“I afterwards met Hunt, and reminded him of Wilkie’s intention, and Hunt, with a frankness I liked much, became quite at home, and as I was just as easily acquainted in five minutes as himself, we began to talk, and he to hold forth, and I thought him, with his black bushy hair, black eyes, pale face, and ‘nose of taste,’ as fine a specimen of a London editor as could be imagined; assuming yet moderate, sarcastic yet genial, with a smattering of everything and a mastery of nothing, affecting the dictator, the poet, the politician, the critic, and the sceptic, whichever would, at the moment, give him the air, to inferior minds, of being a very superior man. I listened with something of curiosity to his republican independence, though hating his effeminacy and cockney peculiarities. The fearless honesty of his opinions, the unscrupulous sacrifice of his own interests, the unselfish perseverance of his attacks on all abuses, whether royal or religious, noble or democratic, ancient or modern, so gratified my mind, that I suffered this singular young man to gain such an ascendancy in my heart, as justified the perpetual caution of Wilkie against my great tendency to become acquainted too soon with strangers, and like Canning’s German, to swear eternal friendship with any spirited talented fellow after a couple of hours of witty talk or able repartee.” ELIZABETH INCHBALD 1753-1821 [Sidenote: Kavanagh’s _English Women of Letters_. *] “Miss Simpson ... was ... tall and slender, with hair of a golden auburn, and lovely hazel eyes, perfect features, and an enchanting countenance.”--1771. [Sidenote: Mrs. Inchbald’s _Memoirs_.] “DESCRIPTION OF ME. _Age._--Between 30 and 40, which, in the register of a lady’s birth, means a little turned of 30. _Height._--Above the middle size, and rather tall. _Figure._--Handsome, and striking in its general air, but a little too stiff and erect. _Shape._--Rather too fond of sharp angles. _Skin._--By nature fair, though a little freckled, and with a tinge of sand, which is the colour of her eyelashes, but made coarse by ill-treatment upon her cheeks and arms. _Bosom._--None; or so diminutive, that it’s like a needle in a bottle of hay. _Hair._--Of a sandy auburn, and rather too straight as well as thin. _Face._--Beautiful in effect, and beautiful in every feature. _Countenance._--Full of spirit and sweetness; excessively interesting, and, without indelicacy, voluptuous. _Dress._--Always becoming; and very seldom worth so much as _eightpence_.”--About 1788. FRANCIS, LORD JEFFREY 1773-1850 [Sidenote: Geo. Ticknor’s _Life_.]