CHAPTER XX
242. Scribe. Eugène Scribe (1791–1861).
Cribb. Tom Cribb (1781–1848), the champion pugilist. See vol. IV. The Spirit of the Age, note to p. 223.
[244]. A tub to a whale. The tradition is an old one, but Hazlitt may have had in mind the Preface to Swift’s Tale of a Tub. The allusion is undoubtedly to Canning’s recognition of the independence of the Spanish American Colonies in 1823.
Fænum in cornu. Horace, Sat. I. iv. 33.
[245]. Lily-livered. Macbeth, Act V. Sc. 3 and King Lear, Act II. Sc. 2.
But that two-handed engine at the door. Lycidas, 130.
[246]. Finds a taint in the Liberal. See vol. VII. The Plain Speaker, p. 379 and note.
Mr. Waithman. Robert Waithman (1764–1833), linen-draper, pamphleteer, Lord Mayor of London (1823), and M.P. for London (1818–1820, 1826–1833).
Dr. E. Mr. W. C. Hazlitt states that the name should be Edwards. This incident forms a singular parallel with Johnson’s meeting with his fellow-collegian, Edwards. See Boswell, ed. G. B. Hill, III. 302 et seq.
Note. A Mr. Law. Probably a son of Thomas Law (1759–1834), of Washington, writer on finance, whose brother was Edward Law, first Baron Ellenborough (1750–1818).
[247]. The John Bull. Theodore Hook’s paper. See vol. IV., The Spirit of the Age, p. 217 and note.
Mr. Shee’s tragedy. Sir Martin Arthur Shee (1769–1850), one of the founders of the British Institution, portrait painter, and President of the Royal Academy, 1830–50. See ante, p. [434]. His play, Alasco, on the partition of Poland, was accepted by Charles Kemble for Covent Garden, but prohibited by the examiner of plays, George Colman the younger. It was published in 1824.
To be direct and honest is not safe. Othello, Act III. Sc. 3.
Can these things be. Macbeth, Act III. Sc. 4.
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[247]. Note. Mr. Barrow. Sir John Barrow (1764–1848) was second secretary of the Admiralty, 1804–1806 and 1807–1845. Croker of course was the other secretary of the Admiralty as well as a contributor to the Quarterly.
[248]. Very stuff o’ the conscience. Othello, Act I. Sc. 2.
Note. Chief Justice Holt. Sir John Holt (1642–1710), Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench (1689–1710), the Verus of The Tatler. See No. 14, May 12, 1709.
[249]. Man seldom is.
‘Man never Is, but always To be blest.’
Pope, Essay on Man, I. 96.
There’s no such thing. Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III. Sc. 3.
[250]. M. Beyle ... De l’Amour. Marie Henri Beyle’s (1783–1842) work was published in 1822. He is better known under his pseudonym of Stendhal. His best works are Le Rouge et le Noir (1830) and La Chartreuse de Parme (1839).