The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-18 00:00:00

160

ittraturt.

The Correspondence and Despatches of Viseonnt
Castlereagh. Edited by the Marquis of Lon-
donderry. Third Series. London : Murray.
AT that momentous crisis in the annals of
party when Fox and Pitt were removed from
the scenes of their strife, we Can well conceive
bow a reflecting politician might have been
perplexed by the question—" Who will be the
chiefs of the next generation?" The names
of many men of marked abilities would have
at °nee (occurred to him, but have been dismissed
as soon as suggested. He would have alternately
praised and blamed their various qualities ;
ho might have recollected how the exces-
sive subtlety of Windham detracted front his
statesmanship, and how the eminent debating
powers of Lord illowiek were eounteracted by
his querulous deportment. Nor would ho have
forgotten that Lord 4ireitville. excelling in
sense, was deficient in command over others ;
and that Lord Melville, in consequence of the
impeachment. With nlinpaelintell fill' leader.
Shill. Two other mimes might have presented
themselves—those of the Nlarquis Wellesley
and Mr. Canning; but he would have remem-
bered what (offence had been given by the first,
in the voluptuous lieenee of it life tit only for a
sultanised Englishman ;" and how the arro•
wince of genius and a propensity to intrigue*
diminished the moral weight of the Senate's
most accomplished orator in those days (15010)
when Sheridan was but the wreck of his former
self, before sir. Brougham and Mr. Plunket had
appeared to dispute the paint of supetior
ehoquence.
Yet there were then sitting in the House of
Commons two men who, more timn any others
of their contemporaries. were destined to
sway the events of the next generation. They
were themselves little conscious of the career
in reserve fir them. and would, perhaps. have
been as much surprised as others if they had
been told how important were their lives for
the public weal. Piny were often to be seen
side by side, and even a stranger might have
noted by their manners that they were inti-
mate friends. They used often to walk into
the House together, and sometimes they would
be, seen pacing thoughtfully the footway of St.
James's-square. 1 isle wilt a reserved-looking
luau, apparently past fiorty. with a thin,
spare figure, and st countenance then so
attenuated as to be suggestive of mace-
rating disease. The expression of his
countenanes was stiff and wooden,f and the
noose had an uttgaitily prominence, which was
orgo ottett as you booked at those great eyes—
those vast orbs—that, horned brighq under
his brow, and announced the empire of to great
soul. His friend and companion looked
several years younger, stud his appearance
was. even at a passing glance. sure to interest
an (observer. To a light and lustily form he
united the charm of a tact which, for regular
features and grace of expression, could scarcely
be met with even amongst the most brilliant
of the favourites of Courts, anti the admired
of the fair. There was stamped upon his
%tole person the not transtCrable" air of a
gentleman—using that abused word, not in its
degenerated sense, but as it term tit for
describing a being of high aspiration and of
manly bearing. tempered by a courteous con-
sideration of others. without disregard of class
or condition. His smile was exquisitely
sweet, and the more interesting from a
shade of pensive languor that sometimes
W(011111 steal over his nobly patrician face.
which a single sentiment of vulgar passion
never disturbed from its serene stir of shun-
!wrist!, en► rgy. and whielt at tinsunts painter
iu vain attempted to transfer to the por-
traiture of the finest subject of the male
sex that ever invited his pencil.' These are
the figures of two Men who Made events. But
oth reader, in one you behold the' favourite
.'f history. upon whom eulogies flute been
heaped. and in the other you have the outlines
of the least-requited statesman, the most un-
justly-treated (intruder, whom the annals of
party record. The first wits Arthur Wellesley,

• Sec Lord Mainteabnrim
" And hie wooden fact.."—(l.4e4
Lawrence.