Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-04-30

N"SS oaiu ludt Tor readI
ness ana strength on any and every topi,
'that arose in debate, or as he emphatical
~ called it " ROLL AND ruxsLxn !,
argument, Grosyenor had rot an equal II
congress.
Charles Eek had perfection which n,
man. it is believed, ever enjoyed in ar
equal degree. On all important occa
slOns, he was so entirely absorbed in the
subject upon which his talents were EN-.
|PlOyed, that he seemed for the time being
to be totally unconscious of his own PIX.
'iSteDce; his hearers were riyeted TO III,
matter, not 10 the man-Charles Fox die.
laFpeared and lett them insensible TO all
but the argument. Thus he seldom fail.
ed TO impress al who were not profound
Iy veIsed in his subject, and in himself
with the persuasion that lie was speaking
."ith the same impartiality, sincerity and
truth, and for state full as dear TO hi,
heart, as 1t he were pouring forth his SOU
at the judgment seat on the last day. Hi,
ardent yea! and his apparent candour
produced scarcely less powerful efftct
than the matchiess ingenuity of his arsu
Nents; & those who listened must have had
tina TO cool and reflect, before they could
believe that what they were hearing was
the result Of suqe;latige ingenuity, bu,
was mere natural torrent gushing un.
considered,with impetuous force from the
heart. AS his arguments drew from thi:
source al almost irresistible force, so they
derived an inexpressible charm from the
candnuy and liheral;ty which in things
personal 20 others,he seldom failed TO dis
iPiay-frOm the total absence of vulgar as
Pe7.ty, OF arrogance, Of malicious inyec,
rive and Of sly inyidious iusinuation
which above all things he abhcrred, and
in which alihis great contemporaries more
or less INDUCED. 1t Was truly said Of
him BY Burke, that there was not in hi:
composition spark OF pride, or OF fcroci
~, or complsxional despotism, and the
perpetual operation of that happy dispo.
sition on his eloqucuce, produced in the
sentiments Of his hearers the effect of a
italisman.
| CT the first of these qualities MIR. eros
yenor had his sbare-when lie spoke on
the floor Of Congress it was evident 10
the most Cbtuse observer, that to display
his eIuquence made no part CT his object /;
his unaffected language and the simple
distribution Of his matter, ey;nced only
an ardent desire TO investigate truth, and
20 bsing all tbat he had been able to col
lect or think Of, to the general stock OF
National wisdom. lie never came, as
too many do, like a wanton from her
toilet, patched up and painted, and
decked in saudery, thrice rehearSed IN
Oratcricai grimace, trained "to separate
frozen from smile and smile from trovn"
and prepared to play OF the art, and
lures OF meretricious e!oquence-but he
came, as his station, aud indeed hi own
nature prescribed, ike mar and states
man, TO serve his country, and earn an
honest fame by honest arts. Re made, not
himself, but the question before the house,
the prominent object, retiring behind
which, he pushed it boldly and skill
fully into view II was not ill this oh
ject was accomplished that he suffered
the eye of the house to rest upon himself,
Till his eloquence had produced convic
ion, the orator was scarcely thonSht OF :.
aud ne was then heaPed With applause
as just homage to the power of his ar
gumentS, and admired for the successful
e1erticn of his brilliant genius in the
cause Ofintegrity ard truth.
I'm the candour and liberality which he
uniformly displayed, on all personal &C.
casiOns, he was.(ws say it without fear
Of contradiction a tull match to the great
man with whom We have compared him i
nor have his very adyersaries been spar
ingia their acknowledgements OF his value
i, that reSpect Whanaver occasion Cc.