Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-11
COBBETT'S-DEBUT.

I take il that the reader is acquainted with
the person Of this remarkable man, and that he
agrees with me in declaring that the outward is
strongly characteristic of the inward man. The
general expression of his face and person is, as
have heard it more than once observed, like that
Of the late Sir Walter Scott-save that his coun.
tenance exhibits more vivacity, archness, and,
as it strikes M, more intelligence; his forehead,
too, is much boider and more massive, and his
complexion more ruddy and healthy. As he rose
to address the house, the position Of his hands in
his pockets, and the sly twiukling Of his little
deep. set grey eyes. reminded me forcibly OF the
prints Of the late Mr.. 'Abernethy. whom he be-
sides much. resembles in the sarcastic style Of
his humOr. and his arrogant contempt for the OPT.
Mons Of others In tone of voice and manner,
as we'll as costume, he might pass for an arch,
good. humored. well-to.do gentleman farmer, be-
ing too self possessed and free from afiectaton 10
be at all obnoxious to the charge OF vulgarity.
To truth, no man Of Cobbett's vigor and origlna-
lity of intellect could be considered vulgar, ex-
cept BY YOUR exquisite Of the silver fork school.
Notwithstanding all these advantages, and that
he speaks as huently, if not as forclbly, as he
writes, Mr. Cobbett will not tell in Parliament
II IS not that he wants information, or lacks the
means or inclination Of communicating itj nor
on account of the alleged and credited inconsist.
encies and vagarie, Of his public life; nor even
because he was originally farmers boy. and
afterwards private soldier that he will fail, as
confidently predict he will. in the House. OF
Commons. | leave entirely out OF account his
want of tact in attempting to address the House
50 often on the first night of entering it; because
one happy retort or good speech would more than
do way with the uufavorabIe presage Of such IN
discretion, and because il must have been PLAIN
Ia the House that there was much more OF diffl-
dence than Hunt-Iike audacity IN bis manner
Indeed, paradoxcal as 1t may appear, ascr'oe
his taking his seat on the Treasury Bench. cheek
nv iowl v 18th the Lord Johns and Lord Charleses
and the restless anxiety which he betrayed to
sneak, that is, to be dong something, much more
TO ,na,tyuse homie than assurance.
There is no man perpetrates such desperate
acts Of apparent impudence as your sens'''vely
proud modest man. These are not the conside.
rations on which would ground my prediction
Of Cobbett's failure, in Parliament, but on others
more allied 10 the pecuiaritiss Of his genius, and
the character of the assembly Of which he is at
last member. In the first place, Mr.. Cobbett
displays, even in his happiest writings, the de-
fects. no less than tie sell educat
ed man of pc MUS The very term "sslf educated
implies yisor, perhaps originality oflntellecl; 1t
also implies concentrations, if l may so speak,
requirements, and logical habits, which are me
best, unfortunately the rarest fruit OF what Is
called a systematic, liberal education.
IF YOU are this moment delighted by the Draw
nv yisor and artIess felicity and healthy tresh'
ness Of his language and illustrations. you are
sure in the next to be offended BY the bold asser'
t,on. the illogical and oftentimes contradictory
inference, the irrelevant digressions the running
away from, and frequently with the subject, and
the arrogant " my thunder" assumptions which
abound in Mr.. Cubbett's lucubrations. Nothing
Is more common in self.educated men, than q
doumatic confidence in their own hastily picked
nm crudities-for we cannot, without perver'
s;on Of language, call them opinions-togethe'
with an insolent contempt for the deliberately
formed opinions Of others; as, indeed, Tor the
same reason, nothing is more common than 'ne
overweening importance which they attach to
some matter Of detail, o. minor feature Of an ar
eument, while the general principle lnvoied IN
the discussion, and obvious at the trst o'ush 10
a trained intellect, is either overlooked or con-
sidered of bot secondary importance.
This is much more apparent ~ the unpsemea .
| itated barapeues, than in the writings OF sucf