Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-08-07


ception of the harmonious and true, in litera-
ture and laws, there is hardly any statesman
more thoroughly practical than Macauley.
He can sympathize with the great works oil
imagination, and his rhetoric revels in their
praise and illustration but he sympathises
with them merely as works of imagination,
and he carries but few of his localities into his
view of actual life and established govern
ment. He tolerates no writer whose sensI-
bility and Imagination are predominant IN
discussing questions of national policy, oil
finance, manufactures, commerce or laws
He allows the introduction of no Utoplas
in the living, breathing, SHINING world OF
fact. No mercy is shown to those who
treat government as fine art, and Judge
of it as they would Of statue or picture,
and the mental constitution of political phi
Iosophers, who erect theories out of mate
rails furnished from other sources than rea-
son and observation, is analysed with I'M
rivalled dexterity and discrimination. All
rant about the rights of man, all whining
and whimpering about the clashing interest
of body and soul, are treated with haug hty
scorn, or made the butt of contemptuous
ridicule. Society is viewed as it is, and
principles adapted TO the existing state of
things. No man is denounced for acting
and thinking, in the sixteenth century, what
the sixteenth century acted and thought;
or attacked because he did not accommo-
date his conduct to the principles of the
nineteenth. To the discussion of all prac-
teal questions he brings practical logic,
and an experience grounded on observation
of the actual world He would belong to
that party which is just enough in advance
of the age to be useful to it. But if he has
little respect for impracticable theories OF
freedom, neither will he hold any terms
with theoretical advocates or apologists of
After scattering all arguments
for a political institution he often opposes
its demolition, from expediency. He never
allows the majesty Of reason TO be msulteG
with the thin sophisms used in palIialion
or defence of political and social abuses !;
but he is too little of an idealist in politics
to suppose that, because those abuses are
unfounded in reason, they are necessarily
aad altogether peruicious, and should be
overthrown. His enthusiasm and magma
ton march in the train Of his understand
ing, and never lead where they should fol-
low.n
AS an Edinburgh Reviewer, Macauley is
as welI-nay, from the cheapness of the
reprinted edition of his works here, | may
say better known in America than in Eng
land. In his own peculiar line he is with
out a rival. But must leave him, and beg
the readers attention whilst direct it to-
wards another member Of the ''body polite"
There is, seated on the Ministerial side
of the house, a gentleman of remarkably
bland and open countenance. He is tall
and well proportoned, but rather inclined
to corpuiency. To look at him, one would
imagine that nothing conld ruffle the placi-
dity Of his countenance. His air and bear
ing is that of perfect gentleman, and he
is dressed with scrupulous care-even nice
ty. a snow-white cambria neckloth and
collar surmounts white waistcoat and blue
frock coat; and neither garments of the
same color, neatly strapped over nattly
made shoes, complete his costume. Not
muscle Of his face moves-as he hears
the government attacked or commended
the iercest ebullition of party wrath, and
the most violent invective, are alike unheed
ed the same bland smiIe-the same cour-
teous demeanor is exhibited. Sir Robert
Peel never exhibits himself-his mind is
busily working, but not a wheel of the ma
chinery is to be seen. He rises the person.
ifcalion of candor-the incarnation of cour-
tesy-he speaks, and his persuasive, pIats-
ible tones allure your attention and almost
win your confdence-and you admire the
color of the fish which you think you have
caught-but while gazing, it slips through
your fngers-you have not made anything
out of Sir Robert.
Just observe him for few moments, as
he stands with one of his hands under the
tails of his coat, and the other playing with
the glass which hangs by ribbon from his
neck-some member of the Opposition has
put a few plain questions TO him-ques-
tons to which plain answers have been re-
quested. The Premier is surely going to
give candid replies-his face looks as in
nocent as that of lamb. Those who see
him for the first time, fling at once to the
winds all their preconceived notions OF Sir
Roberts cunning. The house is silent,
anxious and expectant. O'Connel looks
up from under his broad brmmed hat, with
an increduIous sheer on his counenance !;
some of the ex-Ministers wink knowingly
at each other; the green ones of the house,
and the greenest of them all, who ventur-