1832-37. ' THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII.' 59 



splendid and striking productions have often been, not the 

 result of thinking over the subject to find what could be made 

 of it, but from the subject, or some part of it, as in some way 

 connected with it, striking their mind as being particularly 

 curious or novel, and the perception of that unique beauty has 

 stimulated their mental powers, and led to their brightest effects. 

 To take an instance, the talented and imaginative author of the 

 ' Last Days of Pompeii/ has mentioned in the preface, that the 

 idea of introducing a blind girl into that delightful book, was 

 derived from a remark of a friend that the blind would be the 

 most advantageously situated of all when the pitchy darkness 

 covered the devoted city, for to them it would make no differ- 

 ence, and they could easily make their escape, when those 

 gifted with sight would be confounded with the unusual dark- 

 ness. This remark, one of sterling beauty and originality, 

 seems to have struck the mind of Mr. Bulwer, and sunk 

 deeply into his thoughts, and from the revolving in his mind 

 of this simple remark, has given rise to a beautiful creation, 

 the blind Thessalian flower-gatherer, Nydia, one of the most 

 exquisite characters of the work ; and I please myself with 

 imagining what delight Bulwer must have felt, when the idea 

 shot into his mind, and he saw what a rich and beautiful chain 

 of incidents he could elicit from the remark of his friend ; for 

 whatever were his intentions in resolving to write ' The Last 

 Days,' the introduction of the blind girl into his work has evi- 

 dently had a great influence on the whole plot and characters of 

 the book. And the above might easily be shown to be the case 

 with all poets in whom the feelings of delight from such slight 

 remarks as that alluded to, are among the most signal proofs 

 of the intensity of their genius, and the excellency of their 

 powers of creation, as well as palpably demonstrating how much 

 their minds must differ from those of other men." 



''January 12th. What a great and wondrous change comes 

 over the mind emerging from boyhood to youth, at sixteen or 

 seventeen. What a change spreads itself over every thought 

 and feeling, and how does it deepen and render more intense 

 every emotion. When I was a boy at school, my thoughts were 

 brilliant, my wishes ardent, and my cares few ; and, lo ! now 



