Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

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1iMEMZOIRS OF JOHN ADAMS DIX.

having the editorial management, wrote a series of articles on
the English poets, beginning with Sir Henry Wotton, Edmund
Spenser, and Ben Jonson, and also treated, in his usual luminous and scholarly manner, of many other subjects, among
which were the Corn-laws in England and France, the state
of the laboring population of Ireland, the temperature of the
earth and meteorological phenomena, the organic chemistry
of agriculture and physiology, and the charms of rural life,
giving occasional translations of romances and tales from the
French language.
Among the letters of that period is one from Henry James
Anderson, a very intimate friend, and one of the most charming and accomplished gentlemen of his day. General Dix
held him in the highest possible regard, not only for his scientific attainments and the purity and nobility of his character, but also for the peculiar raciness and delicate wit which
rendered his society so agreeable. It appears that he had applied to Dr. Anderson for a contribution to Th/e Northern
Light; this is the answer which he received:
"New York, December 18, 1841.
"DEAR SIR,-Your notice that you held on account of The Northern
Light a post-note of mine promising 'an article' to that journal, came
duly to lhand, and is hereby acknowledged.
"As I keep no bill-book I am unable to refer to anything better than
my memory for the date and maturity of 'said' post-note. It seems to
me that it ran in this way: 'I do not promise to write an article for The
Northern Light, either for a day certain or uncertain, near or remote.' I
thought I was safe and had contracted no debt, but now I find that I had
'put out paper,' and must make arrangements to redeem. I certainly
did not intend to 'create stock;' but if I have, as it has not yet passed
into the hands of innocent third parties, I feel strongly inclined to
'repudiate.'
" Since I sent you my non-promissory note I have entered into positive
engagements with a publisher to deliver a certain quantity of ' copy' in
a given time. This is my first departure from the cash system-my first
step in the downward path of debt. I am already seized with the horrors of remorse, and I dare say I shall pay for my folly by seeing myself
gazetted as a bankrupt under the new act.