BENJAMIN DISRAELI.

Ashburton Herald, Volume I, Issue 186, 17 October 1878, Page 2

BENJAMIN DISRAELI.

N. P. Willis, the American essayist, thus, in “ Pencillings by the Way,” described Earl Beaconsfield at twentyfive years of age, on the occasion of meeting him at Lady Blessington’s:— “ Disraeli had arrived before me, and sat in the deep window looking out on Hyde Park, with the last rays of daylight reflected from the gorgeous gold flowers of a splendidly embroidered waistcoat. Patent leather 'pumps, a white stick, with a black cord and tassel, and a quantity of chains about his neck and pockets, served to make him, even in the dim light, a conspicuous object. He has one -of the most remarkable Decs 1 ever saw. He •s 1 Gdly pffe. 'an i but for the energy of his action ami the strength of his lungs, would seem to be a victim to consumption. His eye is black as Erebus, and has the most mocking, iying-in-wait wi expicaSlbfi conceivaf’e. 11 is mouth is alive with a am ! of working and impatient nervousness. and. when he has burst forth, as he does constantly, with. a particularly successful cataract of expression, it assumes a curl of triumphant scorn that would be worthy of a Mephistopheics. His hair is ns extraordinary as his taste in waistcoats._ A thick heavy mass of jet-black ringlets falls over his left check almost to his collarless stock, while on-the right temple it is parted and put away with the smooth carelessness of a girl’s, and shines most unctuously

With thy ineomparable oil, Macassar !