Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-20
BRITISH pRRInnIcAIs

We are indebted to MIR Gin ior the June Nos. Of
Bentley Blsekt5ood and the Daslia Uaissrsiiy Ma
gezinea
Bentley teens with delightful triaes-"Biaek-
wood" and the "Dublin University" With a due ad-
mixture Of the light and agreeable indulge in etayer
dissertations.
From sprghuy article in the Dublin Magazine,
on politics and Parliament" we make tho follow
ing exIract-a sort Of short hand sketch OF oGe of
the Radical leaders in Parliament, who is making
noise in the world:
The presentation OF the chartists' petition was
entrusted TO MIR Thomas Duncombe one Of the
members for tho ID strict Of London, called Fins.
oasy IN the reiorm act which has the city of Vest
minister on the south and west. = lint Paneras -
forming part of tho borough Of MARY lebone--on
tho north, and the city Of London on the cast Tom
pnneombe as lac is generally aud Familiarity called
Is a good looking fellow. somewhat dandyish in hi,
uress, and possessed of considerable nuoncy and
readiness OF speech. lie has latterly aimed nj he
in heeNous. and as he is rather a smart man in his
way, he makes the house laugh, aud is therefore
listened 10 with some tolctation. The English peo.
pie oil oil degrees, though very sensible are n, n,
10 duh; and are 50 conscious OF it, that itle vi
make considerable way ,h ,Se% In the iI ISn' 20
ei Commons laugh seems TO be OF gIeat relief
and u Is surprising what trash IN tho way of finn
Their worshPs will sometimes laugh at. However
when they laugh with Tom puncombc the bl,m,
which belongs to doing IL not on account of the
uashiness OF his Jokes, so much ~ the snecriny
hppant spirit in which they are uttered. Dun.
combe is well known London re,ts steenod 10 Ibe
very lips In all the fashionable vices AMI prcpos-
ferrous luxuriss Of that "demoralized METROPOLIS ~
There Is revolving Inconsistency in such a man
setting himself up rs tho champion OF what he calls
the wronged and oppressed working classes" No
one can suppose that he has any sincerity of SYM
paihy with them. He has no practical aeous,nt
ance with the way IN which poor men live. He
can form no accurate Judgment Of what would rea.
ly do them good. lie becomes the Parliamentary
agent OF their political leaders merely to play his
part IL tends to keep him in parliament for
place OF some importance. and gives him an oppor-
tunity TO threaten with revolution those who hayn
something TO lose by revolution. As for himself
II IS SAID that he has, this score, abundant
10 I've reckless-and his manner confirms the report
In hts own way he seems Inspired by the same kind
OF neral sentiment, or immoral sentiment, that
stimulated Lord Byron when he wrote Don Juan
lie likes 10 have hit or snecr at every thing which
they who have not had the same sort OF experience
as himself are generally disposed to regard with
some respect. The practice Of virtue he regards as
pretence-tho appearance OF il III matter Tor rid.
cue Every one grasp5 power for the sake of power:
and government by one sort Of people would be
Just as good as by another, because they are all
equally bad. No one has any doubt that AMONG
his familiars MIR Tom Duncombe sneers as much at
the idea of the country being governed upon "ehnr-
tist principles, in the House he does at the pre.
tensions OF the Legislature as at present consitu-
ted; assuring honorable members that il they
granted the prayer of the chartsts "they would nc.
qure that oil which they were very much in want
namely The respect, the Affection and the gratitude
OF the country"