The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-07-07

ihe following sketches of promin-
ent Members Of the British House oi
Commons are from n recent work
by Sir Edgcrtoa Bridges. who was
himself a Member several years.
LETTER TX.
July 23d, 1894.
The six years I passed in Parlia
mcnt. 1879. In 1918, tho not without
their notifications, were. perhaps.
altogether, the most satisfactory of
my llie. They opened many new
points ofview to me, X occupied me
practically IN n manner notinconsis.
cnt with my former pursuits X habits
of mind. In this station, one is, OF.
imagines ones self. nearer the
source of action ; and the opportuni-
fy oil a closer inspection of public
characters affords subjects of inter
esting obscr, alton, while the man
{ IN which they, 10 whom the man
agcmcut Of affairs OF state is COM
mitted, exhibit talents, knowledge.
or skill, teaching us practically how
the world is governed. Constituted
as London is. which is filed with an
oVergroWn mass of miscellaneous po-
pulation, the Legislative function
gives an opening in society. without
which, At individual, not Of bustling
q obstrusive manners, is likely Ia be
buried and lost in society. Here
what IS moss actively eminent is com
morally concentrated. thongl, il must
be admitted that il grows less 81 eve
ry day.
What first and most struck me in
the House OF Commons, WIS the cx-
IRENE rarity not only of great and
eloquent speakers, but even oil mode
Iafo.y goo.t ones. and the number Of
those who's delivery was not only
bad, bat ,~xecrable. Canning Was
the only II who cot''d be said IN
speak with a polished eloqucnce
ard he did not then spcal often, and
his speeches were at that time much
studied. Oi the other speakers VIII
took the lead, where tie matter was
good, there were many natural or
technical defects: The accent was
national, provincial. professional, or
incIegant or the voice WAS bad, or
the language clumsy. Three Of
the moot extraordinary have gone
to their graves, by one singular and
destiny. Uhii6redd i'm
proved as Il speaker to the last. lie
IA man OF strong head, always
Well-informed, generally ingenious,
sometimes subtle, occasionally elo-
quent but not naturally o. a delicate
taste d classical s%cnsiblliIy lie VAS
almost always too violent, u I'M
times tumid. His person was coarse
and ungraceful, and his voice seldom
melodious /; and the whole of his
manner betrayed too much Of labor
and art. He began too high, and
ran himself out of breath.
Sir Samuel ROmitiy vas n very cf-
fective speaker on the topics which
he handled. He was IA most acute
%reasoner, Of extraordinary penctra-
ton aud suhticty, with occasional
appeal to sentiment and addresses
to the heart But still his manner
vas strictly professional, (Which Is
never a popular manner in Parlia-
ncnt.) and il had also something OF
a Puritan tone, which, with a grave,
worn, paIlid, puritanlc visage and
attitude, took off from the imprcssi-
ON Of a perfect orator, though it ne
yer operated to diminish the great
attention and respect with which he
was heard. The %veneration for cha
racter, the admiration Of him as Il
profound law yer, the confidence IN
the integrity OF his principles, and
his enlightened as we'll as conscien-
tious study Of the principles Of the
constitution Of his country, procured
for all lie SAID the most submissive
attention , and they who thoaght
him in politics a stern and bigoted
republican, whose opinions we're un-
ConSenial to the mixed government
Of Great Britain, and therefore dis
scented toto c0rde from his positions,
deductions, aud general views of lc-
gisIation aud Of state, never dared
to treat lightly whatever came from
lis lips. He had II cold reserved
manner, which repealed intimacy
and familiarity ; n therefore, what
ever he did, he did by lis own sole
strength.
Lord Castiercagh belonged to a
very different order, and was cast III