Pen and Ink Portraits.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 59, 29 October 1881, Page 105

Pen and Ink Portraits.

No. 30.— Hon. W. Swainso**. The habitues of Sfc. Paul's are accustomed to see every Sunday, entering the church with the last : stroke of the bell, a man gaunt and thin, dressed in well-cut clothes made by Poole in London. He wears the jaunty step of his youth, holds his , .stick under one arm, and with the other hand arranges the scanty locks of his iron-grey hair. This is the Hon. W. Swainson, once Attorneygeneral of New Zealand. He formed in those days, now nearly thirty years ago, one of a rery remarkable galaxy of distinguished men. New -Zealand in her infancy was exceptionally fortuJiate. She was Mother England's youngest and .most petted babe. Whatever she wanted she asked for, and whatever she asked for she got. Some of the greatest minds in England gave up i ;alinost all that life holds dear to come out to the •then cannibal and unknown antipodes. Sir ■George Grey was her Governor, Selwyn was her Bishop, Sir William Martin her Chief Justice, Dr Andrew Sinclair Colonial Secretary, Mr. Swain:son Attorney- General, and Mr Shepherd Colonial Treasurer. Not one of these but was a man of mark, and we have reason to be proud of all the names connected with New Zealand whilst she was a Crown Colony. There is not much reason to doubt that Mr Swainson assisted Sir George in drawing up a Constitution for New Zealand. Of course when that came into force he was no longer Attorney-General, and since then he has mot entered very actively into public life, although lie holds still some important offices. He has written a book on New Zealand, which at one time was very extensively read, and which contains a good deal of information. But the streak of originality in Mr Swainson is undoubtedly his dilletanteism. He calls his very pretty place at Tarav.ua " Bohemia," and his drawing-room is filled with his sketches and his verses. He is very fond of ladies, and particularly of young ladies, and is never so happy as when they pay Mm a visit. A disappointment in early life made him a bachelor, but he is not therefore crusty or sour. A most genial man and a most pleasant companion is the ancient host of Bohemia. Of all the brilliant galaxy with whom he once companioned, Sir G-eorge Grey alone is left ; all the others have sought " the bourne from whence no traveller returns ;" and whenever Sir George is in town he eats his Sunday dinner with his quondam Attorney-General. Who can contemplate without a sigh the reminiscences of the two old men around that dinner table, where the viands, though of exquisite quality, are all cold, because it is Sunday. Some of the great Pro-Consul's inmost secrets are known to the gaunt, fadedlooking man who sits opposite him and appears to think of nothing in the world but writing sentimental verses to some fair lady or another. Long ago he was one of Lady Bowen's most devoted admirers. One often thinks what a pity it is that Mr Swainson has not made more of his life and more of his undoubtedly fine abilities ; but every man must live his own life, and when he is missed from Bohemia and St. Paul's, many will remember kind acts done in secret and good qualities forgotten until their possessor had passed away. Esmond.

pr — ]y£ r Joseph Bennet contributes the following : — There was a young man of the Mission, Who spent all his. Sundays a-fiskin'; He said hades for When they didn't bite well, Por he read the revised edition.