THE MAYOR’S LETTER.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2497, 16 February 1871, Page 3

THE MAYOR’S LETTER.

To the Editor of the Evening War. Sir —Mr H. S. Fish is an uudoubtc genius. Nature has happily supplied th purest metal, and society has, most be comingly, imposed the truest stamp. He i a marvel of marvels ; and it would he in possilde to do too much honor to so distir guished a man. If to his natural talent great learning, and excellent balance of head be superadded all the amiable qualities of hi heart, then he must bo admitted to be pa e.Kct:lliHi'e the great man of our day. Ever age is said to produce its hero—every arid some man thought to bo adequate to ifcs re quirements but in what age, among win people, or under what combination of dia treating circumstances did there ever appea a man so brilliant in expedients, or s thoroughly a master of the cvcr-varyin situations as Mr H. S. Fish ? If wc regan him as a painter, where can we find hi equal? True, a few distinguished painter have cropped up from time to time.—inci whose names reflect some sort of lustre upoi the trade—such as Angelo, Titians, Corregio Reubens, Turner, and others ; yet no nui will, I presume, so far forget himself as t< compare their wayward, fanciful production! with the downright practically usefu efforts of our hero. The two things, though not diametrically opposed, are uol to be mentioned in the same breath. The worthies here referred to have occupier their historic niches long enough, and r shutter painted over with exquisite taste will, with common consent very properly conceal their abortive daubs in future. Then as a literary man, Mho can hope tc compare with Mr Fish ? Pickens and Thackeray were thought by some to be very decent writers ; indeed there are some who are guilty of the folly of professing to admire Shakespeare and Turns; but can their works in decency be compared with the lucubrations of Mr H. S. Fish? I think not. Looking at the letter which appeared in yesterday’s Times, written uumi-takcably by Mr Fish, I contend that if nothing else had ever appeared bearing his name, it would have been sufficient to establish his claims to immortality. 'J hough, of course, everybody will have committed to memory this last and perhaps best production o,f hjs genius, I will venture to r)note qne sentence which I am sanguine enough to believe will indubitably prove his immeasurable supeiipyity over any of his predecessors in the craft. “ I quite coincide with the editor of the Ereniny Star in trusting that this affair yyill not epd here, for, from the fget of the so-called libel having been published (by whom it docs not matter) renders it incumbent upon the parties to rift the matter to the bottom,” Ac How swet fly rounded is the sentence ! How full of life and beauty the thought! Of cours , there will be a few idle cavillers—men, who forsooth, call themselves critics—who wi 1 even assert that the sentence is ungrammatical; bid, Sir, they belong to the vulgar-vulgar ! Let’s take no heed of them. But the chief beauty, the crowning glory of Mr Fish’s whole career—that which will stand out iu prominent relief in future centuries, and M’hieh men will va'uly seek to imitate —is the ivonderfnl political consistency of the man. Elide .woriug heart and soul to promote the iuj; rests of'the Superintendent, A|r V) aeapdrew, which ho believed to be the interests of his country, he (Mr Fish, the Mayor) said on a memorable occasion, “In fact he did not think one single pledge given by his Honor ivas unfulfilled.” Of course the cavillers Avill think they have here hit upon “a mare’s nest,'’ that they “smell out” an inconsistency—that lie could not be at the same time' anxious iu Mr Macandreiv’s behalf and a member, qf his opponent, Mr. Reid’s Committee; but the cavillers are Avrong—decidedly wrong again. We arc viewing Mr Fish iu his political relations. We say the ipepusistepoy is q seempig Inconsistency, and'justifiable upon political grounds. Policy, sir, policy should nhuic guide us in matters polilical; and though he appeared to interest himself in Mr Reid’s behalf, he had the cause of Mr Macamlrew—the cause of the man of Avhom he had said “ho did not think one sing e pled q give i by his Honor was the tiipo, ' S»lr, there is every probability of Mr H. S. Fish’s condescending to offer himself for reelection to the Provincial Council. Grateful for the honor of having so distinguished a representative, the people, iu itslovefnr theman, will, of course, ve-dect him. Let us hope there Avill be no hitch on that occasion. Indeed it Jg rumored that the father, Avho has received Such recent striking proofs of his son’s affection Avill, with a view to strengthen hiy claims upon the public, give an interesting gketch of the happy harmony of hia domestic relations. If is harcliy possible that this can be really wanting to Hi roughly endear him to the hearts of the people. Let us bone that such an appeal will not be made in vain (?) I am, Sir, (Ed res.