Mr. Hazlitt's life, principally to the memoir by his son in the volume before us. The memoir itself bears upon its face so obvious and indeed so very natural an air of the most enthusiastic filial affection and admiration, that we are forced to place but little reliance upon the critical opinions it advances.

The Thoughts on the Genius of William Hazlitt,' by Mr. Bulwer, differ in many striking points from the "Thoughts" by Sergeant Talfourd, on his "Intellectual Character." We give the preference unhesitatingly to the noble paper of Talfourd a brilliant specimen of accurate thinking and fine writing. The article of Bulwer, indeed, seems to be a compulsory thing - an effort probably induced by earnest solicitation and no labor of love. Hazlitt, moreover, personally unknown to him. Sergeant Talfourd, on the contrary, appears to write with a vivid interest in the man, and a thorough knowledge of his books. Nothing more fully than is here said, need be said, on the character, on the capacities, or on the works of Hazlitt, and nothing possibly can be said more happily or more wisely.

was

Of the Essays which constitute the body of the

book before us, all have a relative most of them a very high positive value. To American readers Hazlitt is principally known, we believe, as the Dramatic Critic, and the Lecturer on the Elder Poetry of England. Some of the papers in the present volume will prove the great extent and comprehensiveness of his genius. One on the Fine Arts " especially, cannot Mr. Hazlitt discourses

fail of seizing public attention.

of Painting, as Chorley of Music. Neither have been. equalled in their way. A fine passage of Hazlitt's on

the ideal commences thus

"The Fight" will show clearly how the writer of true talent can elevate even the most brutal of themes. The paper entitled "My first acquaintance with Poets," and that headed Of Persons one would wish to have seen," have a personal interest apart from the abilities of the writer. The article " On Liberty and Necessity," that "On Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding," and that "On the Definition of Wit," bear with them evidence of a truth but little understood, and very rarely admitted that the reasoning powers never exist in perfection unless when allied with a very high degree of the imaginative faculty. In this latter' respect, Hazlitt (who knew and acknowledged the fact) is greatly deficient. His argumentative pieces, therefore, rarely satisfy any mind, beyond that of the mere logician. As a critiche is perhaps unequalled. Altogether he was no ordinary man. In the words of Bulwer, it may justly be said that a complete collection of his works is all the monument he demands."

VOL. IX. - 10

1 PHILOTHEA: A ROMANCE. BY MRS. CHILD, AUTHOR OF THE MOTHER'S BOOK, &c. BOSTON OTIS, BROADERS & Co. NEW YORK: GEORGE DEAR

BORN.

[Southern Literary Messenger, September, 1836.]

MRS. CHILD is well known as the author of “ Hobomok,' "The American Frugal Housewife,” and the Mother's Book." She is also the editor of a "Juvenile Miscellany." The work before us is of a character very distinct from that of any of these publications, and places the fair writer in a new and most favorable light. Philothea is of that class of works of which the Telemachus of Fénelon, and the Anacharsis of Barthélémy, are the most favorable specimens. Overwhelmed in a long-continued inundation of secondhand airs and ignorance, done up in green muslin, we turn to these pure and quiet pages with that species of gasping satisfaction with which a drowning man clutches the shore.

The scene is

The plot of Philothea is simple. principally in ancient Athens, during the administration of Pericles; and some of the chief personages of his time are brought, with himself, upon the stage. Among these are Aspasia, Alcibiades, Hippocrates, Anaxagoras of Clazomence, Plato, Hermippus the comic writer, Phidias the sculptor, Artaxerxes of Persia, and Xerxes his son. Philothea, the heroine of the tale, and the grand-daughter of Anaxagoras, is of a majestic beauty, of great purity and elevation of mind. Her

1 Poe repeated this review, almost verbatim, in the Broadway Journal, May 31, 1845. — ED.