Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-04-16

lute ignorance OF some matters, which would
seem to US 10 be objectionable even among
our school-boys.
LORD ABERDEEN.
Near the Duke of We1lingion-and at the
side the tabie-in the House of Lords-sits
the Earl Of aberdeen, Minister of Foreign AZ
fairs. His name has been SO long identified
with diplomatic negotiations of interest to the
United States, that ] felt no small share of Gu
riosity to see him, and not less to hear him.
Had attempted to select him by guess-he
would perhaps, have been the last in that
whole group would have hit on as Lord
aberdeen. ] had figured 10 myself, an aged,
bald-headed. care-worn, cheek -filrrowed no.
bleman, of the high-heeled school-when to
my surprise, very plain and unassuming
person both in dress and manner, rose to an
swer some inquiries regarding the affairs Of
Syria, aud the Lord Chancellor from the wool
sack, announced his name, "The Earl of A.
berdeen?" He is man of good ordinary size,
of rather dark complexion, and wears his hair
which is black, somewhat mixed with crew.
smooth on his head, and rather low on his
forehead, and looks precisely like plain Bap-
list or Methodist preacher-his tone of voice
Is deep and sonorous, and to INV ear parlicu-
arly agreeable. He speaks slowly and dis.
linctly, and turns off full and complete periods
in well selected words without "hesiiaiing' or
''mumbiing )" but as if to be Ga little in the
fashion"-of English speaking--h INDUCES
In repetition, but of an odd character. He
does not mar sentence or spoil period BY
1.-The first finishes off that and then almost
invariably beginning another by repeating the
last word or Two of the one just finished
For example: sin reply to the inquiries
made by the noble lord, il affords me sincere
pleasure To assure him that the course adopted
by Her Mnjestv's Government, in the matter
to which he alludes is precisely in accordance
with that, which on a former occasion met
his entire approbation,-entire Appreciation
and | can also add, that it is the determine
ton Of Her Majesty's ministers TO continue
that system throughout SyI!a-Syris. The
good effects of which are so clearly manifested,
not only in Syria but in every quarter where
Her Majesty's arms have been called on to
extend and defend the honor and best inter-
ests OF civilization,-and-&c. SC. &c.
His expression Of face is calm and deter
Mined and his manner and language entirely
In accordance, blended at the same time with
much amlablity and kindness-one of those
safe kind of men, who looks as if he measur-
ed his steps by rule of right, intending as far
as possible to avoid error, and if by accident
he fell into error, few would incline 10 charge
hun with intentionally doing so.
lie looks like good worker, and has that
reputation. He is over sixty years of age,
but does not appear so when you couple with
1t the fact that his office is one Of great labor.
and care, and anxiety. One Of our men Of
his age, and charged with his duties, would
look twice as old.
This fact often struck me, as in the case of
Dir Robert Peel-how it was possible for men
charged with so much duty and labor, TO look
so well, there must not only be great method
and order In their departments; but they must
also have at their control vast amount of as
slsiance, and that too embracing the best abiIi-
ty. So that when they come to Parliament
prepared TO answer enquiries or to bring forth
mass of statistics and calculations in support
OF any great measure, very large share Of
the labor must have been prepared by others
BE this as it may however, no ordinary
man can long hold prominent place in Go
| vernment exposed as they must be in meet
ing and facing on the floor the whole mass Of
talent that is arrayed against ministers on all
OC'dSIOUS-AUO i1eTe III NAV not be without
interest to enquire how far it may be expe-
dient and soholeSome to constrain our Cabinet
ministers TO take their seats in both Houses of
Congress, not TO Uoie, but To defend and ex-
plain the measures Of Government, each in
his DEPARTMENT. One thing is pretty certain
no ordinary man would long be able TO sus-
tain his position, unless his measures were en-
tlrey Unexceptionable.
In England the theory Of Government is
| that site King" representing as he does, The
majesty Of Tie people, scan do no wrong.''
In other words, ''the people" assume that they
can do no wrong. Hence, as with us, "thc
Government" can't be sued because il is as
sumed they can do no wrong. With us then,
in the United States, as matters are organized,
an Executive Gouernmem Consisting Of Pres
ident and Cabinet.) exists for four years, be
their measures good or bad--no matter how
often they may urge on Congress measures
that meet no favor there~-no change of min
is'ers follows; they just steer clear Of impeach-
n,ent, and hang on TO office 'like dog at
roop'-but in England, If measure involving
any material interest is brought forward by
Ministers and the People represented in Par