The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-06-08 00:00:00

lIY AIR. SOUTHEY.

" I saw more of your father during his short residence in this
country, than at any or all other times; and certainly I never
saw any other man who seemed to enjoy such a perpetual se-
renity and sunshine of spirits. In conversing with him you
felt assured that there was no guile in him; that if ever there
was a gbod and happy, man on earth,. he was one; and that
eminently blessed as he was with a benign and easy disposition,
the crown of all blessings was that inward and undisturbed
peace- which Passeth all understanding. I recollect one cir=
cumstauce during his visit to.the Lakes, which shows the per-
fect reliance his Servants had upon his good nature,—forbear7
ance it. might have been called in any other person, but in. hint
it, was no effort. The coachman came in to say that some pro-
vision concerning the horses had been neglected., and your
father with a little start of surprise? replied, `thatindeed he had
not thought o. it.' •No said the coachman ; and ' since you
have been in this country, yOu haie all of yon been to lake, and
valley, and river, and mountain
,mad, that you. have thought
of nothing that you ought to have thought of.'

BY MR. JOSEPH JOHN GURNEY

"The picture which the dead leave on the minds of their
survivors, is not always lively or distinct. Although we may
have fondly loved them, and may hallow the memory of their
good qualities,.we cannot alway a summon their image before
us; but I venture to express my conviction, that no one who
has been accustomed to observe Wilberforce will ever find the
slightest difficulty in picturing _hint on the tablet of the mind.
Who that knew him can fail to recall the rapid movements of
his somewhat diminutive form, the illumination of his expres-
sive countenance, and the nimble finger with which he used to
seize on every little object which happened to adorn or diversify
his path? Much less can we fprget his vivacious wit—so play-
ful, yet so harmless; the glow of his affections, the urbanity of
his manners, and the wondrous celerity with which he was ever
wont to turn from one bright thought to another. Above all,
however, his friends will never cease to remember that peculiar
sunshine which he threw over a company by the influence of a
mind perpetually tuned to love and praise. I sin ready to think
there could be no greater luxury than that of roaming with !inn
in solitude over green fields and gardens, and drawing out of
his treasury things new and old."

BY MR. HARFORD.

The first time I met Mr. Wilberforce was at the house of
his fiend. Mr. Henry Thornton. I had heard him speak in
the morning, in a crowded meeting, at the anniversary of a
pubic charity, when elevated sentiments and touching appeals.
rendered doubly impressive by, the .fine tones of his
,musical
voice, hail deeply affected the feelings of the auditory. There
was a dinner party at Air. Thornton's, and se vet al oft he guests
were among the particular. friends of Mr. NI ilberforce. Mr.
Thornton, before we sat down to table, expressed a hope that
he would join us in a few minutes. We had not been. long
seated when be entered the room with a smiling' animatedcountenance, and a lively vivacity of movement and manner,
exchanging as he advanced kind salutations with his friends,
whose faces were lighted up with peculiar pleasure at his pre-
sence. From my earliest youth I had been taught to reverence
the name of Wilberforce, so that toy delight was great to find
,myself in his. company. His manner and address throughout
the afternoon were marked by kindness and vivacity, and his
style of conversation was brilliant and easy.
" Those who never saw bins till within eight or ten years of
his decease, when his figure had become a good deal bent, and
his head depressed upon his chest by the weight of years acting
on an extremely delicate frame, cannot easily form a just idea
of him at the period to which I now. refer. Some tendency to
these infirmities, it is true, was. already apparent, but the elas-
ticity and spring of his movements, the comparative erectness
of his figure, and the glow on his cheek, presented a strong
contrast to the decrepitude which gradually stole upon him iu
his declining years. His frame was at all times extremely
spare, and seemed to indicate that the ethereal inhabitant
. within was burdened with as little as possible of corporeal en- I
cumbrances; but from his attenuated frame proceeded a voice
of uncommon compass and richness, whose varying and im-
pressive tones, even in .common...conversation, bespoke the
powers of the oratot. Iliseyes, though small, and'singularly
set, beamed with the . expression of acute 'intelligence, and of
comprehension, quick as lightning, blended with that of cordial
kindness and warmth of heart. A peculiar sweetness and play-
fulness marked his whole manner. There was not a single
handsotne feature ; there was scarcely one that was not
in itself plain ; but the mingled emanations of imagination and
intellect, of benevolence and vivacity, diffused over his coun-
tenance a sort of sunny radiance, which irresistibly acted as a
powerful magnet on the hearts of all who approached him. At
this time, and till ayery few hours of his death, he wore pow-
der; and his dress and appearance were those of a complete
gentleman, of the old school.

THE IRISH MEMBER AND HIS "SHOCKING

BAD iiivr."

A letter dated from the Irish office, and having the name of
Lord Morpeth appended to it, was lately.received by an Irish
member, who has long been noted for having his head encircled
by a " shocking bad hat " The letter set out by acknowledging,
with great gratitude, both on the part of Lord Morpeth himself
and bii colleagues in office, the distinguished honour and un-
doubted advantage which Lord Melbourne's adininistration had
derived from the cordial and uniform support which it had re-
ceived from the Irish members. At the seine time it was ins-
possible.to shut their eyes. or rather their ears to the fact, that
in regard to dress, the Irish members, as a body, were not al-
ias's all that could be wished ; a circumstance of which the COlJ-
gervatives, who were very particular and very tasteful in the ar-
ticle of apparel, took especial care to turn to the best possible
account against the liberal party. The letter proceeded to ob-
serve,. that while it was to his Majesty's ministers, and to the
writer individually as an humble member of the cabinet, a most
gratifying fact that the liberal party were fully equal to the con-
servatives in point of moral character, intellectual acquirements,
and parliamentary ability, it was not to be denied that it was
extremely desirable that they should, if possible, present at the
same time as respectable a personal appearance. Under these
circumstances it was hoped that the gentleman to whom the
letter was addressed would not take it amiss if it was hinted by
the Irish Secretary (Lord Morpeth) that he should pay a little
more attention to his personal appearance, and, above all, to
discard the "shocking bad hat,— which he had worn for sonic
time, and grace nis head by one of a more becoming character.
Tne hon. member fui**" having read the letter with attention,

took up
- --- --- -
his chapeau, which chanced to he at the sane time lying;
on the table beside him ; he turned it over and over, and care-
-.

fully inspected it in all it. parts. There was no denying. that it
was the worse for wear,—there were sundry bruises on the crown,

the brim was cracker] in various parts, the pile was worn bare
in several places, and its aspect altogether was that of an article
which had, through the wear and tear it had undergone, as-
sumed a whitey-brown complexion. The honourable member
forthwith proceeded to a fashionable hatter's, fancying all the
way, now that his attention had been directed to it, that every
person Was staring at his "shocking bad hat." There be
equipped himself with a handsome new beaver, and proceeded
immediately to the Irish office to call on Lord Morpeth—" How
do you do?" the hon. gentleman exclaimed, as he entered, at
the same time presenting his hand to the Irish Secretary. " How
are you?" 'respanded his lordship, receiving with much cor-
diality the 'extended hand of his parliamentary supporter.
" Pray take a seat, "Mr. —." A few common-place observa-
tions bad been exchanged between the, parties, during which
the honourablemember kept alternately twirling about his hat,
and smoothing down the pile with the cuff of his coat. His lord-
ship still taking no notice of the new hat, Mr. -- lost all pa-
tience,. and broke out into a.regular Irish question-" Pray.
Lord Moment, what do you think of my hat ?"—llis lordship
was a good deal confounded by the nature of this question, but
wishing to-be polite. he leplieO, casting a momentary glance at
the article, that he thought it was a very good hat. * *
" fin so glad you like it," observed Mr. —, with much em-
phasis, and in a tone of marked gratification. Lord Morpeth's
silence was understood by the hon. gentleman to signify his
concurrence in the proposition " And you don't think the
brim too broad ?" said the Irish member, after a momentary
pause. Lord Morpeth by this time had become so utterly con-
founded, that be tittered not a word in reply to the latterobser-
yation.—"l was duly honoured with your note, and you see
how prompt I have been in complying with your request."—
" licallv," answered the noble lord, raising his ryes from a
document which was lying before him, and gazing on the Irish
M.P. with au expression of countenance indicative of surprise.
"really, Mr. -, I don't understand all this. Pray, way I
beg an explanation. I have sent you .no note, nor made any
request." The letter was now produced, and we need hardly
Add. the hoax discover,d.— Neu, Series of "Random Recollec-
tions of the Lords and Commons.'.'

NIARRIIIID LADIvS.—A married lady, alluding in conversa-
tion to the 148th, Psalm. observed that while ;` young men and
maidens, old men and children," were expressly mentioned, not
a word was said about married woman. An old clergyman,
whom she was addressing, assured her that they bad not been
omitted, and. that she would find them included in one of the
preceding verses, under the description of vapours and storms."
STATE OF TRADE.—Although it is not usual to expect anv
considerable amount of business in Manchester during Whitsun
week, we are glad to soy that there was a brisk market yester-
day, both for yarn and goods, and at gradually improving rates
for nearly all descriptions of both. Even. fine yarns, which
have Open extreznatv depressed for a long period, were in very
fair demand, principally, we believe, on llussian account.
Power•luom cloth of all descriptions, with the exception, per-
haps, of light fustians tor shipping, are in good request, and
rather higher prices are generally obtained.—Mandiestet Gear-