talents, I spent two days at my very good old friend Dr. Holland's, where I heard your name and your letter to your countrymen on Sidney Smith's memorial spoken of in the highest terms of just estimation! You know that Dr. Holland is married to Sydney Smith's daughter. I hope you know Dr. Holland's hook. Medical Notes, which, though the title might seem exclusively professional, is full of such general and profound views of the human mind as well as body that it could not but be interesting to you, and would prove to you for my present purpose that he is a person whose estimation and whose praise is worthy of you. . . .
I do not know whether you made acquaintance, when you were in
London, with Sydney Smith's brother, Mr. Robert S., or as he is
strangely cognomened (or nicknamed) Bobus Smith. He is well
known as one of the celebrities of Holland House, where he has been
figuring this half century. But he no longer figures as a diner-out,
and indeed I believe from that notoriety he always seceded. He is
now old and blind, but nevertheless has a most intelligent, energetic
countenance, and I should almost say penetrating eye. When he
turns and seems to look at me. I feel as if he looked into my face, and
am glad so to feel, as he encourages me to open my mind to him by opening his own at once to me. I saw him for the first time a few evenings ago
at Dr. Holland's, and sat between him and your American ambassador,
Mr. Everett. I was much pleased by their manner towards each other,
and by all they said of the letter of which I spoke. Mr. R. Smith has
in the opinion of all who know him and his brother, the strongest and
highest and deepest powers of the two; not so much wit, but a more
sound. Logical understanding — superior might in the reasoning faculty.
If the two brothers' hands grasped and grappled for mastery, with
elbows set down upon the table, in the fashion in which schoolboys
and others try strength, Robert Smith's hand would be uppermost
and Sidney's must give way, laughing perhaps, and pretending that he
only gave way to fight another day. But independently of victory or
trials of strength, the earnestness for truth of the blind brother would
decide my interest and sympathy in his favor.
Mr. Everett and Mr. R. Smith seemed to me properly to esteem
each other, and to speak with perfect courtesy and discretion upon
the most delicate national questions, on which, in truth, they liberally
agreed more than could have been or was expected by the bystanders
of different parties. Oh, Party Spirit! Party Spirit! how many
follies, how many outrages are committed in thy name, even in
common conversation!
