The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-01 00:00:00

FRASER'S MAGAZINE.

In the fourth article on" Contemporary Orators," there
is a well written and impartial character of Lord Stanley,
perhaps the best sketch that has yet appeared, of the
abilities, eloquence, daring, and success in debate of this
able senator. There is a little flattery in the outline, but
the character is fairly delineated, and the whole tone
of the article is that which might be expected from an
impartial spectator, who had often been present at Par..
liamentary debates, and noted down the striking features
of the principal speakers. Lord Stanley has not been
successful; or, to use other words, has not given general
satisfaction in any office which he has filled. As Chief
Secretary for Ireland he was extremely unpopular with
the Irish Members, and, though he might be justified at
times in resenting their attacks, it cannot be denied that
on the whole he [rather did injury to the Cabinet of
which he was a member. He is now Secretary for the
Colonies a second time, and in that office cannot
boast of much better success. He has the character
of being haughty, imperious, and obstinate, not wil-
ling to yield, and but little inclined to humour the
various temperaments of parties with whom he must
necessarily come in contact. He, too, is bigoted, or.
as some say, selfish in his opinions regarding the Church
Establishment, and, what is singular for a man of his
great abilities, has grievously offended:the advocates for
Church Reform, without in the slightest degree bene-
fiting the Church, or meeting with approbation from the
support( rs of the Establishment. It would be difficult
to point out a more unpopular minister, yet his talents
are of the highest order, his integrity is undisputed, and
he is always master of his subject. He commenced
public life at rather an early age. He was returned for
Preston in 1826, when he was in his twenty-seventh
year, and has ever since been a prominent Member of
Parliament. Born to a large fortune and an ancient
title of much renown, he has not, like many of his
class, wasted his time in,,idleness, in gambling, or frivo-
lous amusements, but by hard study and careful
application fitted himself for almost every office
in the State. That he has not succeeded, as many would
have anticipated, his peculiar temper, perhaps, more than
any other cause, is to blame, for it would hardly be pos-
sible to find a public man with more varied and useful
acquirements, more qualified to shine in debate, or less
fearful of consequena's. The writer of the article gives
several instances of the p,;werful effect produced on the
House of Commons by his oratcorator;if a natural flow of
the mind without ostentation or fore:/ought, or any
studied art of eloquence, can be called ortt:2l.Y ; and,
among others, the great effect produced on the Hou;.' by
his attack on what had been called the Lichfield House
Compact, and the happy mode in which he introduced
from Shakespere the words of Hotspur to his uncles—
to
illustrate the return which Mr. O'Connell made to the
" base and bloody Whigs" for courting and accepting
his alliance. But many instances of the kind might be
quoted. O'Connell and he were ever at war, and seldom
could the Irishman boast of a victory. The defeat was
sometimes so decisive that all the skill and wonderful
ingenuity of the lawyer could not screen his fall even
from his most ardent, supporters. One of the most
memorable was in the session of 1833 or 1834 ; an Irish
question of some importance stood for discussion in the
Commons. On previous occasions Mr. O'Connell had
adduced as a proof of the apathy with which English
Members viewed the affairs of Ireland the small attend-
ance of Members on every great question relating to the
sister island. On the night in question the House was
very thin; Mr. O'Connell, on finding this, was more vio-
lent than prudent, repeated in strong terms his old griev-
ance, and triumphantly asked the Government if Ireland
could have any chance of justice from an Imperial Par-
liament; but he reckoned without his host. If we mis-
take net, there were at least six Members of the House of
the name of O'Connell ; Stanley seized the opportunity
in a moment, and said he would not reply to the fervid
vituperations of the Hon. and Learned Member,
and glancing his eye rapidly round the House, said
"Of six Members who bear the name of O'Con-
nell, I find only one present." No reply was
made to a matter of fact which could not be disputed.
We might say a great deal more on this topic, but WO
will rather refer our readers to the article itself.
Among the light articles in this number we may men-
tion the brief history of " Charles Bannister," " The
Zoology of the English Poets corrected by the Writings
of Modern Naturalists," " Old Homer," and " Sea-side
Reading." There is one also of a different description,
which possesses interest, entitled " The Defenceless
State of the Country." To those who have read the
debates in Parliament on the subject perhaps there is
little new, except that the writer expresses greater
jealousy of the French, and inveighs more strongly
against the apathy of the Government than even Sir
Charles Napier. He takes care, however, to record his
allegiance to Sir Robert Peel ; and as this is the only
political remark that has caught our eye we may be jus-
tified in taking for granted that Fraser does not despair
of seeing him the saviour of the Conservative party. We
have room for only the concluding panegyric :

" Sir Robert Peel is one of the ablest finance Ministers
that ever presided over the affairs of this country. The
change which his policy has effected in the condition of all
classes of the community is marvellous. What we cannot
but be afraid of is, that he shall suffer his thoughts to be so
engrossed by the operations of peace as to forget that the
peace itself may be broken, and thus expose his country,
rich, but in a military point of view feeble, to be insulted,
and wronged, and perhaps overrun, by an ungenerous enemy.
We hope not, however ; and it is because our belief leans us
in the same direction with our wishes, that we have taken
the liberty to read to.him and to all whom it may concern
this lecture on the defensible state of the country."