The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-15 00:00:00

CHARACTER or LORT) CHATHAM.

Lord Chatham was a man endlwed with
qualities to eantivate a nation, and subdue a
popular assembly. Bold and tuthesitatingin the
part he was to take upon erery public question,

he was the master of a loud but harmonious
voice, a commanding eye, an unrivalled energy,
but at tl:e,same time propriety of languap, a
light of imagination which flashed from him with
brilliant splendour, and was gone ere any one
could pronounce that the speaker was either
fanciful or digressive. Upon every important
subject be appealed to some common and. in-
spiring sentiment; the feeling of national honour,
disgust acpolitical corruption, the care of popu-
lar liberty, contempt of artifice, or hatred of op-
pression. But, provided the topic were animat-
ing and effective, he little cared whether it were
one on which a wise patriot could honestly di-
late ; a vulgar prejudice served his turn as well
as an ancient and useful privilege ; he counte-
nanced every prevailing delusion ; and hurried
the nation to war, not as a necessary evil, but as
an honourable choice. Above all, he loved to
nurse the popular jealousy of France ; and it
was upon his means of gratifying this feeling that
he seemed to build his hopes of future power.
Ever ready to be the mouth-piece of the cry or
clamour of the hour, he could be as inconsistent
as the multitude itself; in his earlier days, when
reproached with his change of opinion, he plead-
ed honest conviction of error; after he had ac-
quired authority, he faced down his ac; users with
a glare of his eye and the hardihood of his de-
nial. Nor, although he assumed a tone of virtue
superidr to his age, was lie more scrupulous than
others in political intrigue ; but his object "vas
higher. Instead of bartering his conscience for
a large salary or a share of patronage, he aimed
at undivided power, the fame of a great orator,
to be the fear of every cabal, and the admiration
of a whole people.—Lord John Russell.

DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S LETTER.

(From tke Elgin Courier.)

If there was any one thing more characteristic
than another in the political career of the late
Lord Castlereagh, it was the felicitous tact he
possessed of speaking in Parliament for hours at
a time, without a single honourable member being
able to perceive the drift of his oratory. Of him.
it might be said with peculiar emphasis, that he
" darkened counsel by words without know-
ledge." It will be in the recollection of some of
our readers, that when in the year 1C.:0 he made
his celebrated three hours' speech on the agri,,
cultural question, shich so sensibly agitated the
country at that time, instead of addressing him-
self to the subject proposed for discussion, be
amused his auditory by expatiating on the pro-
priety of " standing prostrate at the feet of
Majesty," and of the utility of possessing "
profound acquaintance with the first principles
of the rudiments of an enlightened system of
legislation." The truth is, that when the Ira-

tin became clamorous for the passing of any
measure to which he was privately opposed, he
often brought the subject before tl►e House him-
self, and while professing his anxiety to gratify
the wishes of the nation, entirely disappointed
its wishes by the darkness and mysticism in
which he purposely enveloped the discussion of
the subject.
The Duke of Wellington, however, has
greatly improved on his countryman, Lord
Castlereagh, in the composition of his epistles,
if not of his speeches,. It has been reserved. for .
him to att►iin the enviable distinction of con-
structing his sentences in such a manner as that,
So far from their containing no meaning, every
one of them, when necessary, contains two mean-
ings, or sentiments, and those, too, the very an-
tipodes of each other ;—so that, though men's,
politics be " wide as the poles asunder," he can
at any time concoct such a little niece, as will
induce the very fiercest of the opposing parties,
to pledge their very existence, that his Grace is
on their side of time question. His recent cele-
brated letter to Dr. Curt►s, is a peculiarly appo-
site illustration of this. The Catholics and
the No-Popery men are e..inally in exta-
cies at this brief document. The former
party stoutly maintain that the Duke there-
in avows himself in the most explicit lan-
guage to be a decided Emancipationist whi!a the
latter are equally certain that the letter most
clearly expresses his resolute determination to
oppose the concession of the Catholic claims,
and appear to consider the person an admirable
subject for a strait-jacket and a lunatic asylum,
who could interpret its contents in any other
light. It is truly amusing to peruse the various
leading articles of which his Grace's letter has
been the fruitful subject to the advocates of both
sides of the question, each journalist expending
the last particle of his learning and ingenuity
in order that he may convince his readers, that
he has taken the correct view of the import of
tf►e ever memorable epistle. The quantity of
matter which has already appeared in the public
journals in the shape of commentaries on the
Duke's letter would, we are convinced, extend
to upwards of five hundred closely printed octavo
pages ; and we really are of opinion that were
it all collecte and published together, it would
make one of the most curious volumes which
have recently issued from the press. As the
newspapers for some weeks past have been rather
barren of interesting intelligence—there being
little said " anent" the Turkish war, Slr. living 8
millenium—the progress of the Thames tunnel
the starting of steam stage-coaches—or a reform
in the Court of Chancery,—we are decidedly of
opinion, that " we of the public press" are
under incalculable obligations to his Grace fir
the extremely seasonable appearance of his fa-
mous epistle.

Mr. De Ville, the celebrated craniologist, has
built himself a new house in the rear of his former resi—
dence, ready to make its appearance as soon as the old one
is pulled down.

Hitherto the anticipations which were very ge-
nerally indulged, of an improvement in business when the
new year commenced, have not been realized. It con-
tinues as languid and unsatisfactory as ever ; and yet we
find that many consider the prospects of the spring trade
more favourable. In the mean time, however, we have to
notice, that the advices from several foreign markets are
bad. The great fall in the exchange at Rio (from 12 to
14 per cent.l, besides the less to the English merchants
upon the remittances fur goods already sold, will keep
back, for a while at least, further shipments. The pros-
pects of business of the Continent of Europe are good, the
stocks there being light, and the demand steady. The low
price of cotton, and the certainty. of a reasonable price for
that article continuing through the year, is much in favour
of the spinners and manufacturers ; but from present ap-
pearances there is a probability that they will be in some
measure barrassed by their work-people, who seem de-
termined to make an effort to improve their condition
by turning out. The masters are now actively arrang-
ing means of counteraction ; and at Stockport (where no
fewer than 15 mills are standing in consequence) have,
to be beforehand with the men, proposed a reduction.
However these disputes may terminate, the present effect
of them is to diminish confidence ; and to their existence
now, perhaps, may be attributed, in part, the very spiritle4
state of the intulet.4-11fanal1ester Gazette.