The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-10-04
MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY.

| The sudden, unexpected, and self IN
fiicted death Of this nobieman, absorbs
the public attention, TO the exclusion Of
almost every other topic, not,excepting
the royal visit to Scotland ;-nor do we
wonder at the interest excited by the de-
mise of an individual, who was the very
soul OF the present administration; and
whose memory is so inseparably assosia-
ted with the crooked policy pursued by
the British Cabinet for the last quarter
off century, that it will be "damn'd to e.
verlasting fame" We have infinitely
greater satisfaction in contemplating the
pleasing, than the gloomy side OF the hn-
| man character; and, rs some relief TO
the dark shades which historical truth
must trace on the portrait OF his LORD
ship we readily transcribe the more fa-
vourable traits OF his private worth, from
the pencil of his immediate friends and
| political associates, reserving to ourselves
the privilege OF commenting upon any
apparent incongruity IN the composition.
Whatever differences of opinion has
been entertained with respect to his pub.
| lie character (says the editor of the Cou.
rier )there is bu, one sentiment, one opinion,
with respect to his private one--it was
most excellent and cngaging-thc most
aifectionatc husband to the most amiable
wife-the most polite and finished gen.
tlemen-the kindcst landord-the most
mild and iOdulgent mastcr-benefccnt
to the poor; and so afable that every
man, however inferior his rank, felt him.
self at his case the moment Inc addressed
him. In ha friendships, he had all the
\ coDstancy and arcour that SO eminently
adorned Mr.. Pitt. He had all his disin-
terestedness, all his contempt of every
selfish feeilng~-all his devotedness and
attachment TO the interest and welfare
of the empire. III is but candid to add.
! that this favourable character of the de-
ceased, accords with the reports which
have neen uniformly in circulation res
pectiDg his private worth. For our own
parts, we confess, however,, that we are
slow to believe It possible, that career
| of public !urpitude and Of private integri-
~ can be compatible or co-existent; and
many of the prominent public acts in the
Marquis of Londonderry,s political life.
are wholly irreconcileablc with the prin-
ciples of honour, honesty, or humanity,
Like his political archtypc Pitt, he was
an apostate, obstinate, unprincipied. and
heartless; one, who, to state PURPOSES.
would, at any time, sacrifice all other
consideration, even the honor of his soye.
reign and the renown Of his country
He seemed to regard with contempt and
derisIon the maxim of the enlightened
Fox, that "what is morally wrong can.
not be politically right" His apolopists
have naturally enough resumed that spe
cies of defence,of the public character al
the deceased, which was Intellectually al
tempted, when living, by himself and his
party.
1t is pretended that he was not accessa.
nv to the infection of torture, which was
resorted 10 in Ireland by the adminislra,
! ton, ofwhieh he was principal AGENT.
These outrages against humanity and JUS
tice are ascribed to the performance of
the Orange faction ;-but the subterfuee
will not avail. Why did he no, initiate
the noble example Of the brave and hu-
( name Abercrombie, who resigned his Iu-
crative post of Commander Chief.
rather than witness the atrocities which
were perpetrated by the Government ;
Is i, possible,that man possessed ofthcse
moral and domestic virtues. ascribed to
him 5y his friends, could have co.opera~
ted with tina! detestable conspiracy against
human liberty and happiness, impiously
styled the Holy Alliance, whose undis-
guised object is to ensIave the world, and
TO impede or extingush the light of rea.
son and knowledge, which is breaking in
upon mankind in spite of the inpious ef.
forts Of such crowned miscreapts?
10 return to the alleged apology of his
friends, that he could not, during the re.
lbellioD of ireland, restrain the demonia.
cal spirit Of Orangism, TO which his
friends woild trase the horrid cruelties
in ireland; we would ask why he did not
| subsequently suppress it by an act of that
Parliament, over which he was so ompi-
potent On other occasions Would they
persuade us, that minister, who could so
| easily pass SIX acts TO restrain the liberties
II Engiand,could not carry one solitaryact
Tor tranquillziDg Ireland, although the
orange meetings had been repeatedly de-
ciared illegal by the highest authority
Ii our limits were less circumscribed.
and The objects cIaiming our attention
not SO numerous, we should expatiate al
much greater length upon this fertile
subject. We must not, however, suffer
he peDegyrists Of the late marquis of
4 Il