The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-28

from one off5sm THE National Agis) TIE fol-
Io.oiny has 6een copied.
LONDON, SEPTEMBER Is.
ON the fubie6 of the Englilh Orators !
fhould prefer TO be Glent, rather than TO confne
myfelf within the bounds of letter. However,
will attempt iketch of the principal fpeak-
ers.
From that predominant clafs of contending
men in the Houfe of Commons, might feleet
Pitt, Fox, Windham, Sheridan, Wilberforce,
Grey, Tierney, Caftlereagh, Hawkefbury, Cor
ry, Arlington.
The characters of thefe men, as Orators, are
well known in the United States, and particu-
larly 70 to you. lhall, therefore, conhne my
felf to the three irft, Pitt, Fox, Windham. She
rdan would have included, but have heard
him fpeak but twice, and then he left no inn
preihon. He has taken no part in any impor-
tant debate, which have attended, but has 6tten
in his feat, flent, referved, looking earnely to-
ward the treafury bench, feemingly dubious of
his former principles, which have left him as
poor as his old client the Nabob Of Arcot.
Mr.. Pitt Gill rifles with an cafe, compofure &
s6urance, Indicative of former influence, while
the Houfe, CONTIGUOUS of his prefence, are difpo-
fed TO give him all that attention as a member,
which he once commanded as minifter; and
though he is, at prcfent, fallen fatefman, he
fufains character none the leCs attendant as a
man 10 that his enemies are not willing to ap-
proach higher plain Mr.. Pitt, than they did the
once arbiter of the kingdom.
The ftation which Mr.. Pitt has Imported 70
long, has given his eloquence peculiar turn,
and even rendered his character oacn6bly cold,
hard, and bordering on dry inhumanity. The
political calculator, always in fcarch of expedi-
ents, from habit regards mankind mechanically,
L.. L. -
hrit dictates Of nature, and fublimely overlooks
every obfacle which might impede his courfe.
a prime miniiter of Great Britain, mutt of ne
ceflity, if he continues long in Office, familarfe
himfsf to deeds, which in their exten6ve confe-
quenccs, render comparatively harmless the
whole crimes Of the decalogue. In fact, Mr.
Pitts elo9uence difcovers higid, palliatng, de-
fenfve, yet politive, character. 1t has ever been
iutiicient for him TO maintain his ground not
to be driven from his pof has been to gain the
victory. At this day, he addreGes the fpeaker
sthough the conflict was fill between himfelf
and his great antagonif, Fox, while hddinston
rs forgotten, and forgets that ne is rninitter.
Had MIR. Pitt iabored his days in the oppoii-
ton, he would have difcovered himief a much
greater Orator, and much nobler man. Ever
on the defeniivc, he has naturally fallen into
confined uniformity, which has feldem permit
ted him to take excuriion beyond the tedious
buiuefs of Office, az the fame time, the fyftem of
government, forcing the current of bufinefs to
rninele tfelf with the iighs, tears and groans of
the nation, has rendered him officially obnoxi-
GUS to the people, and afforded his parliament
tary enemies the fairef pretences of attack
Once, indeed. MIR. Pitt found himfelf on the fide
of humanity, and fhone confpicuouAy among
Fox, Burke, Wilberforce and others. But fin-
gular as it may appear, he ar once found HIM
f-if min I &c tba -.
on OF Wilberforce, for the abolition of the fave
trade.
Under thefc circumstances, the members of
the oppoGtion have every advantage, not only
of popular reipect, but of humanity, and confe-
quently of oratory for true eloquenoe muft be
bottomed on the honeft feelings of nature. But
prime minifer has already coied every pore
to the glow of humanity, before he ventures TO
open the budget" Hence, he is cut off from
the moa fruitful fource of eloquence. no ap-
peal n the paliiens no earneft iuppiicaton. no
frnpathy with ditrefs, no palpitation of the
heart, render him dear to the people, and foften
his exaaions. He comes into the Houfc, i'm
PEELED BY memorable neceffity, and boldly ex-
pofes himftlfto the whole artillery of the oppo-
ftion, knowing the final refult of the queftion.
But all this confidence in his numbers, does not
fuffer him TO remit the fcvereh exercife of his
own powers, in order to give at leait, piau6bli-
ty, to his mott fufpicious meafures. Hence, it
may be calily imagined that, before any impor-
tant fep is taken, the treafury bench have al
ready been fummoned TO weigh every difficult
ty, which the oppolition might poiibIy raiic
Thus, fuch men as Fog, Sheridan, Grey, have
the honor of being anfwered twice. But Fox is
70 various, rapid, and overwhelming, that he
frequently loies the whole miniftry, who, long
fnce ripe for the quefion, are happy to be re-
leafed by the af refort of the ninifter-I mean
his majority.
From thefe obfervations, you will eaiiy col
lett what the ftyle of Pitt and Fox will proba-
bly, be till, each Of them preferyes diRinGt
character.
Mr.. Pitt is the mott cool, perfpicuous, dgni-
fed and fluent fpeaker, who ever rofe in deli
beratve anembly. The moment he is expea-
ed, folemn tillnefs pervsdes the Houfe, and
while his prefence is felt, his adverlares lofe all
their Influence. His manner is gentle and un-
affirming, his geaures moderate and conciato-
ry, his voice muhcal, clear and dlinGf his
words mott happily fele6ted, without tie leaR
appearance Of Election, flow in an unrutIIcd,
uniform ftream, always Efficiently rapid to in
teref, and frequently, to command attention.
With thefc advantages be opens upon the
Houfe, mind viteraD in politics, and is exten-
Eve as the various relations ofthe empire. Nor
is he deficient, though fparing, Of the llufrati-
oDs of modern fcience, and the embellishments
of ancient literature. With mind thus adorD-
ed By nature, thus disciplined by art, and haoi-
tualy cool and determined, no wonder he diff
covers, on all occahons, reach far beyond the
attainment OF ordinary men. A miphtv L;no