1766-1848
[Sidenote: S. C. Hall’s _Retrospect of a long Life_.]
“I found him a most kindly and courteous gentleman, obviously of a
tender, loving nature, and certainly more than willing to give me what
I asked for. I do not recall him as like his illustrious son; if my
memory serves me rightly, he was rather fair than dark; not above the
middle height, with features calm in expression; his eyes (which,
however, were always covered with spectacles) sparkling, and searching,
but indicating less the fire of genius than the patient inquiry that
formed the staple of his books.”--1823.
[Sidenote: Beaconsfield’s _Memoirs of Isaac D’Israeli_.]
“As the world has always been fond of personal details respecting men
who have been celebrated, I will mention that he was fair, with a
Bourbon nose, and brown eyes of extraordinary beauty and lustre. He
wore a small black velvet cap, but his white hair latterly touched his
shoulders in curls almost as flowing as in his boyhood. His extremities
were delicate and well formed, and his leg, at his last hour, as
shapely as in his youth, which showed the vigour of his frame. Latterly
he had become corpulent. He did not excel in conversation, though
in his domestic circle he was garrulous. Everything interested him,
and blind and eighty-two, he was still as susceptible as a child....
He more resembled Goldsmith than any man that I can compare him to:
in his conversation, his apparent confusion of ideas ending with
some felicitous phrase of genius, his _naïveté_, his simplicity not
untouched with a dash of sarcasm affecting innocence--one was often
reminded of the gifted and interesting friend of Burke and Johnson.
There was, however, one trait in which my father did not resemble
Goldsmith; he had no vanity. Indeed, one of his few infirmities was
rather a deficiency of self-esteem.”
[Sidenote: Chorley’s _Personal Reminiscences_.]
“Mr. D’Israeli was announced.... An old gentleman, _strictly_ in his
appearance; a countenance which at first glance (owing, perhaps, to
the mouth, which hangs), I fancied slightly chargeable with solidity
of expression, but which developed strong sense as it talked; a rather
_soigné_ style of dress for so old a man, and a manner good-humoured,
complimentary (to Gebir), discursive and prosy, bespeaking that
engrossment and interest in his own pursuits which might be expected to
be found in a person so patient in research and collection. But there
is a tone of _philosophe_ (or I fancied it), which I did not quite
like.”--1838.