Siddons. In his letters he characterizes him as "a
mixture of the Jew, the gentleman, and the angel." He liked chimney-
sweepers--the young ones--the "innocent blacknesses;" and with beggars he
had a strong sympathy. He always spoke tenderly of them, and has written
upon them an essay full of beauty. Do not be frightened (he says) at the
hard words, imposture, &c. "Cast thy bread upon the waters: some have
unawares entertained angels."
Much injustice has been done to Lamb by accusing him of excess in
drinking. The truth is, that a small quantity of any strong liquid (wine,
&c.) disturbed his speech, which at best was but an eloquent stammer. The
distresses of his early life made him ready to resort to any remedy which
brought forgetfulness; and he himself, frail in body and excitable, was
very speedily affected. During all my intimacy with him, I never knew him
drink immoderately; except once, when, having been prevailed upon to
abstain altogether from wine and spirits, he resented the vow thus forced
upon him by imbibing an extraordinary quantity of the "spurious" liquid.
When he says, "The waters have gone over me," he speaks in metaphor, not
historically. He was never vanquished by water, and seldom by wine.
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