Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-11-21
NdiOrrVeti.


From the Interesting " Letters" II MIR.
AUSTIN, zue select the .foio sviHg s;eii-
drc7snciarocterofh re- Hon. Thomas Err
sEi&E. We are hairy 10 ind Mat He
srork rom 7ohich IL is e.cfyacfed IL FIST od-
RANGING into liz Rtcrited celebrity. ne
sinctreiy h2fie, th1f IL 7piH NOT ada another
item TO TIE catalogue ofnt ei-cied$fecsmena
Of American Genius 0r,| another article
~ The IMPEACHMENT Of American Taste.
To those Gentlemen, qvho mGv qpish 10 add
~ their Libraries, a sOork 5cilicA 7r5N aHor6
them entertainment, and sytich las confer
rcd honor on tier country, zve 7v7uid cive
Tie Information, fhat it may be Procured
afthe bookstore Of Mr.. WILLIAM PnL-
HAN, CornhiK1 (Na,. Egis.)
LETTER XXXVu.
LONDON, August %.
Erskine, Gibbs, and Garrow. are The
three most powerful speakers in the courts
OF law.
The person of Erskiue is slender, MS
height noteXceed.nG the common size, his
complexion saliow, his hair dark, his face
oval, and little emaciated, tie lower part
OF his forehead prominent, yet gradually
re'rea,ing, his eyebrows full, little per-
picked, seated near his eyes, which are
hazel, open and conciiiatory, his nose, mar
row between The eyes, yet perfectly con-
geniei, neither too large nor ton small, his
mouth gently closed, seeming ready TO
wait the dictates of his tongue, yet not
large enough to give his eloquence its Just
tone, his lips ;hjn, meeting IN union, and
when irri,a,ed. rather inclinng 10 retreat,
than project, his chin gently retreating,
which, ia conjunction with his forehead,
bespeaks the man firm, yet modest, posi-.
tive, yet ingenious.
lis coun,enaace, when in state of re-
pose, is prepossessing, but when he speaks,
his gestures are rheioric; his looks, per-
sua''on his voice, eioQneuce in the glow
ot animation, Commanding but in the mo
ment al passion, when self convinced, he
IS pure Intelligence disclaiung every by.
road 10 conviction, he strips the cause Of
ofaIl lis surrounding circumstances, pia-
ce1 It on its own position, true 10 nature,
paints it visibly 10 the eye, and buries in
oblivion every Interfering particular.
Both Judge and jury are PROSTATE in
chains. IL is the contention Of princi-
PIE, no matter whose, or what the interest
II heaven were concerned, il is still the
contention of principle. OF all causes
which could arise, the present seems to
involve the deepest consequences there
IS no distinction row between the great
and the little, every thing but the point
in question is forgotten; Erslsinc and his
cause are sovereign over all. Now flows
the fountain Of justice, now are explored
the recesses OF iniqr.'y, now are the deep
foundations Of fraud broken up. His elo-
quence becomes a torrent which sweeps a.
way every mound which art or sub,eriuge
had raised no longer has the law single
hard feature; no perplexities, no uncertain
ties no idle eyasiors Satucnian Jove de-
sends with his equaIocaies cunning retires
in shame, oppression lets go its victim, &
innocence is seated on The throne OF equi-
~. At length, Erskine himself, by de-
Rrees is forgotten, and forgets himself; he
rises to An effort not his own, and Silks
under superior feelings, while the Judge
and Jury, convinced even TO enthusiasm.
are impatient to withhold thu verdict.
o, sacred tribunal guarded in the spot
less ermine# of justice. o, halIowed
walls where party spirit never enters,
where the oppressed breathe an ETHEREAL
element. @, glorious institution which
chains the passions Of men, and checks
the ena6(ions Of self interest, by the inter-
vention OF Jury. O, venerable Judges
whose sacred Office knows TO bias, whose
sympathy is never weakened but in the
cause of humanity.
] know not with whom OF the orators Of
antiquity 10 compare Erskine. lie pos
sesses neither the voice. nerve, nor vehe-
mence Of Demos'henes but he has more
cordiality the audience OF Demosthenes
is driven, you see the goad that OF Frs
kline follows, You see the leading string.
While the one shews both of his hands
clenchcd. you sec the arms of the other
extended. While Demosthenes stamps
with his feet, lIrskinc only shew5 his arms
akimbo: while the one assumes look Of
defiance, the other pauses moment, with
open eyes. lie has oil the grace and e.
legarce Of fully, and, like fully, is anxi-
OTIS in qualifying exordium, 10 round all
the angular points RI his cause. He has
less art, is more rapid, more earnest, more
original than fully, 6, if the periods Of the
Roman are more majestic than those Of
tho Scofchuac ErckiDe's Is The f,utt ri