Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-30

guage clumsy. Three OF the most eX-
traordinary have gone to their graves,
by one singular and lamented destiny.
Whitbread improved as speaker to the
last. He was man of strong head,
always well-informed, generally inge-
Nous, sometimes subtle, occasionally
eloquent, but not naturally ola delicate
taste and classical sensibility. He was
almost always too violent, and some
times tumid. His person was coarse
and ungracefu;, and his voice seldom
melodious; and the whole Of his man
ner betrayed too much of labor and art.
He began too high, and soon ran him
self out Of breath.
Sir Samuel RomiLy was very effec-
tive speaker on the topics which he
handled. He was most acute rea-
soner, of extraordinary penetration and
subtlety, with occasional appeals to
sentiment and addresses to the heart
But still his manner was strictly pro-
fessional, (Which is never popular
manner in Parliament, and it had also
something of Puritan tone, which,
with grave, worn, pallid, puritanic
yissage and attitude, took off from the
impression of perfect orator, though
it never operated to diminish the great
attention and respect with which he
was heard. The veneration for his
character, the admiration Of him as a
| profound lawyer, the confidence in the
integrity of his principles, and his en-
lightened as well as conscientious STU
dy of the principles of the constitution
of his country, procured for all he
said the most submissive attention ;
and they who thought him in politics
stern and bigotted republican, whose
opinions were uncongenial to the mix
I'd government of Great Britain, and
therefore dissented toto corde from his
| positions, deductions and general views
of legislation and Of state, never dared
to treat lightly whatever came from
his lips. He had cold reserved man
ner, which repealed intimacy and fami-
liarity; and therefore, whatever he did,
he did BY his own sole. strength
Lord Castlereagh belonged to very
different order, and was cast in very
opposite mould. He had a most pre-
possessing air, and was, in manner, by
far the most perfect gentleman / have
ever seen. He had led an active and
stormy life, and his abilities were at
last tried beyond their strength, and
beyond the strength of any mind. He
was, in general, not good speaker
sometimes even bad one; but, once or
twice, l have heard him, in the depart
ment of strength and manliness, speak
better than any other man in the House.
l attribute, therefore, his general habit
of confusion mainly to his want Of self
confidence; for the times of success to
which allude were on his first return
from the continent, in the summer of
1914, On concluding the peace, when
he was greeted on his entry into the
House by the universal cheers Of all
parties. This, of course, elevated his
spirits, and he then spake with the
most unembarrassed huency and vigor.
He was not popular Minister, and l
firmly believe that this hung, in com
mon, heavy weight upon his facul-
ties. His abilities were unquestionably
most ignorantly and absurdly under
rated; and, when once accident makes
man butt for the witlings who pander
for his opponents, it spreads conta-
gion through the light heads and hearts
| OF the populace which it is difficult to
resist. An epigrammatist, having got
his cue, goes on hammering his brains,
year after year, upon one string; and if
he can but have his jest and his point,
and the applause Of ingenuity for a
clever distich, cares not for truth or
Justice, or how many poisoned daggers
he fixes in the heart of another. Lord
Castlereagh was laborious and well-in-
formed: perhaps he was not quick
enough to master all the various points
which forced themselves upon his at
tention; and he had not that sort Of con-
venient ingenuity which enables man
to skim the surface in such a manner
as to disguise ignorance. He was apt
sometimes to penetrate little, when
| he had neither strength to go through
| nor to extricate himself. He had had
great rise; but yet in no degree such
as many of those on whom none ofthe
odium which attended him fell. His
| mother was Conway, of the highest
English nobility; his fathers family had
for some generations enjoyed wealth.
His fathers mother was the daughter
of an East India Governor, OF immense
| riches for those days. At the time OF
the marriage Of Lord Castlereagh's
mother, her father, the Earl of Hert-
ford, was Lord Lieutenant OF Ireland;
and Lord Castlereagh was brought up
in England among the Seymours; and
Lord Oxford letters will prove that he
! gave early indications of great talents.