Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-27

IRISH ORATORS.

are published in the Nashville National Ban
ner, whose name we think is known TO us, has
commenced a series of essays relative to Irish
| Orators. His first number we have read, and
J as we think it will be found exceedingly inter-
esting, we copy very large proportion % it,
into to-day's paper. We opino the author is
M FLETcHER, the writer Of the Political
| Horse Race" and several other literary per-
formances, of very considerable celebrity II
we are right in our con lectures, ~e hope that
Mr. Hunt, the very able Editor of the Banner,
will have the goodness to ask Mr.. Fletcher, TO
| forward TO us, the essays which he, Mr.. Hunt
promised TO procure for US, sometime during
the month of last September. Mr.. Hunt will
undoubtedly recollect his promises. But to
the sketches.
EDMUND BURKE is a name which has de-
scendcd 10 posterity, clothed in glory and re-
nown. Like Cicero, he united the talents of
writing and speaking with equal force and elc-
gance. His speeches excel in variety and ex-
tent of knowledge, in curious and instructive
observations Of human nature, in sublime sem
creations of fancy and embellishments of rhc-
toric. But it is generally admitted that they
are aggressive and comparatively feeble in pro-
ducing conviction. They are before us with
the advantages of his corrections and revis-
ions, for he was too ambitious of posthuInous
fame to suffer it 10 be diminished by neglect
lis character beams through every sentence
stern, uncompromisng in his sentiments, he
advances assertions with the utmost conf
dence; hurried on by fervid ina gination, he
often oversteps tho limits of judgment, and
overstrains his Judgment till he treads upon
unknown ground. lie seldom attempts vii, d,
and then it sets upon him like laced coat upon
plain country gentleman. His dcnunciations
against the French Revolution and Warren
Hastings, leave us to regret that great ablli-
ties should be IN de subser, lent to malevolence
and abuse. But his eXertons in the holy cause
Of religious Liberty will suffice to hide his de-
fects IN the briiancy Of their lustre. His
moral propensities were virtuous and sincere,
and believe that he never spoke or acted
wherein his conscience did not support him
through difficulty, and console him in the agony
Of defeat.
In commencing his career, he was de-
pendant on a faction for consequence, nay,
even tor pecunIary support, and necessitated
judgment would have disapproved On one
occasion he appeared entirely unrestrained by
decorum, and ubjected himself TO deserved
ridculc, when he plucked dagger out of his
bosom, and seemed frantic with the energy of
his preJudices. There some who stigma
tze his quarrels with Fox as the effects Of a
iangushing after pension and place, but calm
consideration must allow, that in it, he never
departed from the politics he advocated, and
nobly sacrificed friendship for the nations
veal. He saw the effects of revolution in
France, and dreaded that the deuge would ex-
tend TO Britain. He loved the Constitution too
devotedly to tumble down the whole fabric,
because few bemshes appeared in the archi-
lecture. He had fouoht against these defects,
while the watchword was reform, but he stood
on the threshold Of protection, when he dis
covered that public clamor had charged its
battery with anarchy, ruin and dismay
endeavored, istently with my design
in this article, to Gull from his speeches a few
which would exemplify his style.-
l found that their excellence cons ed more in
a uniform beauty, than in particular submty.
He was unable to condcnse his tho ghts into
a single happy expression or argument. He
took an extensive range through every subject |
and the unlimited imagery OF his genius led him
from flower TO flower, till he lost himself, van |
derrng amid fancies of his own creaton.-
Therefore, orators of inferior sense and power |,
made more impression, and while every ear |
was delighted with the music of his voice, and |
every tongue bore testimony to his praise, il !
seemed as if the mind had been diverted by |
subtle reasoning rather than conviction, and |
open to receive ideas more consonant
with its own. His eloquence was lese fitted
Tor popular assembly than for the scholastic |
recluse; It was too learned and subtle, and re-
luired more time than was spent in delivery to
understand. His action was easy and simple,
MS appearance plain and unaffected, and his
ooks were incapable OF expressing that energy
which constituted the chief power of Lord
Chatham's speaking. | transcribe one pas
'age from his speech on American taxation in
l774, which only affords feeble glimmering
'f his ability, yet for the reasons have stated,
is as good a specimen, and retains as much
If hs detached excellence as any could find.
l remember, sir, with melancholy pleas
IRE the situation of the honorable gentleman,
General Conway who made motion for the
epeal OF the stamp act, in that crisis when the
whole trading interest, crammed into your lob
lcs, with trembling and anxious cxpccta-
ION, waited, almost TO winters return Of
lght, their fate from your resolutions. When, {
1 length, you had determined in their favor, I
nd your doors, thrown open, showed them the {
gurc of iileir dclivcrcr in the well earned ri- ,
mph OF his important victory from the whole {
I tn grave multitude there arose an involun-
lry burst OF gratitude and transport. They
imped pom him like children on long alb d
ent father. They clung to him like captiycs i
bout their rodccmer. All England, all Amer {
"A joined in his applause. Nor did he seem {
sensible to the best Of all earthly rewards, r
&c love and admiration Of his fcllow-citizcns. a
lopee elevated and Joy frightened his crest. I a
ood near him, and his face, TO use The cX- G
cLA. o. 4 Il L IL q