LORD WOODHOUSELEE. 547 
The society that assembled at his table, was the best that at 
that period this country afforded,—his own famil} y-relations,— 
the families of the neighbouring proprietors in the populous 
county of Mid-Lothian,—most of the men eminent in science 
or in literature, of which our metropolis was then so profuse,— 
and occasionally those strangers of distinction, whom the love 
cof science or of nature had induced to visit Scotland. His hos- 
pitality was cordial, but unobtrusive,—his attentions were so 
uunostentatious, that his visitors found themselves at once at 
home,—and he himself appeared to them in no other light 
than as the most modest guest at his own table. The conver- 
sation which he loved, was of that easy and unpremeditated 
kind in which all could partake, and all enjoy. To metaphy- 
sical discussion, or political argument, he had an invincible 
dislike ; but he gladly entered into all subjects of literature or 
criticism,—into discussions on the fine arts, or historical anti- 
quities, or the literary intelligence of the day; and when sub- 
jects of wit or humour were peated, the hearty sincerity of 
his laugh, the readiness of his anecdote, and the playfulness of 
his fancy, shewed to what a degree he possessed the talents of 
society. His sense of humour was keen, but at the same time 
characteristic: it was the ludicrous, rather than the ridiculous, 
in character or in manners, which amused him: those excesses 
rather of the amiable than of the selfish or sordid passions, 
which are observed with a sentiment of tenderness as well as 
of disapprobation, and which the poet has so happily express- 
ed by the phrase, circum precordia ludit. The humour of most 
men is unhappily mingled with qualities which add little to 
the amiableness, and still less to the respectability of character. 
From the gayest conversation of Mr Tyrzer, on the contrary, 
it was impossible to rise, without a higher sense of the ed 
of his taste, and the benevolence of nt nature. 
VouVvil ee ee 3Z it IO B94 His 
