Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-17
From the London Morning. Chroniele,]
IJEE OF LORD ELDON.

fairness and impartiality, and some diligence
must have been employed in the collection oil
materials
AS few persons are familiar with the incl
dents of the early life of Lord Eldon, we shall
transcribe the first Chapter, which leaves him
in the high road to preterment
. Scott, .ayly Rfe-eau TO the 6ar-attendanee on the
northern cire1;t-i,s clgaiss,ine marriage
The judicial life of the Earl of Eldon being
at length brought to close, twill prove inter
esting and useful to glance back on the events
of his singular dynasty, and endearonr TO give
posterity the advantage OF a cotemporary oph-
ION upon its merits If their be allegations a.
sainst The Chancellor, the Minister, or the
man, which he can successfully answer-n
there be doubtful passages in his history whlch
he can explain to his own credlt-then ne
should be grateful to the humble monitor that
owes him he opportunity Of defence. And,
lastly if the halance Of impartial testimony, and
the dreaded decision Of conscience--now vindi-
eating its authority in the solitude OF retire
ment-eive substance to those charges, and re-
solve those doubts against the accused-then
happy may he consider his lot to be, that
remnant Of existence is still vouchsated TO him
for the purposes ofpenitence and expiration.
Lord Eldon, it will be denied BY no one, long
DOS sessed the largest, the most efficacious pow
ers of any man in Eng:and-the King not ex-
cented-to lay the foundation OF his country's
welfare There was no one to give him any
effectusl opposition, if it had been his wish to
be benefactor: no one, even, would nave
thought the worse Of him for heing so, on the
contrary, their was no, spot within the bri-
fish dominions to which his carriage would
have dragged him, where he would not have
found esteem and applause; and that tribute OF
gratitude would have been echoed heartily and
sincerely. in after times, when every trace OF
his asn oransraiian would have inn'r h"n'-''f'-
He rose from the ranks Of the people. 1t
was his duty-it is the imperative obligation
of every man who builds him up such tower
inc structure of earthly fortune-to prove, by
some SD endid return Of service TO his country,
how wise is tina, constitutional principle which
places the materials within his reach. Let
him do such deeds that every mans heart will
desire to see he ex nipple OF his elevation drawn
into a pre> eient 1t is heavy debt which
the ermined Peer owes to the plebian a6yen-
turer- the Earl Of Eldon to John Scotland
woe to him. he has very partially purged off
the claim,
In the latter part Of the year l74e, Mr.. Scott,
the second son Of Mr.. William Scott, Of New.
castle on-Tyne, was born. The father origin
ally was in he situation Of domestic in the
family of the Earl Of Strathmore: he was q
thrifty we'll conducted man, and con,rived to
accumulate a moderate fund from his earnings,
wberewith he commenced the business OF
coal6tter in the town above mentioned. Viii,
lam Scott (now Lord StowelD and the subject
of this memoir, were sent to the grammar
school at Newcastle, where they spent the u
sual interval that precedes translation to the
university. Happily the two boys were able to
profit by the exhibitions enjoyed by the gram
mar school oftheir native town, and they went
to Oxford TO this day Lord Eldon strives
to give importance to these foundations; and
part of his wrath against Mr.. Brougbam is
accounted for by the unsparing investigation,
which that gentleman has been SO successful in
opening into their time honoured abuses.
The SCOTS were looked upon as clever boys.
William was lively and social; John was a
more passive character. They maintained
at the University chiefly by the
fruit of their own exertions. William gave
public lectures at Oxford, for which he had to
stand many Jest afterwards from Dr.. John
son.
, John Scott entered the Inner Temple, in Hi
larry Term, I772. He kept sixteen Terms, and
was called to the bar a, the age Of twenty six,
in the year i776. While he was ye, on his pill
grinage TO the profession, he was distinguished
BY great legal attainments. He was never
known to sacrifice even a moment, beyond what
was absolutely needful for health, to amuse-
msnt; and, in bis zeal for knowledge Of the
Law, he abandoned The pursuit Of almost every
other species Of Information. "Where do you
dine to-day2" his brother William would some
times say to John, with view Of engaging him
to meet johnson, Boswell, or some other Of the
literary men with whom j, was Williams de-
light to be in constant association. The uni
form answer to this interrogatory was, 81 dine
on Coke to- day."-Nav, but come to INV cham
bers--you'il see the Doc,or."-He can, draw
4 bill" And here the conversation would drop. |
Il was In consequence Of this habitual aversion
10 any bu, professional occupation, that John
vas known so little TO Boswell as never even to
nave been alluded to in his four volumes Of gar
utility, whers William is SO conspicuously men
Toned.