The Life and Correspondence of M.G. Lewis [By M. Baron-Wilson].

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI. Cottage at Barnes--Fete champetre--Character of Lewis's friends--Monody on the Death of Sir John Moore--Duke of Clarence--Princess of Wales--Affair of honour. The cottage at Barnes, from which many of the foregoing and succeeding letters are dated, was a pretty romantic retreat, where Lewis spent the greater part of his time, and which, notwithstanding the intention he so frequently expresses of leaving, he afterwards greatly embellished and improved, and continued to retain possession of until his death. It was here that the greater portion of his works were written; and even when he came into possession of a large fortune, on his father's death, he still continued to find the same pleasure in the retirement of this rural abode, which he had done in his earlier years; preferring, with a taste worthy of genius, its quiet seclusion to the pomp and parade of more splendid establishments, which a handsome income placed at his command. He spared no pains or expense in rendering it suited for a poet's home; and it was adorned in a style in every way indicative of its sensitive occupant. His little drawing-room was beautifully ornamented, and contained many paintings from the first masters, as well as several highly-finished sketches taken from his own works. Over the mantelpiece hung the small miniature portrait of a lady--a scion of the house of Argyle--which, on account of the homage he had seemed to pay it, during one of his visits to Inverary Castle, was good-naturedly presented to him by the duke, and highly prized by Lewis, on account of some real or fancied resemblance it bore to a later beauty of that noble house, whose early influence over his heart we have already spoken of. He had also an admirably-selected library, containing, among oth...