Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography; Leland, Charles Godfrey, 1824-1903
I had read more than once Lewes's "Life of Goethe," his "History of
Philosophy and Physiology," and even "written him" for the Cyclopaedia.
With him I naturally at once became well acquainted. I remember here
that Mr. Ripley had once reproved me for declaring that Lewes had really
a claim to be an original philosopher or thinker; for Boston intellect
always frowned on him after Margaret Fuller condemned him as "frivolous
and atheistic." I remember that Tom Powell had told me how he had dined
somewhere in London, where there was a man present who had really been a
cannibal, owing to dire stress of shipwreck, and how Lewes, who was
there, was so fascinated with the man-eater that he could think of
nothing else. Lewes told me that once, having gone with a party of
archaeologists to visit a ruined church, he found on a twelfth-century
tombstone some illegible letters which he persuaded the others to believe
formed the name Golias, probably having in mind the poems of Walter de
Mapes. When I returned from Russia I delighted him very much by
describing how I had told the fortunes by hand of six gypsy girls. He
declared that telling fortunes to gypsies was the very height of
impudence!
"A hundred jests have passed between us twain,
Which, had I space, I'd gladly tell again."
A call which I have had, since I wrote that last line, from John Postle
Heseltine, Esq., reminds me that he was one of the first acquaintances I
made in London. Mr. E. Edwards, a distinguished etcher and painter, gave
me a dinner at Richmond, at which Mr. Heseltine was present. In Edwards'
studio I met with Bracquemond and Legros, both of whom etched my portrait
on copper. Mr. Heseltine is well known as a very distinguished artist of
the same kind, as well as for many other things. Edwards was very kind
to me in many ways for years. Legros I found very interesting. There
was in Edwards' studio the unique _complete_ collection of the etchings
of Meryon, which we examined. Legros remarked of the incredibly long-
continued industry manifested in some of the pictures, that lunatics
often manifested it to a high degree. Meryon, as is known, was mad. I
had etched a very little myself and was free of the fraternity.
Within a few days Mr. Strahan, the publisher, took me to Mr. (now Lord)
Tennyson's reception, where I met with many well-known people. Among
them were Lady Charlotte Locker and Miss Jean Ingelow. These ladies,
with great kindness, finding that I was married, called on Mrs. Iceland,
and invited us to dine. I became a constant visitor for years at Miss
Ingelow's receptions, where I have met Ruskin, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall
(whom I had seen in 1848), Calverly, Edmund Gosse, Hamilton Aide, Mr. and
Mrs Alfred Hunt. I conversed with Tennyson, but little passed between us
on that occasion. I got to know him far better "later on."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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