Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-08
L7rcn, tie .A'c4y.. York CQzettc.

An Interesting Speech, in support of the
numerous petitions against the famous g Or.
ders in council was lately delivered be-
fore the House of Commons Nv Mr.. Henry
Brougham. The following brief sketch Of
the author is taken from the American O.
dition of this pamphlet recently published
in Philadelphia.
Gin the list of extraordinary men, of
whom the British Isles have produced more
than any other section of the world NAV
be enumerated Henry Brougham, the au.
thor OF the present speech. At a very early
period OF his Life he gave prcsagos Of his
year of his age he became known to the
public, by a series of papers in the Trans
actions of the Royal Society in London, on
an abstruse point of physical science, which
were written with such purity of style and
manifested so much acute ard diligant in
vest'gation, that he was Immediately cleo.
ted member of that, perhaps, the most
learned institution of Europe. Not long
after receiving ;his honourable testimonial
of his precociOus attainments, he commen-
esd course Of legal studies, and having
completed them, was called TO the Scotch
bar. We still wildly recollect the pow
ers of Eioquence which We have heard hun
there display. the cares OF his profes.
sion did not wholly engross MIR. Brough.-
ans attention. With these he Mingled
habitualy the cultivation Of polite Iitera-
ture, and rhc study Of politics.
la 1908, when only twenty four years
old, he published work in two large vo..
umes, entitled" The Colonial Policy of
the European Powers" which, though it
me- not have widely circulated in ne u
States, has undoubtedly been better rccci-
ltlcas economy since $ Smiths Wealth of
Na'jsHs."
Nearly ahoRt the same time, he in con-
Junction with several literary friends. with.
out any yenal motive, cstab!isled tic Edin-
burgh Review" go which lac has liberaliS
contributed. The articles on moral and
political subjects arc principally executed
by him.
OF the general merits Of this celebrated
louin Il, or of the particular excellence of
Mr.. Buugham's composition contained in
II, we shall say nothing; public sentiment
having already assigned TO each. confessed
iy, the highest rank in the department. of
criticism.
Two years ago, We quilted the Scotch
metropol g, and settled IN London, as a the
atre more suspicious TO; the exercise OF his
superior talents. Since the exchange of
his residence, he has published well
known pamphlet, 4" On tie State of the Ma.
tion."
Recently, Mr.. Brougham was retained,
at the ezpress recommendation of Lord
Grenyiiie, IS council ior the petitioners a..
gainst che orders # council, and in that ca
paciv, delivered in the House Of Commons,
the ensuing speech. which throughout Bri.
tain has been admired end approved.
Ia q SIN ff. 80
~ interesting 10 this country. IS treating OF
topics 10 which every portion of our com.
munity, has ALVEY proximate concern. II
exhibits pretty nearly tie same views as
Mr.. Bariug's admirable pamphlet, but be
ms subsequent production, it has added
to the mater, which the industrious re-
scar u Of his predecessor had collected.
many new proofs and illustrations suppll-
ed by his own sources Of information, and
the thorough examination of the subject
held at the bar Of the house of commons.
The neutral rights Of America, have, in
deed, found in MIR. Brougham a most intel
ligeot and able defender. 1t they be not