THE SUPPLEMENT.
[PART I.]
THE EVENING WALK.
HE scenery and the dialogue of this Part are more especially Waltonian. The characters are few; but Lysander must of necessity be the Author—as he is the principal actor in the scene, and throughout the entire work the principal intelligence is derived from his lips. The scene itself is not absolutely ideal. At the little village of ——, upon the upper grounds, near Marlow, and necessarily commanding a sweep of the Thames in one of its most richly wooded windings, there lived a Mr. Jacobs, the friend of the adjoining Rector, whose table was as bounteous as his heart was hospitable; and whose frequent custom it was, in summer months, to elicit sweet discourse from his guests, as they sauntered, after an early supper, to inhale the fragrance of "dewy eve," and to witness the ascendancy of the moon in a cool and cloudless sky. I have partaken more than once of these "Tusculan" discussions; and have heard sounds, and witnessed happiness, such as is not likely to be my lot again. Philemon is at rest in his grave, as well as Menander and Sicorax. The two latter, it is well known, were Tom Warton and Joseph Ritson. "The husband of poor Lavinia" was a most amiable gentleman, but timid to a morbid excess. Without strong powers of intellect, he was tenacious of every thing which he advanced, and yet the farthest possible from dogmatic rudeness. There are cankers that eat into the heart as well as the cheek; and because Mr. Shacklewell (the Nicas of my text) happened to discover a few unimportant errors in that husband's last performance, the latter not only thought much and often about it, but seemed to take it seriously to heart, and scarcely survived it a twelvemonth.
Gonzalo, mentioned at [page 12], was a Mr. Jessop; an exceedingly lively, inoffensive, but not over wise gentleman; a coxcomb to excess in every thing; but not without vivacious parts, which occasionally pleased, from the manner in which they were exhibited. Of handsome person and fluent speech, he was generally acceptable to the fair sex; but he made no strong individual impression, as he was known to use the same current phrases and current compliments to all. Just possible it was that his personal attractions and ready utterance were beginning to strike a root or two in some one female bosom; but it was impossible for these roots to penetrate deeply, and take an exclusive hold. I believe Mr. Jessop quitted the neighbourhood of Marlow shortly after the publication of the Bibliomania, to return thither no more. Alfonso was a Mr. Morell; a name well known in Oxfordshire. He was always in the same false position, from the beginning to the end; but I am not sure whether this be not better than a perpetually shifting false position. Disguise it as you may, an obstinate man is preferable to a trimmer; be he a common man, or an uncommon man; a layman or a clergyman; "in crape," or "in lawn."
The compliment paid by Lysander (at pages [18], [19]) to Dr. Vincent, late Dean of Westminster, and head master of Westminster School, were acknowledged by that venerable and most worthy, as well as erudite, character, in a letter to me, which I deemed it but an act of justice to its author to publish in the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. iii. p. 353. Poor Mr. Barker (Edmund Henry), who is handsomely mentioned in the Dean's letter, has very lately taken his departure from us, for that quiet which he could not find upon earth. "Take him for all in all" he was a very extraordinary man. Irritable to excess; but ardent and ambitious in his literary career. His industry, when, as in former days, it was at its height, would have killed half the scholars of the time. How he attained his fiftieth year, may be deemed miraculous; considering upon what a tempestuous sea his vessel of life seemed to be embarked. Latterly, he took to politics; when—"farewell the tranquil mind!"