The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-12-15
7 lie SCOTTISH BAR.
MIR. CRANSTOTN..


is between Mr.. Clerk and the gen.
eman who ranks next tn him NJ
the Scottish Bar-Mr. Cranst0un.
They mr ually SET oifeach other 10
great advantage .tllcy are rivals in
nothing Notwithstanding their To-
tai dissimiltudc in almost every re-
spect, they are well nigh equally all
mired by every one. lam much mis-
taken If any Thug could furnish Il
more uiequisocal testimony To the
talents al them both.
II WIS my fortune To see Mr..
Cranstoun for the first time, as he
rosct 10 make his reply. 10 Irrsid,
masculine, honlirl, har cgpe 81 my
old fa,ori,c and Was ne,er less
predispo,cd In receive fDnorably the
claims al stranger upon my adult
ration. There was something, how
ever, about the new speaker which
would not permit me 10 refuse him
my attention, although contess |
could scarcely bring myself 10 listen
TO him with mich gnsio for several
minutes. felt, u use II similc ia
Mr.. Clerks Own way. like n person
whose eyes have been dazzlcd With
some strong, rich, luxuriant piece ol.
Dutch on Flemish school, and who
cannot taste, in immediate transit.
on, the more pale, calm, correct
gracelulness Of an Italian Frcsco
nevertheless, the eyes become cool.
as they gaze. and the mind is gradu-
ally yielded up TO a less stimuant.
but in the end II yet more raptlva-
tug and soothing species of scdocti-
on. The pensi>e and paliid Countc
nance, every del !eatc Tine Of which
secuted To breathe the very spirit
of compact thoughclulnrss--,hc mild
contcmplative blue eyes, with now
aud then fash Of irresistible fire
in thcm-the lips, so full oiprecIsinn
and tasteinlnesq, not perhaps with
out dash OF lastidionsncss in The
comprcssiOns of their Curycs-thc
gentle. easy, but firm aud dign,iied
air and altitndc--evcry thing about
him had It's magic, and tho Charm
was not long III winning me cilrctu-
ally into it's circle The stream OF
his discourse flowed on calmly aud
clearly, the voice itself was mellow
yet commanding, the pronunciation
exact, bur not pcdantICally so the
ideas rose gradually out ol each 9th
cr, and seemed to clotbe themselves
IN the best and most accurate Of
phrascology, without The cXcltIon Of
single thought IN its selection.
The fascination WAS ere long cum
plcte; and, when he closed his
! speech, i, seemed To me ns if | had
never before Witnessed any specimen
of the true Mclliflua McJestas' ol
Qnlntilian.
The only defect In his manner Of
speaking (aud it is, after all, by no
means a constant delect,) is "A GER
tain appearance Of GOODNESS, which,
| suspect, is nearly inscparable from
50 much accuracy. MIR. Cransioun
is "A man OF high birth and refined
habits, and he has proiitcd abundant
" by all the means Of education
: which either his own or the sister
country can afford. His success in
his profession was not carly (al-
though never was any success So ra-
pld after ii once had Il begin
ning) and he spent, thcI cfore. ma
my years Of his manhood in the eX-
quisite intellectual cnjoymcnts Of an
elegant scholar, before he had eth
or inclination or occasion to devote
himself entirely to the more rcpul-
si,c studies Of the law. 1t is ne
wonder, that IN spite OF his continual
practice, and Of his great natural e.
ioqucnce, the impression of these de-
lightiul years should have become
too deep ever tn be concealed iron
view and that even in the midst %
, the most brilliant displays of hi'
forensic cXrrtion, there should min.
Gle something in his mir, which lie.
minds us that there is still another
sphere wherein his spirit would BIZ
yet more perfectly at home. To me
| must confess, although | am n.
ware that you will laugh at me foi
doing so. there was always present
while | listened To this accomplished
speaker, a certain feeling Of pain.
could scarcely help rcgretling tina
he should have become IA barrister a.
all. The lucid power Of inyestiga
ton the depts Of argument th'
richness of iIlustration--all set fortl
and embalmcd in such strain o
LnnnAIEuI nnI nun IL. oil Innnun...