On the Choice of Books | Page 6

friendship and affection on both sides, in spite of their
singular difference of temperament and character.
"It was on the 8th of February, 1832," says Mr. Thornton Hunt, "that
the writer of the essays named 'Characteristics' received, apparently
from Mr. Leigh Hunt, a volume entitled 'Christianism,' for which he
begged to express his thanks. By the 20th of February, Carlyle, then
lodging in London, was inviting Leigh Hunt to tea, as the means of
their first meeting; and by the 20th of November, Carlyle wrote from
Dumfries, urging Leigh Hunt to 'come hither and see us when you want
to rusticate a month. Is that for ever impossible?' The philosopher
afterwards came to live in the next street to his correspondent, in
Chelsea, and proved to be one of Leigh Hunt's kindest, most faithful,
and most considerate friends."[A]
[Footnote A: From "The Correspondence of Leigh Hunt," edited by his
eldest son. London: Smith, Elder and Co. 1862. Vol. 1., p. 321.]
Mr. Horne tells a story very characteristic of both men. Soon after the
publication of "Heroes and Hero Worship," they were at a small party,
when a conversation was started between these two concerning the
heroism of man. "Leigh Hunt had said something about the islands of
the blest, or El Dorado, or the Millennium, and was flowing on his
bright and hopeful way, when Carlyle dropped some heavy tree-trunk
across Hunt's pleasant stream, and banked it up with philosophical
doubts and objections at every interval of the speaker's joyous progress.
But the unmitigated Hunt never ceased his overflowing anticipations,
nor the saturnine Carlyle his infinite demurs to those finite flourishings.
The listeners laughed and applauded by turns; and had now fairly pitted
them against each other, as the philosopher of hopefulness and of the
unhopeful. The contest continued with all that ready wit and
philosophy, that mixture of pleasantry and profundity, that extensive
knowledge of books and character, with their ready application in
argument or illustration, and that perfect ease and good nature which
distinguish both of these men. The opponents were so well matched
that it was quite clear the contest would never come to an end. But the

night was far advanced, and the party broke up. They all sallied forth,
and leaving the close room, the candles and the arguments behind them,
suddenly found themselves in presence of a most brilliant starlight
night. They all looked up. 'Now,' thought Hunt, 'Carlyle's done for! he
can have no answer to that!' 'There,' shouted Hunt, 'look up there, look
at that glorious harmony, that sings with infinite voices an eternal song
of Hope in the soul of man.' Carlyle looked up. They all remained silent
to hear what he would say. They began to think he was silenced at
last--he was a mortal man. But out of that silence came a few low-toned
words, in a broad Scotch accent. And who on earth could have
anticipated what the voice said? 'Eh! it's a sad sight!' Hunt sat down on
a stone step. They all laughed--then looked very thoughtful. Had the
finite measured itself with infinity, instead of surrendering itself up to
the influence? Again they laughed--then bade each other good night,
and betook themselves homeward with slow and serious pace."[A]
[Footnote A: "A New Spirit of the Age," by R.H. Home. London, 1844.
Vol. . p. 278.]
In 1840 Leigh Hunt left Chelsea, and went to live at Kensington, but
Carlyle never altogether lost sight of him, and on several occasions was
able to do him very serviceable acts of kindness; as, for instance, in
writing certain Memoranda concerning him with the view of procuring
from Government a small provision for Leigh Hunt's declining years,
which we may as well give in this place:--
MEMORANDA
CONCERNING MR. LEIGH HUNT.
"1. That Mr. Hunt is a man of the most indisputedly superior worth; a
Man of Genius in a very strict sense of that word, and in all the senses
which it bears or implies; of brilliant varied gifts, of graceful fertility,
of clearness, lovingness, truthfulness; of childlike open character; also
of most pure and even exemplary private deportment; a man who can
be other than loved only by those who have not seen him, or seen him
from a distance through a false medium.
"2. That, well seen into, he has done much for the world;--as every man
possessed of such qualities, and freely speaking them forth in the
abundance of his heart for thirty years long, must needs do: how much,
they that could judge best would perhaps estimate highest.
"3. That, for one thing, his services in the cause of reform, as Founder

and long as Editor of the 'Examiner' newspaper; as Poet, Essayist,
Public Teacher in all ways open to him, are great and evident: few