The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-10-27
miscellaneous.
HORNE TOOKE.

I1ONNE lOOhE.
,rFrom "SPIRITs OF TnE AGE, OR CoTEMPoRA-
ny PoETs,"by Mr.. Hazliu, comprising sketch
ss of the characters, literary, political wnd per-
sonal, Of the most distinguished men in Eng
land of the present and the concluding part of
the last century.
"Mr. Horne Tooke was, in private com
panv, and amongst his friends, the finished
gentleman Of the last age. His manners
were as fascinating as his conversation was
spirited aad delightful. He put one in mind
OF the burden Of the song Of The Kings
Old Courier, and Old Courier Of Me
Kings" He was, however, Of the oppo-
site party. Ii was curious to hear our
modern sciolst advancing opinions of The
mostradicai kind without any mixture oirad-
zeal heat or violence, ina tone OF fashionable
nonchalance, with elegance of gesture and
attitude, and with the most perfect good
huncr. In the spirit " opposition, or IN the
pride of logical superiority, he too often
shocked the prejudices, or wounded the
selflove Of those about him, while tie HIM
self displayed the same unmoved mdlifer-
epce or COMMUNITY. He said the most pro-
yokinr things with laughing gaicty and n
polite attention that there was no Withstand :
mo. He threw others off their guard by
.l.wort;ng their favorite theories, and thtn
availed himself Of the temperance of his
own pulse TO chafe them into madness. lie
had not one particle of Difference for the
opinions of others, nor of sympathy with
their feelings; nor had he any obstinate
convictions of his own to defend
"Lord Of himself, uncumbcred with creed. "
he took IN any topic by chance, nndrlayed
with it at will, like a iuggler with his cup
and balls. He generally ranged himself
on the losing side and had rather an i'll
naiured delight in contradiction, and in
ncrnlexinr the understandings of others,
without any clue 10 guide them out oi the
lahyrinth into which he had led them. lie
understood in its perfection the great art OF
throwing the onus probdaai on his adversa-
rv:and SO could maintain almost any opin-
ION however absurd or fantastic, with fear
less impunity. -.
have heard a sensible and well inform
ed man say, that he never was in company
with Mr.. Tooke without being delighted
and surprised, or without feeling the con-
versatjon OF every other person to be Hat IN
the comparison (; but that he did not rccol-
lee; having ever heard him make remark
that struck him a, sound and true one,
or chat he himself appeared to think so.
He used to plague fnsell ny asking nun
after the origin OF the Teutouic dialects,and
DR.. Parr by wishing 10 know the meaning
of the common copulative, is. once at
G-'s he defended Pitt from n charge OF
yerbiage, and endeavored to prove hmm
suoerior TO Fox. Some one imltated Pitts
manner. to show that it was TOO monoto-
nous. and he initiated him also 10 show that
II wns not. He maintained (what would he
not maintain p that yourg Betty's acting
v,s fper than John Kemble's, and rccited
a massage from Douglass in the manner of
each to lustify the preference lac gave lo
tbe former. The mentioning this VIII
,olease the living; IL cannot hurt the dead.
He argued on the same occasion and in the
came breath that Addison's style was with
op, meditation, and that il was physically
;mpossihle for cey one 20 write well who
was habitually silent III company. lie sat
like king at his own table, gave law 10
his sues,s-and 10 the world No man
knew better how to manage his immediate
circle. 10 foil or bring them out A pro-
fessed orator eginning to address some OBJ
seryations to Mr.. Tooke, with a volumin-
ous aeelosy for his youth and incxpericnce,
ne said" speak up young man !'-and cut
short the flower Of orations. Porson was
tho oniy person Of whom be stood in some
degree Of awe, on account ofhis prodigious
memory and knowledge Of his iavor;te sub
iect, Languages. Sheridan, il has beer
remarked, said more good things, but had
no, an equal flow of pleasantly.
An instance Of Mr.. Horne Tooke's ex'
,reme GOODNESS and command Of nerve, i
has been mentioned, that once at a public
dinner. when he had got ON the table to re
turn thanks for hishealth being drank, will
a glass of wine in his hand, aud when there
was great claInor anc oPpeslton 10
some time after 1t was sn0slueu' ne Po'n'g' y
An the rlnss 10 show dat it was still full