Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-23
The Duke of wellington.

A correspondent of the New York Gazette gives
the following sketch of the "iron duke - and his
mode of speaking in the House of Lords
There he sat, precisely where twas told, years
ago, / should find him, about the middle of the front
bench on the right hand or " ministerial side of the
table, in his almost invariable posture and attitude
his arms folded close over his chest, his legs extended
out and feet across-and a trim shaped hat with a
very narrow brim pulled down and resting on his nose.
The subject changed to the reading of some long
report of a committee on railroads, through which the
Duke sat in the same position, and apparently taking
a good sound nap, when the reading finished. to my
equal surprise and qualification, he unfolded his arms
and legs, and taking off his hat approached the table.
The Lord Chancellor, from the I" Wool Sack" pro-
nouncing in a quiet and clear voice." The Duke Of
Wellington" and ''the Duke" began with "Me Luds,"
and here he put his hat down and rested his knuckles
on the table, and on he went from Me Luds,' to
Z. your LudshIps,'' and 50 this-this-this report, me
Luds," and Il" and 90 yer Ludships can't mis-
take, I" " this-thls report isis not Legislative, me
Luds and then he would give the table a crack
with his hard, bony hand, and shake his old head and
leather cheeks, and hear, hear, HEAR" would fol-
low from all sides-clear as light to them, no doubt
as also to the reporters, who were all busy putting
down what they, from long practice, know he intends
and means and actually does say-but could not
catch Though within twenty feet or less of HIM two
clear consecutive sentences. His style of speaking
is entirely ''Steeple chase"-hes sees his object, and
goes directly at 1t, and though difficult words come in
his way, like deep bitches or thick ~brambles, he tum-
bles through and over them, and generally comes ont
first as / found in this instance, on reading his ''clear
and lucid views" next morning in the "Times." His
objection to the report, it appears, was that it failed
to GO into the merits of the proposed road, but almost
exclusively INDUCED in charges of corruption on the
part of those who applied for a charter. Hence 9 the
Duke' carried his point, to send the report back, and
to separate the charges Of corruption from the merits
of the road itself.
beyond the merit or demerit Of the road itself. As
for corporations, we all know they will grab all they
can, and not be over nice as TO means-but your Lud-
ships House is not now a criminal court, nor this
question one of privilege-the simple question for this
committee to report upon is, as to the road itself; if
it is of no public utility, throw it out, and let it 90
by if 1t as Of public utility, pass the bill"
This is a brief translation of what " the Duke "
did say. and every body said next day that he
had made : a capital speech and effectnally put a
stop to an evil that committees were falling into
almost as great as 50 the railroad mania :" itself.
The Duke of Wellington gives evidence in his
personal appearance of a severe conflict going on
between seventy-six years of time, and a strong IRON
bound constitutions, hard worked and severely discip-
lined, and sometimes one side has it and sometimes
another-when off his guard, his Under lip will fall,
and his head will shake and his voice sound husky ;
and then again he will brace up, and put ''Old Time
flat on his back, and walk along like a man of ffty.
1 can recall no one in the United States who re-
him in the face so much as the late Col.
Trumbull, though the Colonel's nose was not quite so
prominent; but his attitude, expression and complexion
were exceeding like those of "the Duke as the
latter now appears.