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'AMINONDASI 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, xurax, laces-

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