New-York tribune., 1841-06-18
1iterarp Notices.


authorities Four Volumes. Philadelphia Carey u iiaf''
Though OF no ecen: discovery there IS yet great rc n
ne remark that the characters Of public men cannot be II;
.aay and correctly estimated until shall hare buried
the reseniuen:s they excited and dimmed the adventurous
lights beneath which they moved Exalted RAM" u '''
worlds esteem ,eo oten fills the place OF inteec;'a-
brilliant accomplishments allowed 70 excuse
life and party yiruencc public prejudice or TeF''1
ship inevitably distorts the character and gives ia
70 the reputation Of distinguished men. bnt ".s '
steady step sweeps away all this: the glitter 0'
high station fade away the years roll on '' 60
cess no longer lazzles brilliant talents ana ' 'o''- 'O
more excuse unprincped ambition ou' al men see a
y;-ue in is smp!e transcenden: PuFity with lis AsH Dig
~ and ob,e purposes alone worthy OF reverence end o.
worship.
l. hs ,;sb, the Life and Character Of BoLNGrRoKE N
o, with all eminent men, be viewed HIS
ron his wealth the personal graces and splendid
plishnents by which he captyated all superficial Observers
and won applause from superior minds 70 Us a ho1ga
thew had ncver been the mind is rest whsy upon WHAT
he did, for good for evor this ever Inc record OF
WIN, man gas-o examine closely, with bold severity and
,nerring discrimination the mark which ne cupon ms age
Judged by this standard the fame Of Bongbroke by no
rests upon tina, dizzy hight Of greatness which ne oc
cupied while living The question long since ASKED ny
Burke Who reads Bolingbroke and suspect tina; no
satisfactory answer could be given this inquiry no7v
than in the days of the great statesman BY whom was pro-
pounded Sinsc mis- decease the world has gone on "c
enough without him any thing ne did OF thought De
po;ned out az having given shape his own age or strength
and progress that which succeeded him. During MS Pc
IT,, rn which he ran his brilliant career-he ac-
conpished nothing worthy of remembrance ana ou LOT 'e
;t Of treason fixed upon his name its mention would pro-
Of,
,esm,ns fame generally conceded tha; he was
,,,, ne ,be charges preferred against him by Wapoc IN
oonnce,ion with his management of the Treaty of Utrecht:
shore no deub, too he labocd with zeal to bring the
preenaer as Monarch Great Britain the of George
,ho Frs, us preclptato flight France, being
.ed bv Parliament set the seal of confession his guilt
and though contrary TO the prayer of Wapolc- his at
,auer never be reversed and may his crimes be for
eotten-,hc King subsequently extended to him the royal
pardon vet he never reganed any portion of his influence in
affairs of State.
ao nalcan BulYcbroie distinguished for his per
fec, knowledge of al public affairs i'll both ancient and mo-
dorm times for the powerful pen which he welded with
yigor and asdu,y and abeve all tor his preemncnt ab
,;es rs dgnied and persuasive Orator OF his merits IN
,he latter respect we have this high estimate by well
qualified to Judge There may have bce", says Lord
Brougha more measure and matured power IN Pitt more
fire in the occasional OF Chatham ubdied vc-
hemence more reasoning in Fox dcetoned de-
clsa,ion in passages OF Sheridan. learned imagery IN
Burke more vii and IL CaAHng; but whole, and
taking in all rhetorical gifts and all the orators accomplish
nents no one perhaps hardly inc union OF several ot them
can match wha, taught by tradition to admire IL Bo-
lingbroke spoken eoquence and what the study OF his
works makes ; easily believe to be true
In all the course ci Ms polsal le the ruling passion OF
omgbroke scish uapsincpled ambition which ac-
sowedged no raie Of duty regarded consequences to
hers than himself stied all generous devouon and allowed
owarm feelings ngyg up and flourish beneath its deadly
lade The same patry yndctiycness which actuaed him
much OF his political career, shoc forth conspcuonsy in
his treatment OF Pope with whom he had always lived on
yerns of the closest and intimate friendship but whose
remo,y the uri green upon hs grave he revied
and loaded with the bitter taun,s.
Bolnsbroke was a active and brlian, though selfish
and unprncipled Statesman splendid speaker and fine
writer but with al this he could res; slisiied He
sought beside to be phiiosooher-a teacher OF morals
the founder of system OF metaphysics. He has left behind
him this in other departments productions OF eNrao
dinary merit. Bn be acknowledged that much OF
ghe praise bestowed upon icse elaborate ophsres IN
reality called by brilliant purity and Of the
style in which they cloed and the ,e, rank and high
repu,c OF their author A. has been we'll said, any
his rank might pior philosopher, Wit critic,
just as he would SET up hi, coach up member of
Parliament. His reeloge guarantee for hi. Philoo
ply, and his ecgan. tog the tneness OF MS
To nudge OF 0aror by his sentiments expressions
alone has too 6eeA regarded rucene and
peian,ry But all aeion has long since vanished and
The hollow -ensuan ei BolingJroke- philosophy has often
been exposed lis ao prominent feature steady aim
destroy al aith ing. spiritual dra the level Of
all mans noOlc faculties and blot from MS mad
all thosgh and all hopes any higher rei;e= In place
OF n belief .n;cigea spiritual Creator he substituted
dark and gloomy na,ugaism which shu, from the
soul those gmmer;ngs OF future life known and cherished
by the wisss, OF TIC heatnsn.
In his private ehayac.e Boagbroe was low debauchee
moving law bu; the promptags passion and sitting
81 the whispered admon;oas conscience by still deeper
'lunges into the ire OF eGuaty Many apology
his proigacy in the general immortality OF the age but