The National Register. — London, England, 1809-11-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. either the most extraordinary of mankind, has been most unjustly overlooked, or, like EI'AMINONDAS I thought the glow of forty summers necessary to mature his wisdom ; or he is a very rash and very unreflecting individual. But we should, perhaps, delineate his character more justly, if we applied to him the weakness and delusion of Cardinal RICHE LIEU) who was a great Statesman, and a most insufferable Poet. The Cardinal was, however, extremely anxious to pass for a great Poet, and seemed to set very little value upon his superior merit as a great Minister. Mr. Pee- CEVAL is a most excellent Lawyer, hut, is weak enough to eons der himself a very great Politician. At. this self-de ception we might smile with as much indulgent good na ture, as we generally do at the mistaken vanity of the Car dinal, if the consequences were equally inoffensive: but the vanity of the soi disant Poet, and that of the soi disant Statesman, is marked with this great difference, that one occasioned only the persecution of CORNEILLE, the other may promote the ruin of an entire country. Tie next and most prominent character is the Earl of LIVERPOOL. There is something uncommon in this no- bleman, which renders him so necessary in the forma tion of every Ministry. His Lordship is either extremely useful, or extremely pliable. Like ATTICUS, he must pos sess qualities to engage the esteem of every party, without thinking tit to imitate the indolent philosophy of the Athe nian sage; or he possesses so much complacency, so much courtly yieldingness of temper, such extreme good nature; that he is considered a tolerable, perhaps necessary, figure in every ministerial groupc. His negotiation of the last peace, and his removal from a superior, to an inferior department, by the late Mr. PITT, have raised, however, very considerable suspicions of hs ability ; and we are entirely deceived in the sentiments of the public, if they, in a moment of danger, would seek protection in the wisdom, or versatility of his Lordship's measures. The Earl of BATHURST is acknowledged to be no more than a substitute for a more competent character. If that be the case ; if his Lordship be so extremely obliging, he is, in fact no more than a secretary, or charge d'affaires, in the absence of a Minister. It would be a descent from the dignity of the press, to extend its censures to a character, so completely subordinate. Of the Earl of WESTMORLAND'S administrative talents we have bad a fair specimen during his Vice Royalty in Ireland ; and of his political purity we have unbounded proofs in his proficiency as a courtier ; like Lord LIVERPOOL that Nobleman is considered as a very important ingre silent in every ministerial composition. Whether his merits rest upon the same foundation ; whether they draw their light and favour from the same source, we know not and care not. We will leave them both, for the purpose of noticing a much more noted character. It is the hero who has conducted, with so much honour to himself, and advantage to his country, though with some trifling loss to our brave troops, the late glorious Expedition to the neighbourhood of Antwerp. Humanity is the first trait in the character of a soldier ; and few will dare deny, that he did not, upon that memorable ocea sloe, carry this virtue even to womanish sensibility. The marshes of Zealand resounded with the praises -of the meek, hero. If no profane Io PEenns were heard, the more pacific sad congenial sounds of karat, x urax , laces- ~s~~~ L _ DUKE OF POIITLA✓VD. NOV. 5. santly resounded. On our own shores, in those mansions destined for suffering humanity, particularly, his exploits are still repeated with deep and incessant sighs. How worthy of his present associates ! How different from his godlike father I The name of CHATHAM used to imply every thing great, patriotic, and noble. His Lordship has added to those dignified qualities the softer virtues of forbearance, meekness, and charity towards the enemy. Such arc the groupe that preside over the destinies of Great Britain. Such the Champions opposed to NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. To their foresight, courage, versatility, and patriotism, the fortunes of IS millions arc confided at home ; and abroad, the remaining independence of nations. We might ransack the annals of nations and the records of great events, and not find a parallel point for extravagance and imbecility. In the nineteenth century,— this age of political philosophy and dear bought experi ence,—it must appear extravgant that the weakest in dividuals should: be selected to save a country, when the most pre-eminent talents are scarcely adequate to the task. Posterity will have some difficulty in judging the present generation of Englishmen. In reading of the intrepidity of our seamen and soldiers, they will be at a loss to reconcile this active enterprising spirit, this love of glory and love of country, with the supiness and apathy, which the existence of this grotesque administration seems to imply. No man, as a political character, his perhaps been exposed to more party obloquy, than the venerable Nobleman whose de mise, on Monday evening last, we lament to announce : yet, assailed as he has been by the drudges of faction and opposition ever since his anion. for coalition in this instance we can not call it, with the PITT Administration, there has been no man more courted either in private or public life, from the innate goodness of his heart, and for the weight and countenance of his Parliamentary interest. His Grace was, strictly speaking, coteraporary with his present MAJESTY, being born in the same year, 1738 ; his education was finished at Christ Church, Ox ford, where, in 1756, he recited in public before all the genius of that time, the English verses, with distinguished approba tion. The customary Continental tour then took place, and on his return, he also began his public career, cotemporary with his Sovereign, being returned, by his family influence, for the Borough of Weobly, in the first Parliament of the present reign. The death of his father, which took place in 1762, called him up to the House of Peers, when he first took a decided part in politics, having joined the Opposition in 1763, and attracted considerable notice by his speeches against the Cyder Duty Bill, and also on that interesting constitutional question respect ing Member. of Parliament in matters of Libel, on which occasions he sided with the Duke of Ca A FTO N I and joined him in those spirited protests now On the Records of the House. His personal activity and Parliamentary weight rendered him a desirable ac quisition to any party. Accordingly, the ROCK IN Gli A NIS glad• ly enlisted him under their banners, against the IStrrE and GIL ES• ♦ I LLE Administration ; andrw hen, by their united endeavours the hostile party were ousted from office, his Grace received the si. tuation of Lord Chamberlain, which, however, he resigned on the decease of that short-lived Ministry. His Grace's pubiic conduct now rendered him very obnoxious to their successors; acturdellfilY, at the hard contested Elections which follower) NOV. 5. shores, in those mansions particularly, his exploits id incessant sighs. How tea ! How different from of CHATHAM used to imply 1 noble. His Lordship has dies the softer virtues of trity towards the enemy. aside over the destinies of ions opposed to NAPOLEON ght, courage, versatility, if 1 s millions arc confided remaining independence the annals of nations and not find a parallel point for n the nineteenth century,— and dear bought experi- ;ant that the weakest in- :o save a country, when the rcely adequate to the task. Ity in judging the present reading of the intrepidity of be at a loss to reconcile iis love of glory and love of ipathy, which the existence seems to imply. lITLA.VD. ter, has perhaps been exposed enerable Nobleman whose de- we lament to announce : yet, fges of faction and opposition ran in this instance we can- strat:on, there has been no man public life, from the innate e weight and countenance of Grace was, strictly speaking, LJ ESTI', being born in the same finished at Christ Church, Ox- n public before all the genius with distinguished approba- -1 tour then took place, and on blic career, cotemporary with his family influence, for the Parliament of the present reign. ,cll took place in 1762, called hen he first took a decided part ►position in 1763, and attracted 'ches against the Cyder Duty constitutional question respect- tiers of Libel, on which occasions FTO fc t and joined him in those ords of the House. His personal ;ht rendered him a desirable ac- ingly, the ROCK IN GHA MS glad• Ts, against the MITE and GIL CS. 11, by their united endeavours the Ince, his Grace received the si. which, however, he resigned nn Ministry. His Grace's pubiic obnoxious to their successors stcd Ejections which followed