The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)Beloe, William
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The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)
Beloe, William
Authors, English; Beloe, William, 1756-1817; English literature -- Anecdotes
That he had faults, it is not pretended to deny; but they inflicted
no wounds. A sort of coldness and reserve of manner was frequently
considered as the result of pride, and sometimes excited unfavourable
impressions; but it was not pride, and very soon melted into familiarity.
Among his intimate friends it was impossible to be more communicative,
facetious, and agreeable. But it is time to have done?
The above tribute is paid from a full and warm heart. It is the result
of long, very long attachment, esteem, and gratitude; of a friendship
never interrupted; of an intercourse which a continued series of years
cemented. Can it be necessary to say more?
Peering in maps, for ports, and piers, and roads.
CHAPTER VI.
The plane of the Sexagenarian’s literary horizon became much extended,
in consequence of this connection, and much “_terra incognita_” was
discovered and explored. Several planets also in the literary system,
were by the aid communicated from this source, contemplated with greater
accuracy and precision; the plains of the Muses were traversed with
congenial ardour, each deriving similar gratification from the same
sources. Much has already been said, and indeed there seems hardly any
limit to what might be said, on the talents, characters, performances,
and fortunes, of their various associates.
Memoranda of a great many personages still remain more or less detailed
in our manuscript; but the work appears already extended beyond perhaps
the patience of many readers, and the task of selecting and arranging
from a crude mass, is not the most satisfactory that can be imagined.
The Sexagenarian appears to have had from his childhood a remarkable
partiality for books of voyages and travels, and sought after them with
the extremest eagerness, from the ingenious and imaginary adventures of
Robinson Crusoe, to those more important works of authentic discovery,
and actual description, which have for the last century, and indeed much
before, obtained the sanction of public approbation and esteem. This
feeling naturally led him to seek the personal acquaintance of all those
among his contemporaries, who had made themselves eminent, either by
their geographical knowledge, or their actual visits to remote regions
and countries, less perfectly known.
Of many of these personages he has left notes, which induce the
disposition to believe, that he had, at one time, entertained the
intention of writing something in a connected form, on the subject of the
value of their different observations and discoveries. This, however,
he did not do; but from the remarks which he had made, the reader may
perhaps find some transient amusement in the selection which succeeds.
ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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