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Pepys would observe； 〃mighty pretty to see〃。 If he could by any effort
imagine himself committing such a high crime and misdemeanour as that
in question； he could only imagine himself as doing it of a set purpose；
under the sting of some vast injury； to inflict a great affront。 A
deliberately designed affront on the part of another man； it therefore
remained to the end of his days。 The manner in which； as time went on；
he permeated the unfortunate lord's ancestry with this offence； was
whimsically characteristic of Landor。 The writer remembers very well
when only the individual himself was held responsible in the story for the
breach of good breeding； but in another ten years or so； it began to appear
that his father had always been remarkable for ill manners； and in yet
another ten years or so； his grandfather developed into quite a prodigy of
coarse behaviour。
Mr。 Boythornif he may again be quotedsaid of his adversary； Sir
Leicester Dedlock： 〃That fellow is； AND HIS FATHER WAS； AND HIS
GRANDFATHER WAS； the most stiff…necked； arrogant； imbecile； pig…
headed numskull； ever； by some inexplicable mistake of Nature； born in
any station of life but a walking…stick's！〃
The strength of some of Mr。 Landor's most captivating kind qualities
was traceable to the same source。 Knowing how keenly he himself
would feel the being at any small social disadvantage； or the being
unconsciously placed in any ridiculous light； he was wonderfully
considerate of shy people； or of such as might be below the level of his
usual conversation； or otherwise out of their element。 The writer once
observed him in the keenest distress of mind in behalf of a modest young
stranger who came into a drawing…room with a glove on his head。 An
expressive commentary on this sympathetic condition； and on the delicacy
with which he advanced to the young stranger's rescue； was afterwards
furnished by himself at a friendly dinner at Gore House； when it was the
most delightful of houses。 His dresssay； his cravat or shirt…collarhad
become slightly disarranged on a hot evening； and Count D'Orsay
laughingly called his attention to the circumstance as we rose from table。
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Landor became flushed； and greatly agitated： 〃My dear Count D'Orsay； I
thank you！ My dear Count D'Orsay； I thank you from my soul for
pointing out to me the abominable condition to which I am reduced！ If I
had entered the Drawing…room； and presented myself before Lady
Blessington in so absurd a light； I would have instantly gone home； put a
pistol to my head； and blown my brains out！〃
Mr。 Forster tells a similar story of his keeping a company waiting
dinner； through losing his way； and of his seeing no remedy for that
breach of politeness but cutting his throat； or drowning himself； unless a
countryman whom he met could direct him by a short road to the house
where the party were assembled。 Surely these are expressive notes on
the gravity and reality of his explosive inclinations to kill kings！
His manner towards boys was charming； and the earnestness of his
wish to be on equal terms with them and to win their confidence was quite
touching。 Few； reading Mr。 Forster's book； can fall to see in this； his
pensive remembrance of that 〃studious wilful boy at once shy and
impetuous〃； who had not many intimacies at Rugby； but who was
〃generally popular and respected； and used his influence often to save the
younger boys from undue harshness or violence〃。 The impulsive
yearnings of his passionate heart towards his own boy； on their meeting at
Bath； after years of separation； likewise burn through this phase of his
character。
But a more spiritual； softened； and unselfish aspect of it； was to
derived from his respectful belief in happiness which he himself had
missed。 His marriage had not been a felicitous oneit may be fairly
assumed for either sidebut no trace of bitterness or distrust concerning
other marriages was in his mind。 He was never more serene than in the
midst of a domestic circle； and was invariably remarkable for a perfectly
benignant interest in young couples and young lovers。 That； in his ever…
fresh fancy； he conceived in this association innumerable histories of
himself involving far more unlikely events that never happened than Isaac
D'Israeli ever imagined； is hardly to be doubted； but as to this part of his
real history he was mute； or revealed his nobleness in an impulse to be
generously just。 We verge on delicate ground； but a slight remembrance
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rises in the writer which can grate nowhere。 Mr。 Forster relates how a
certain friend； being in Florence； sent him home a leaf from the garden of
his old house at Fiesole。 That friend had first asked him what he should
send him home； and he had stipulated for this giftfound by Mr。 Forster
among his papers after his death。 The friend； on coming back to England；
related to Landor that he had been much embarrassed； on going in search
of the leaf； by his driver's suddenly stopping his horses in a narrow lane；
and presenting him （the friend） to 〃La Signora Landora〃。 The lady was
walking alone on a bright Italian…winter…day； and the man； having been
told to drive to the Villa Landora； inferred that he must be conveying a
guest or visitor。 〃I pulled off my hat；〃 said the friend； 〃apologised for the
coachman's mistake； and drove on。 The lady was walking with a rapid and
firm step； had bright eyes； a fine fresh colour； and looked animated and
agreeable。〃 Landor checked off each clause of the description； with a
stately nod of more than ready assent； and replied； with all his tremendous
energy concentrated into the sentence： 〃And the Lord forbid that I
should do otherwise than declare that she always WAS agreeableto every
one but ME！〃
Mr。 Forster step by step builds up the evidence on which he writes this
life and states this character。 In like manner； he gives the evidence for
his high estimation of Landor's works； andit may be addedfor their
recompense against some neglect； in finding so sympathetic； acute； and
devoted a champion。 Nothing in the book is more remarkable than his
examination of each of Landor's successive pieces of writing； his delicate
discernment of their beauties； and his strong desire to impart his own
perceptions in this wise to the great audience that is yet to come。 It rarely
befalls an author to have such a commentator： to become the subject of
so much artistic skill and knowledge； combined with such infinite and
loving pains。 Alike as a piece of Biography； and as a commentary upon the
beauties of a great writer； the book is a massive book； as the man and the
writer were massive too。 Sometimes； when the balance held by Mr。
Forster has seemed for a moment to turn a little heavily against the
infirmities of temperament of a grand old friend； we have felt something
of a shock； but we have not once been able to gainsay the justice of the
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scales。 This feeling； too； has only fluttered out of the detail； here or there；
and has vanished before the whole。 We fully agree with Mr。 Forster that
〃judgment has been passed〃as it should be〃with an equal desire to be
only just on all the qualities of his temperament