s, ever mantled at the feasts of
Holland House than his fertile brain supplied; and, to quote himself, it
would require a "forty-parson power" of lungs and language to do justice
to his convivial merits. An acquaintance of ours sometimes met him in the
company of Jeffrey and Macaulay--a fine concord of first-rate performers,
content, generally, to keep each within his own part, except when, now and
then, the author of the "Lays" burst out irresistibly, and changed the
concert into a fine solo.

Altogether "we could have better spared a better man." Did not his death
"eclipse the gayety of nations?" Did not a Fourth Estate of Fun expire
from the midst of us? Did not even Brother Jonathan drop a tear when he
thought that the scourge that so mercilessly lashed him was broken? And
shall not now all his admirers unite with us in inscribing upon his
grave--"Alas! poor Yorick!"

THOMAS CARLYLE. BY GEORGE GILFILLAN.

[Illustration.]

Thomas Carlyle.

Thomas Carlyle was born at Ecclefechan, Annandale. His parents were "good
farmer people," his father an elder in the Secession church there, and a
man of strong native sense, whose words were said to "nail a subject to
the wall." His excellent mother still lives, and we had the pleasure of
meeting her lately in the company of her illustrious son; and beautiful it
was to see his profound and tender regard, and her motherly and yearning
reverence--to hear her fine old covenanting accents, concerting with his
transcendental tones. He studied in Edinburgh. Previous to this, he had
become intimate with Edward Irving, an intimacy which continued unimpaired
to the close of the latter's eccentric career. Like most Scottish
students, he had many struggles to encounter in the course of his
education; and had, we believe, to support himself by private tuition,
translations for the booksellers, &c. The day star of German literature
arose early in his soul, and has been his guide and genius ever since. He
entered into a correspondence with Goethe, which lasted, at intervals,
till the latter's death. Yet he has never, we understand, visited Germany.
He was, originally, destined for the church. At one period he taught an
academy in Dysart, at the same time that Irving was teaching in Kirkaldy.
After his marriage, he resided partly at Comely Bank, Edinburgh; and, for
a year or two in Craigenputtock, a wild and solitary farm-