chisel; and there is
in his constitution an inherent love of the fine arts, which brings
his thoughts into more grateful channels. We are well aware that there
is a warmth and breadth of character about Cunningham which mark 'the
large-soul'd Scot;' but looking forward to his forthcoming Lives of the
British Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, we do not conceive this
to be in the least inconsistent with the easy flow of his tasteful
handwriting."
F. HEMANS: "the very hand--fair, small, and beautifully feminine--in
which should be embodied her gentle breathings of household love, her
songs of the domestic affections, and all her lays of silvery sweetness
and soft-breathing tenderness."
F. LEVESON GOWER, the distinguished translator of Goethe's Faust.
H. BROUGHAM: "a good deal like his own style of oratory--impressive and
energetic, but not very polished." We question the last; but, be this as
it may, polish is only desirable so long as it does not impair truth and
utility. Plain-speaking has been the best rule of conduct for public men
in all ages.
BASIL HALL: the observant traveller and very ingenious writer.
JOHN WILSON (the reputed editor of _Blackwood's Magazine_); and
beneath, F. JEFFREY (late editor of the _Edinburgh Review_), who
took his seat in Parliament not many days since.--"These are two names
which stand at the head of the periodical literature of Scotland. The
periodical writer must have a ready command of his pen and a versatile
genius; he must be able to pass quickly from one subject to another; and
instead of devoting himself to one continuous train of thought, he must
have a mind whose quick perception and comprehensive grasp enable him
to grapple with a thousand. See how this applies to the handwriting of
Jeffrey and of Wilson. The style of both signatures implies a quick and
careless motion of the hand, as if the writer was working against time,
and was much more anxious to get his ideas sent to the printer, than to
cover his paper with elegant penmanship. There is an evident similarity
in the fashion of the two hands--only Mr. Jeffrey, being much inferior
to the Professor in point of physical size and strength, naturally
enough delights in a pen with a finer point, and writes therefore a
lighter and more scratchy hand than the author of 'Lights and Shadows.'
It will add to the interest of Mr. Jeffrey's autograph to know that,
as his hand is not at all altered, we have preferred, as a mat
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