Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-05-08
PORTRAIT or GIBBS.
[nY NR. AvsrIN.1

The person of Gibbs is dt,ninu:iye. his an,ear.
ance ccn,empiibie; lie has not single strory
mark OF character, except a ssgacicus eve. There
is nothing engaging in his looks he rather re.
peis than atratss but alhis defects art forgotten,
the moment he o!cus his mouth Gibbs - douht-
iess. the greatest Lawyer in England In a
common case, he sinks under Ersliue and Ca,
row, but N a csGsr which involves first urinci-
PIES, where there is no room, for the trsDpinys Of
eio9aence, where passion is vain where digres
SION weakens, where evubeilishmeat is suscicicus.
ne commands admiration, and pens Up Erskinc
Ia corner, and not unfrequenily makes him
slarrn,er
In Addressing a jury, Gibbs is second but Sc
cond oniy 10 Erskinc aud Casso,-. He neither
understands human nature so well nor can i.
sift charaeier. nor can he insinuarc tin,.elf and
take advantage OF a forturate moment. He
mas no conception Of the extremes Of yirtye and
Viee ne measures every hing with bis com
passes, bu. he is sure Of his dimensions Yon
make i rne,eIy a case Of conscience 70 acre.
WIN him yet Ne never ets you go, until he has
secured you. tho he never ,iarks Won for
Veaie'' vel knowing You would not have
gwen ~ had he NJ, compelled you Sometimes,
'hO"Sn f1reiy. he attains to eloquence nor iuferi
o. 70 hrskne's. aud then he is sure f;,;s carse.
'or WHAT can resist he argnHents of Gibbs. back
20 with ihe eloquence of Erskine We,
Ii' eioqdenee IS not an expansive eloouence
because itis not the eloqIence Of The hear. bu,
ma OF 'ne mead re Garnet look all the jury in
we ace AZ me same moment; he does no, re
gsro me Jury as one man, he feels as rsicuah he
mas WE'VE persons 10 convince: different from
rrskine, Who addresses the whole tv,eJve .r5
Pessuades each nd,yiIual that ne "a solicitons -
convince him IN particular. With Cil,bs. ~,
ran nature varies in different men EysL;,,
hnos inc re OF connection. which roveyns Tie
whole. While the one is Iz5orins Ills min, m.
other has already touched yon sith h, w.rd
ylooa IKE his eoun,ryns eIsecls Al. he dses er
feet' ~ main force. Esskine and Carro,v ace
el.a.ne'nY on the top Of the forlifcaf;on. ,vh;l.
Sioos IS mining the foundation aud befo,s
o.ops en'ers INC city, u IS already sacked.
sf.n. u 'nsse great men addressing irry IN
addressing the judges, before whom, no,h;,. -.
Jaw and aSgurnent can avail, or will he bea,d ~.
.ofe w"on the most eloquent might az well snsi,
in me dark' Gibbs rises pre-emincnt. Ne 49,.
su'.'ss no,h'ns, yet YOU pgceive the very denoy,.
'''s''' VI h's oooy bespcsla man sure cfhimselc
who has sounded his petition. and ho ,s.s..
rsany to grasp the whoe common Lao, &c r.
gland. When Gibbs shews himsolf hefo,. ~ !
Judges Garrow is out Of sourt, or s;,s win 49,
cei'''Anco bag tied up, AMI Erskine his an,,ya'
nsSs' Is ANXIOUS and as bus as general. fearful
The deeper the case, TN move n.,.,.~.,
nere o-iginal, and involrei in ~ Ie.,ns,, -
more him his position he Is secure En- h;1,s,e
ma less cautions of his competitor. Ne 80,
with so'snniiy and moder.rion. winch
very one Hlsvoicc IS stiory. slow. and vel
'cu'sted. perleely suited toevery man. who :,
'uysuit Of the l'ght o. reason willing ina, co.,
vofd shoud be indged By &c rules Of orse;,;o,,y
Without the appearance efsrraneennen,. no So.
u the elegance OF meihsd luminous, You Sc, see