Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-27
BURKE. PITT, AND SHERIDAN
From Mrs. Piozsi's RecoLI,c,;on.

From Mrs. Piossi's RecoAeetioas
BUBKE -" At the time | refer ,o ,.i
pointed out to strangers in the stree,s a "Nst
nowned orator, statesman, and writer n'n.
~ wore blue coat, scarlet ~ais,coat, 6 ,,.l'
breeches. and grey worsted stockings; S;a
hair, curly hair, made 10 look natural uIea
commonly used spectacles; So that il i, n IVA"
to describe his face. But noticed ,h, ~, ,h Easy
many wrinkles, and those mure Of tL,n'. w mad
age. He had double chin, as il j, 1 ,. "aa
large nostr's; rather long, irregular Nose.
a wide, and as 1t were, loose mouth ~. a"u
many public speakers have. His spe.,hs, ~. "
always worth listening to; though hi, a,,;.aI
was Often unbeoOmIng. as he would Lssn
hand IN his waistcoat pocket, and the o,ha, s''|
qu.n'ly in bIs bosom. and swing HI, bod, ,
side TO side, while his feet were fixed on ma "Oa
Being an lrlshnan, he not only spoke x,r
Irish accent. which might be excused, bu, NY
m Irish pronunciation, for which there is no VIZ
cuse; because English people Of GOOD eJur,.
must needs know how TO pronounce lbp, 81.
language; and when an Irishman of disrsrnn
and talents speaks differently, it must BE- hsr'e
he chouses to do SO, which i. ridiculon.
spite Of these objections, such were the ch,,.
OF his eloquence, his words flowed II 81 n,.',
torrent. and he so a5nunded III Lamv M.
phor and well applied learning, that a6m,, =
have heard hun Tor several hours. tosethe, +.
not remember OF being conscious Of uear,,.,'
or 'mpatience. while he was on his legs"
PrrT.-" Pitt was tall thin mas, If e..
skin. and with rather an effemate Gait. Hsrt
light colored hair, and grey, watery ewes. ard
projecting sharp pointed hose, little turned mn
His forehead, IN the part nearest TO his eyebrouI
came far out, as may be seen in hls statues =,
busts; and to those who are observers Of hunas
faces, gave the notion of his being man If -.
greatest possible clearness Of thought, and f1D
ness OF character; aud such he proved him.,
on every occasion. His manner Of sppakir: n
the House land seldom heard him exeen !,
Parliamenti was very lordly and com,nandn,,
he generally stretched forth his right arm ia n,
utmost length, kept his left hand on his hDmr'
the table. near which he usually stood, and h
feet at proper distance from each other. ,td
spoke deliberately, like person reading fmn
well written book. and in voice as loud nl
deep almost as a bell"
SHEpIDAN.-.' Sheridan was above the mill,
height: his limbs we're well formed, bu, r,h,
heavy, and his shoulders somewhat round: h,
had one leg perceptibly larger than the Other =
His face, in the lower part, was fat. and al mr
too rosy for very temperate or very dscres.
man. His ewes were most remarkahlr-ar:,,
Of dark color, and shining, as il tirecame lun
them; when near and Immediately 10 front Of
him, few could bear to look steadily at bis com
tenance. 10 pronouncing his orarions, he had
endless grace and variety Of action; using bots
arms with such propriety. that by their move.
ments one might nearly conjecture what he wh
saying. His voice had in il almost every musi;al
sound; it was sometimes as sweet a. the note,
of violin, and at others as mellow as an organ
lie was SO great master OF original Wit, rhee
rio without rules, and natural eloqueDce Of eve
ny kind, that he made those who heard him speak,
believe him in the right for the time, be The sub
ject of his Grafton what it might. He was, 10
short, neither moral, learned, or wise; but 50
amazingly clever that he completely imposed
himself as such upon his hearers, while decIalG'
Ing either on the hastings or in parliament"
.ath@eum