Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-23

IL 1t having been reported hat Sir James Mackn
tosh is coming out to this country British Minis
ter, in the place of Mr.. Vaughn who is about re-
turning homo, the following skeich Of his charace,
will be read with interest. II is taken from sketches
Of LIVING British Literary Characters, in the Edin-
bufgh Magazine
h!iar-. The Right Hon. Recorder of Bombay
vas ORIGINALITY student medicine in the Edinburgh
tGVe5si'y. From the hospital and the ds.ec,np
roa, tG passed into law and the etaphysics of the
lchaoe:,, thence to GrotIus and Pu6endort and the
In is'unj thence to history, ancient and modern:
sad from :hese has settled down into kind of
emeritus mountaineering on all three, in which.
however, the Influence of his earlier ia
very observable The study OF medicine ss has
seen well marked by he late Professor Stewart with
relPc" 10 Mr.. Locke, is Of all OF hers most fitted to
prepare he MUD for those speculalions W hch have
engaged the attention Of Sir j. Macintosh since the
morning of his life: 1.-THE complicated and fugitive
and often cquvocul phenomena of disease. requiring
in the observer far greater portion Of discrirnjna
ting sagacy than those of physics, strictly so called
resembling in this respect much more nearly the pho
nomcna about which metdphy'cs' ethics and poitic'
are conversant." But for the very same reason the
study of me 5Icine, is apt to induce habit of seen
teal indifference, which almost precudes q rooted
and warm affection TO truth, without, il is true d,
posing the mind the mere to embrace error, but
rather to regard 1t as matter for the exercise of
the critical faculties than object Of our moral
dlsapprobation 1t is owing to this influence Of his
medical studles, which even Mr.. Locke'e stIrpsss,no
sngacity and powers OF self examination failed in
guarding him against, and not 10 less wortbv
source, that am inclined to trace the yscila,ions
which have been censured in Sir Janess political nd
ethical opinions, and the want of fslnr earnestness
and Of oneness Of purpose in bis various speeches and
essays. Be 1t speech in the House Of Commons
lecture on the Law Of Nations IN Llncolns Inn Hall
on article in tic Edinburgh Review, or O history Of
Ethical Philosophy, the Right Hon and learned
Member 10 never the mere advocate Of even his own
view and opinions--is never content with LAYING
down ana Illustrating the arguments on his own side
OF the question: but as Judge, seems % feel him.
sef bound TO state all that has BEEN or Gun he said
prJ and con, on both sides, with equal expcitness
aud with apparently equal earnestness. In syerv
thng he IS The learned exPounder Of all that has been
said on the matter at issue, without, however re-
fleeing new light infusing new warmth from hia
ewn pTcpondeFatlng conviction. Hence while no
astoDlsbes by the wonderful extent and accuyncv ~
his Tcsdhnh, and by the less wonderful readiness
and accuracy Of his memory, he seldom imp,os,oo
you with q conviction Of his 5etuv man OF con-
nnndng intellect, and never hurries you ON in
GREATNESS enthusiasm by the force Of his own feel
ings. Hence tho unImpressve-from want Of Rlow.
ing warnth-characteT OF his speeches, in which
as has been we'll observed by late writer YOU have
the truth The whole truth and nothing but the truth:
III which tho exception is laid down with az much
earnestness rs the rule principle and the obiee.
ton as the argument. the doubt as the conviction
ioI me so purpose as should seem. Of showing of
bIs critical acumen IN rebutting and SOLVING them :
IL ~ evident that he IL man Of no ordnsrv ,.I.,,
and of wonderful requirement; but that bo wants
something Promsthesn to impau living Ere IN h;s
rosct obstractons;-tbat he would have done mn an
better had he known less,-that iu fact his o,;,,,aI
powers are weighed down under the weigh, y his
researches into tho opinions OF others HE speee,
~ Parliament are too pTosy and met physical and
abound too Cucb IN reference 10 the theory Of poll
to and the law Of nations; while his netsphyslcs