Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-06-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
ROBERT PEEL.

He has by no means what is called an intel
%lectual countenance, but one that would rather
impress you with an idea of heaviness or dull
sagacity, than the qualities of quick appre-
hension or versatile capacity, which he UNI
doubtedly possesses. In his manners he is
rather naughty and overbearing-or perhaps
Indifferent, would be the better term-than
affable nor does he relax an iota Of his dig
nifty to any, however high their birth or sta
ton, though in his official capacity no man is
more courteous. Wellington, perhaps, is an
exceptien-he is the only man to whom he
bends. He regards the Duke with venera-
ton almost approaching to ~idolatry, and
chooses to consider him-or at least, to call
him-his political father and tutor. Sir Ro-
bert is rather particular in the matter of dress,
this used to be entirely black, with a velvet
vest. He always had a weakness for a
massive gold chain, and a passion for fault
less boots.
No man has a greater love Of applause,
and none can submit with worse grace to the
taunts or '%ironical cheers Of his opponents.
He cannot bear to be laughed at, and a tri-
fling matter that some men would not notice,
annoys him amazingly. We were present
upon one occasion, when after an adjourn
ment of Parliament, he condescended to treat
his constituents with a choice speech on po-
litical matters. A large meeting was con-
vened in the town hall, and upon his entrance
he was of course, greeted enthusiastically,
(for the towns-people of Tanworth look upon
| him with the same aifectionate pride, as the
Boston people do upon his American coun-
terpart-Web but a few bad sheep will
creep into the most select fold, and a few
Chartists had arisen in that town. The lead
err Of this party was in the hall, resolved to
show his independence by interrupting the
proceedings of the meeting. Gentlemen
said Sir Robert. Hiss, hiss said the Char
fist. Turn him OUT said the others. Il
congratulate myself continued Peel Hiss,
hiss said his opponent upon meeting you
once more hiss, hiss" Jack said Sir
| Robert, (for he knows every man in the town
by name,) Jack, in heavens name, don't
tax my modesty too far; the applause of a
goose is more Insupportable than his cackle.'
1t was a poor joke, but he is a miserable jes-
ter. 1t produced a laugh, however, and ST.
fenced the man.
Sir Robert begins to make a speech by
making an attitude. He places one hand
upon the table, the knuckles Of the other upon
his hip, and commences in a bland manner,
Sir For the first three minutes he will ut
ter a few disjointed sentences, prefacing and
finishing each one with an awful Sir
Then he will place his right hand in his vest,
and 60 TO work in earnest. No matter how
excited he may become, he waits at regular
intervals for applause, and if he were TO speak
in an assembly where there were no 'ironical
cheers to spur him on his mettle, or no hear,
hear and loud cheering to encourage him, |
believe he would break down.
He will occasionally exhibit q little petu-
lence when interrupted by tine sneers of the
opposition, but he never suffers his temper to
betray him into a folly. The severest rebuke
he ever administered to any man, was to o.
Connell, who had just been elected Lord
Mayor of Dublin, and came down to the
house wearing his robes of office, in bravado.
O'Connell had always been very civil in his
attacks upon Peel, but that night he INDUCED
in one of his violent scurrilous attacks. Sir
Robert lost all self-command, and appeared
perfectly maddened, as he rose to reply
He thanked heaven that he was not cursed
with the praise of a man, whose trade vas
traduction, whose life was a calumny-and
whose vituperation was the best proof of a
minister's rectitude.' We believe that was
about the only time Peel was ever called to
order.
He can be sarcastic when he ~pleases, but
sarcasm is not his forte. When the last Wing
Ministry was In its dying struggles, and a
few measures were brought forward as in
ducements fol the cooperation of the Tories,
he lamented in pathetic terms the hard fate
of tho chancellor OF the EXchequer, who was
angling with tempting bats for fishes that
were not hungry and refused to be caught,
and called upon the nation to admire a spec
tacle which the ancient poet had declared
worthy of the gods, Sd good man struggling
against hopeless adversity.'
Sir Robert does not confne himself 10 pc.
l%itics, but dabbles a little in everything
There is no better or more liberal patron o.
arts or literature, and his collections of paint
ings and statuary are second to few. As al
agriculturist, he surpasses all his neighbors
and no year passes without his carrying away
some Of the principal prizes at the cattle
shows. He used TO attend the meetings il
person., dine with the gentry after the bust
ness of the day, and make a speech tina.
could not be surpassed for the p%ractica
knowledge it displayed, by any one of the
native clod-hoppeTs. He has the best pond:
and the finest fish in the country, the hes
horses, the finest sporting dogs, the finest pre-
serves,and is himselfthe best shot withintwer.
ty miles Of his residence. He will forgive q
man for any crime but destroying his game
a man may steal a sheep with less impunity
than he may shoot a pheasant or gin a hare,
These are sacred, and every October he will
retire to the country, taking with him Prince
George of Cambridge, and some twenty more
of the cockney nobility, TO relieve the tur.
moils of office and political w~rangling with a
fortnight's battue' shooting.
Sir Robert is immensely rich, though moi
a large landed proprietor. His estate does