inguished, nay,
many illustrious lives, imagine, that, because men of genius have too
often cherished the perilous habit of seeking consolation or inspiration
from what it is a libel on Nature to call "the social glass," it is
therefore reasonable or excusable, or can ever be innocuous. Talfourd
may gloss it over in Lamb, as averting a vision terrible; Seattle may
deplore it in Campbell, as having become a dismal necessity; the
biographer of Hook may lightly look upon the curse as the springhead of
his perpetual wit. I will not continue the list,--it is frightfully
long. Hook is but one of many men of rare intellect, large mental
powers, with faculties designed and calculated to benefit mankind, who
have sacrificed character, life, I had almost said SOUL, to habits which
are wrongly and wickedly called pleasures,--the pleasures of the table.
Many, indeed, are they who have thus made for themselves miserable
destinies, useless or pernicious lives, and unhonored or dishonorable
graves. I will add the warning of Wordsworth, when addressing the sons
of Burns:--

"But ne'er to a seductive lay
Let faith be given,
Nor deem the light that leads astray
Is light from heaven."

FOOTNOTES:

[B] In "Gilbert Gurney," Hook makes Daly say, "I am the man; I did it;
for originality of thought and design, I _do_ think that was perfect."

[C] Mr. Barham has a confused account of this incident. He was not
present on the occasion, as I was, standing close by the piano when it
occurred.

[D] His biographer does not seem aware that for several months before he
became editor of the "New Monthly" he wrote the "Monthly Commentary" for
that magazine,--a pleasant, piquant, and sometimes severe series of
comments on the leading topics or events of the month.

[E] Mr. Peake, the dramatist, who wrote most of the "Mathews at Home,"
attributes this epitaph to John Hardwicke. Lockhart gives it to Hook.
Hook pictures Beazley in "Gilbert Gurney":--"His conversation was full
of droll conceits, mixed with a considerable degree of superior talent,
and the strongest evidence of general acquirements and accomplishments."

[F] "He was plump, short, with an intelligent countenance, and
near-sighted, with, a constitution and complexion fresh enough to look
forty, when _I_ believed him to be at least four times that
age."--_Gilbert Gurney._

[G] He played a practical joke upon the actors of the Brighton Theatre,
who were defective of