The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-05-21 00:00:00

TO LORD MILTON.

LETTER H.

MY LORD,T will now pass over with yea into
our Sister-Country. National animosities, like
national errors, are seldom of short duration but
both must be routed out in defence of national ex.
istence. A great bar to Irish Improvement is the
Non-Residence of her Landholders. How impe-
riously, taerefore, are you called on to strain every
nerve in the endeavour, partially to compensate
fur those evils, which you must unavoidably inflict.
This was, I trust, the purport of your late visit.
Many of the Noble Irishmen, (I mean not Irish
Nobles, and least cif all Union Lords) with their
native ability, will guide your researches, and se-
cunt', with their native patriotism, the efforts of
disinterested zeal. Education is the key.stone of
civilization ; systematic attention will do more
than money—but when a purse is needed, the con-
duct of your family has always exemplified that
avarice and extravagance are equal strangers to the
boseni which glows with the most exalted bounty.
The source is pure whence Mr. IVir.nearostez has
drawn his information ors Irish subjects ; —none
purer; or shall I recommend to you the ravishing
eloquiesce and comprehensive judgment of Gnee-
ltass ?—a bright example, that to be good is to be
popular—that the patron of toleration is respected
oven by political fanatics. The colours of right
and wrong often intercept each other; it is the
game of knaves to confound their distinction. By
disreearding time and place, kind and degree, they
fail not to transform virtue into vice, and resider
the most amiable qualities instruments of villainy.
From this principle, they, panegyrize those cold chil-
ling virtues, which hover round old age, and freeze
the best sympathies of the heart. Such virtues
can be at best but doubtful objects of cultivation :
they grow on us with our years, like moss around
a tree: but the ivy when most venerable and im.
posing is doing the work of death ; They are rea.
lily enough contracted in our intimacy with the
world ; every thing selves them for a conductor.
Countenance not such forbidding inmates too
soon : moderation in a young man is lukewarm in.
difference to the dearest interests of his land : pru.
deuce in a budding patriot, is the cautious magnet,
which faithfully looks towards St. Jainesta. More
particularly let me warn you of an crror, its its con.
sequences even criminal. The complexion of their
political life assumes with must men that hue,
which it first contracted. how mournful then is
it, that a majority of our Representatives at their
first commerce with public affairs, arc removed
from the cradle of family principles, and early as-
sociations, into the nursing anus or party! Pent
up in durance vile, they are there taught if riot
compelled to sacrifice their free agency for life.
As a . public character you are yet, my. Lord, in
childhood ; but we fondly imagine that we trace
in the infant features, true testimony of the nobili.
ty of the deseetit.—My signature will'explain the
origin of these letters: nor think it surprising that
I watch over your actions with the interest of con-
sanguinity, and an almost paiental anxiety. Ail
value our connetioa, I must deprecate a suspicious
Sntei'ary, which, if ripened into union, will sepa.
rate us for ever. I should lament to see-you in
the leading.strings of Mr. W1144'4,04 ; and it was
witb sincere regret, that 1 witnessed, on the mo-
tion for release of GALA JONES, with what little
weight the legal appeal of Rout ',LT, the spirited
authority of WHITIMMAD, the mild reasoning of
the MASTER of the ROILS, and the example e'en
of your colleague, passed before your mihd. Can
you summon courage to forfeit claim tO my former
praises ? Will you desert the ranks of constitu.
tional freedom, for a hollow, insufficient alliance,
with such e man as Winona's.? Had his behaviour
isten different, I should b ire been most surprised.
When the liberty of the subject is at stake, there
alone is he consistept. Mr. Yoaka may justify
wrongs by the Bill of Rights; and though Mr. W,
is jocose about Barabbas, the devil can quote
scripture fur his purpose. Neither was I surprised'
at the speech of PIRCIVAL, or the Majority in the
House. If he offend not against the strict letter
of God's Law, or the Law of England, this godly
lawyer satisfieth his conscience; in his own case,
he declares against analogy ;, therefore the supple
ArroaNEY.OgNER At. acknowledges his predeces-
sor to be an anomaly, and consequently not to
be judged by• ordinary rules. With regard to'
Ministerial majorities, I dare not read the list
since the No.Popery howl. Those memorable
alecisions in Wickes's case, now rescinded, prove
that a Parliament is not infallible ; and whatever
"Messocas might haye substantiated, Mr. Pestce.
VA L knows that the Minister is at least as incor.
ruptible as his favourite House of Commons.
These and similar transactions are branded by the
Segues' ; yet " well-known as the sun in noon.
day," and defended as being equally beneficial.
But that the Heir of Rookzaenam waited on the
variable moverseists of the puppet for Higharn
Ferrara was not known, nor would it have been
credited. Your character, any Lord, stands high ;
moue can injure it, save yourself ; rank and for.
tune owe unusual charms to your good qualities ;
and what is indeed difficult, you are born with
power to add respectability even to the name of
Ferzartetaan. Blast net our hopes in the bud
of promise. It is of trifling import who fills the
unconstitutional scats of Melton or of Highani
Ferrets, which we took for ynur own vote to
destroy. Bat mix not, my Lord, the reputation of
Yorkshire with that of your own buroughs—join
not yourself to the patron of " vigour beyond the •
law ," with Mr. PITT, tit licentiousnessoin bull baits;
asSuth.te not with the friend of cruelty against
Ensatot, of corruption against Cuawss, of in.
humanity in *the Stave Trude, and of tyranny ober
Press and People—He will doubtless answer
" No, my good Lord, banish WRITDREA 0, banish
" Rom Lay, banish BUKDZIT, but fur sweet
" WILLY WINDHAM, kited WILLY WINDHAM,
" true WILLY WINDHAM, honest WILLY
at WINDHAM, and therefore more honest, being,
" as he's, wind.changing WILLT WINDHAM, ha,
mush nut him thy company." FALSTA Fr • ould
feel stigmatized by the change of persons ;
but argument will be useful, and serious dis.
cession will be vain. What becomes of this
Geuticusan or his opinions, is very lusignificant.