The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-12-30 00:00:00

A correspondent of Thc Tina., makes the following
comments upon the late Lord Ellenborough's char-
acter :

A celebrated erator and statesman has passed away.
His failure in life - for, en the while, it eves a failure
--prompts me to point the moral by attributing it
to its tine cause. bird Eilentsirough never possessed,
or if be possessed, rarely exercised the power of self-
control. With great natural talents, improved by Andy
in his earlier years, great and noble qualities, and
strength of will which tit men for COIUMIIIi, he might
have been throughout life that which in some passages of
his life he showed. At no period of his life did he evince
that cemmendable distrust of Ida own powers, or in
°nth tied deference far Bee and experience which
are the signs of a seitilisciplinol, modest, and wise
tided. Veay early in his parlianientery career in
the House if Lords, in the course of the debates on a
Marriage MIL a measure which, though very crude and
perfect, was still mane refoint of the then neat disgraceful
state et the marriage law, he fought a gond light in defence
at the measure against Lord Eldon and :gavel!. It Cal re-
marked, however, with much justice at the time that he
failed in winning the good-will of his audience, even of
that part of it which coincided with him in opinion, from
his tone of arrogant superiority assumed towards opponents
who were at that time in commamt of the palate ear on
most branches of jurisprudence. Such as he was at 30
years, or even at an earlier age, he remained through life.
Ile sought to win no one to his views. It would lie difficult to
nanie any public man, except the Dukeof Wellingteu, to whose
opinion on any subject he deferred. Of the Duke ed Welling-
ton he Cases idoiator. His was neither a discriminating nor a
rational worship. What he thought he sald ;he had no close
thoughts. His outspeken thoughts rose up like barriers in
his way. His family was honourably distinguished both in
the Church and law, hut for both prufessba, he entertained
a very strong and seldom veiled dislike, even soldering on
contempt, as though he said. "I owed nothing to them.
His studies were not continued in after life. He learnt little
teem books, in politics, viewed as a science, It would not be
wrong to deelare him radically unlearned ; viewed ma trade,
he condescends to none of its tricks. As an administrator he
was rapid, energetic, decisive detesting jobs, oi6regardiug
recommendation., however powerfully backed, honest and
well-intentioned to a degree seldian if ever surpassed. He
liked to put down the mighty from their seats and to exalt
the humble and meek. Those above Min in station—tool
they were of course few—and those who were his equals hid
little of his sympathy or co-verve; lent lie was a kind-
hearted and true friend to obscure merit. In India he would
have been earlier an English Akbar ; in its modern policy he
was net a believer. His foreign policy was noble, English,
Patriotic in spirit and intention, but in applicatioa helix- .
creel He had no cringing spirit to lead him to worship
power. Ilia prejudices were English and national, his
nature noble, his mind and spirit free, hut riotous and
innambed he failed to see that the hero he worshipped was
one who had disciplined others, but in a still greater degree
had and still disciplined itself.