506 SKETCH OF THE PERSONAL CHARACTER OP 



me. The first time it fell into my hands, I devoted the entire night to 

 the perusal of it, and rose with a strong admiration of the various powers, 

 as well as the learning, it exhibited, and an equal desire to become ac- 

 quainted with the author. 



The opportunity did not present itself till some time afterwards, when 

 Mr. Mackintosh, being called to the bar, was proposed as a candidate in 

 a debating society of which I was a member. The society was then 

 confined to barristers and members of Parliament, and reckoned amongst 

 its members several individuals who have since figured in eminent 

 stations. Mr. Perceval, Lord Bexley, Mr. Richard Ryder, Mr. Sturges 

 Bourne, Lord Tenterden, Lord Lyndhurst, and others who, if fortune 

 had been equally favourable to their pretensions, might perhaps have 

 been as conspicuous. The nation was then involved in war. The 

 character which the French revolution had by that time exhibited, ex- 

 posed those, who were suspected to have been its partisans, to a pro- 

 scription from certain circles. The majority of our little society consisted 

 of the supporters of the war and of the government. I trembled for the 

 fate of Mr. Mackintosh, till I found in Mr. Perceval an equal admiration 

 of his work, and an equal desire with my own to receive him into our 

 society. His influence was then employed to canvass for him, and we 

 had the satisfaction to carry his election, and shortly after to form an ac- 

 quaintance with him. He was soon distinguished by his power and 

 eloquence as a debater, and not less by the sweetness of his temper and 

 the facility of his manners. He became popular even with those who 

 had been most opposed to his entrance. Every one was glad to cultivate 

 his society, and no man was more courted or caressed by those who 

 could appreciate his extensive and accurate knowledge, or could profit 

 by the graces and richness of his conversation. He was the centre of a 

 very extensive literary circle, which embraced the most distinguished, 

 with many other meritorious though less known, proficients in literature. 

 In his house and at his table were enjoyed the most agreeable as well as 

 the most enlightened society in London. It was my happiness to be 

 allowed to cultivate a close intimacy with him which was never inter- 

 rupted during his life. I mention with mixed sensations of pleasure and 

 regret, the names of those who were our common friends, and who 

 formed the principal figures in our social intercourse Romilly, Dumont, 

 Tennant, Wishaw, Rogers, Sharp, Robert Smith, and the Rev. Sydney 

 Smith. At a meeting at the house of Mr. Mackintosh, a dinner-club 

 was projected, which lasted for above twenty-five years, under the pro- 

 visional name of the ' King of Clubs.' It comprised many very dis- 

 tinguished and agreeable persons : I am at a loss to know why it ever 

 ceased. 



In the more unmixed circles of his society, almost every subject of 

 letters and metaphysics was freely discussed ; and in every discussion, 

 Mr. Mackintosh bore an eminent part, not only for knowledge and 

 acuteness, but for a spirit of candour and a love of truth, which were 

 ever in him paramount to the desire of victory. His learning, various and 

 extensive, was not confined to ancient authors, nor those of the English 

 language, in which he was deeply read, but embraced a great portion of 

 foreign literature, more especially German and French. With the latter 

 he was particularly conversant, and enjoyed, amongst the philosophers 



