The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-19 00:00:00

DIR. ROEBUCK.

" Few men possess in so striking a degree the dan-
gerous and unhappy gift of sarcastic powers as Mr.
Roebuck. It is a dangerous and unhappy gift to its
possessor, as it robs him of friends, while it procures for
him plenty of applauders and backers at the moments
each man being glad to have the lash directed against
his neighbours, and averted from himself. The effect of
Mr. Roebuck's other talents—and they are not in small
measure ether as to quantity or quality—is grievously
marred by this propensity to bitterness, and the likeli-
hood of his ever attaining the position of a political
leader rendered almost naught. Men like to be led, in-
deed, and it is said of political parties, at least in this
country, that they do not object to having what sailors
call a taut hand' kept over them; or if they grumble,
still are found to submit to it far better than they would
to a guidance attempted in milder, and more considerate
fashion. But no man likes to be perpetually in hot
water; and no man likes to be the butt of his leader's
sarcasms: and whoever follows John Arthur Roebuck
must make up his mind to both contingencies; for that
gentleman is never—l will not say contented, for content
and ho have nothing in common—but is never in his
glory, save when over the shoulders, and nearly over
head, in the hottest water; and when he has not an oppo-
nent to assail, will turn bis fine-edged and glittering
steel upon a friend.
" Mr. Roebuck's person, as well as manner and de-
livery, are well known; the former small and spare, but
well formed; the head highly intellectual, bat the coun-
tenance telling tales of the acrimony within. His voice
is harsh, but clear; and his delivery a little too sharp
and dogmatic to be altogether pleasing; while at the
same time it is undoubtedly impressive and telling."
As we might have been certain in volumes of this
character, the allusions to the labours of Daniel
O'Connell in political agitation are by no means
unfrequent. Due meeds of praise are awarded to
Edward Dwyer, the Secretary of the Catholic Asso-
ciation, and to Thomas Matthew Ray, the Secretary
of the Repeal Association. The latter gentleman,
indeed, has contributed to the work a document of
singular value, explanatory of the labours of that
famous establishment. The sham:, which his great
Leader took in those and other labours of agitation
may be guessed from the following reference of his
son to

O'CONNELL AND HIS " TRIUUTE.”

"The part which Mr. O'Connell was under, in fact, a
moral necessity of taking at the general elections of the
year 1841, like that which was expected from him at all
the elections during the last seventeen years of his life,
was not a very easy nor a very limited one.
" He was consulted on everythiny, by everybody, from
everywhere. Ho had to cheer up and stimulate, to cau-
tion and to check; to mediate between contending sec-
tions of the popular party; to allay jealousies, smooth
down irritations, suggest or express opinions upon can-
didates, write a multitude of publio addresses, and lose
no time in attending to each and every one of these par-
ticulars, lest offended vanity should make the neglected
parry abandon exertion, or throw himself into the hands
of the anti-popular party.
" The interest of a man's own locality, like those of
his own self, always appear to him to be of paramount
importance; and Mr. O'Connell had to deal with each
case thus referred to him for ccunsel, opinion, and as-
sistance, as if it were the most important of all, and had
caught and engrossed his whGle attention.
" In addition, he had to arrange for his own election
and that of his sons, and, of course, provide what funds
were required. Nor did his pecuniary efforts end here;
for wherever there was a difficult election, he was looked
to as a species of national treasurer, and answered the
call to the best of his power.
'- There never was any species of public contribution
of which so much returned into the hands of the public,
as of the' Tribute' or 'O'Connell Rent,' as was indiffe-
rently called the magnificent annual collection made by
the people of Ireland to enable my father to fight their
battles in Parliament. Even in ordinary years, largo
amounts went back in subscriptions of all kinds, reli-
gious and political; but in years of general elections
considerably more than one-half was disbursed in the
expenses of the elections and election petitions of which
he undertook the builken."