The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-26


dy, remain continually before their mind
and keep them on the alert as 10 the con-
duct of candidates for their favor. That
they cannot read the base and selfish de sign.
In the first change of behavior, aud see how
little the unusual respect and the ne W. oorn
smile and bow have to do with the heart OF
him who offers them.
On the other hand how callous must be
chat man, how obstinate and adamantine his
effrontery who can calmly take seat gained
by such means, amid the indignant frowns &
whispers which surround him and which he
sees to be levelled at him from every drec-
siDn.
This subject. however, affords one mega
tivr test OF character which every man may
easily apply to himself and by which, if It
fit him, he may form pretty sure estimate
OF his future figure on the rolls of fame
Fer he who feels that he is capable of seek
ing advancement by the use OF such means
as i have been describing may take it for
granted that he is compounded of poor and
perishable materials. In those whom ma
ture casts for Immortality, there is a greate
ness of soul which scorns such arts. and a
consciousness OF power which feels no
secession to resort to them.-It is only
the little, the impotent and the base
that stoop to them and their conscious lir~
ueness. impotence and baseness constitutes
their whole and only apology. Look upon
the page OF history and point out the man
whose character is formed to gfapple the
heart of the reader, that was ever known to
court AN honor by the adoption of those vile
and sontemptible practices No: the regi-
on OF intrigue is the region of reptiles the
man whom Nature designs for glory,
Areathes higher, purer and a nobler
air.
On this subject / received. early in life, a
lesson from Lord Mansfield which I shall
never forget. l got to London in the year
IN which Wilkes, alter his outlawry had
Resurned from France. was ,hen, young
and ardent. 1t was all fairy land to me and
iwaS pretty much i'll the predicamcnt of a
boy who goes for the 6rst time to see a play
---to whom all is beauty, enchantment and
rapture. 1t happened that settled in the
very part OF the City in which No As shone
most conspicuous on the coaches and in which
The cry OF Wilkes and Liberty was ioudest.
a young man almost unavodaoly catches
the cnntagion of passion that prevails "a
round him ; and thus il Jared with me for
by the time that the decision of the questi-
on came about, there was not one of the
thousands and tens of thousands who filled
and surrounded Westminster Hall whose
heart beat higher in the cause of Wilkes
than mine. 1 went prepared to hate Lord
Mansfield as much as had been led to love
John Wilkes and, being then in the age OF
strength as we'll as enthusiasm, gained my
choice OF stands TO see and hear.
There was something in he per son and ali
OF Mansheid which even before he opened
his lips shook all my frepossessions &c.
nus mad liked her sacred seal upon him and
ehe impression was so st eng and deep and
striking, that it was impossible to behold with
Out revering him Those of my readers W he
have seen his picture, or plate correctly
taken from II, will no doubt have remarked
Wit remarked in the originals, the resem
GLANCE which our late illusfrious Pendc tor
bure TO him resemblance, however, con.
sistlhg not So much in identity of feature. a,
IN the thinness of visage, the habi.aai attitude
of the head, * the general outline & charac re,
of the face; more especially in that uncommon
light and intelligence which beamed from the
eountenaRce and denoted the coudess henis
phere that smiled within. In the eve O.
Mansfield there was that, which seemed tt
belong TO mind not OF this world. No pas
sion troubled, no Impotence agrated, ne
doubt or hesitation dark enedit fer a momen,
Unmoved nv the l.imrt and disorder with
out-unpertnrhe BY any emotion within-
CALM ollected--resplendent and sublime-
II seemed to pierce, without effort, beyond
Che confines of time and space.
When he began to deliver The opinion q
Che bench, anxiety for the result hushed the
multitude into silence. The multitude were
anxious only for Wilkes; but new obec
OF solicitude soon displaced him with me
and took the entire possession of all my fac
ulties.--Ihis was no other than MANSFIELD
himself In the contemplation of that won
derful man the rich and inexhaustible
stores, and transcendant powers of his mind
II soon forgot all the world beside.
know that Lord Mansfield is no favorite
With my couutrymen, nor is it my purpose
or business to make him one. He has been
accused OF treachery --dupicity--a contemp,
Tor liberty and the people--and corrupt
devotion to the will of the court. He NAV
have deserved all the ill that has been said
OF him; and | have lived long enough tc
Know hat it is possible, too, he may have re
ceived without deserving it, The envy oil
che wicked and the jealousy of the virtuous
may have conspired to wrong his motives
and overcharge his errors. Most wonder
tul indeed, aud contrary to all experience
would IL have been, if such man as Mans
held, however innocent, had lived without
enemies and died in peace. But be this as
ut may, lam not his advocate. That vene-
cation, indeed, which | have ever fell fo,
genus ana which has always predisposed
me to love its possessor, makes me wish and
hope that he was as pure and innocent as he
rs admitted on all hands to have been great
AT present, however, / speak of him only
as man OF talents and as he appeared t.
me IN The summer III which first saw him
almighty powers :" exclaimed a gen.