Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-07-22
LORD BROUGuAM.

| The following sketch Of Lord BRouGHAM is
from the London correspondence of the ''New
York Mirror" 1t very much like carica-
ture, but of that faithful description which
conveys better idea Of the subject than for
nal possessed portrait:
''All this time YOU win fancy Brougham's
tongue going at the rate Of forty smoke jacks
in one. Seated on the first row Of the opposi-
ton, with Stanley on one side Of him, Lord
Ashburon on the other, aud Ellenborough in
the rear, he puts half dozen questions in a
breath to as many Ministers, and proceeds to
answer them himself out Of hand, glancing off
into half dozen fresh topics in the course OF
each reply TO his own queries then dropping
down into his seat with protest thai Govern
ment should be prepared with the information
he sought. and finally starting up again and
declaring he will have no speeches, as there IS
no business before the House; and forthwith
he proceeds TO make speech upon that, chal-
longing every body around to call him TO or
der, or to point out IN what he does not strict
ly conform TO parliamentary usages. A few
peers Crishmen. of course) accept the chal-
/ lenge 10 their subsequent tribulation One is
Lord Mountcashel, Ga pious noble. who
once compared the Prophets of the Scripture
to the sprodting of The potaio.) but he very
speedily finds himself bewildered IN his
attempt to follow the exclamation, who
catches him az the very first trip, and pours
out a torrent of words upon him about law,
and philosophy, and logic, and thousand
other things that are so much high Dutch 10
the mystiGed Patlander The second leader
Of the forlorn hope will generally be the Mar
gus OF Londonderry, who is sure TO start with
a bull or blunder of some sort or another, on
which Brougham, with the rapldity OF a kite,
lays violent and resistlesS claws, upsetS the
fiery coaowner amidst universal dersion and
then coo!ly says he should like to know what
are the intentions of the Cabinet ON immigra-
ton, on transportation. on education and bank
ruptcy business ending with pretty broad
hint that il would be well If the Marquis of
Lansdowne took his notion OF law from some
what more competent authority than Lord
Campbell
There is no exageration in this. A literal
report of the proceedings Of any night when
Brougham figures would eclipse in exrava-
gance any invention. But such exhibitions
are not reported fully, and an abndnment is
destructive OF their rich groteSqueneSs The
undesirable part Of Brougham's oTatory is
his action. Instead OF speaking from his place,
as other persons do, he goes right over 10 the
table, and not only that, but places his elbows
upon II, balancing himself on one foot and
looking with intense eagernesS at the ndivid-
ual he addresses, varying his position by star
ting up every other minute to thump the box
before him, and turning round 10 ask questions
or direct observations 10 any one in any other
part OF the House that may strike his fancy ;
and the chances are that the moment he is
about TO receive the information he requires,
he sits down beside one Of the the clerks and
writes a letter or two, which he dispatches on
the spot, without paying the slightest seeming
regard 10 his informant, though at the same
time not syllable escapes him, as any one
very quickly finds out who ventures 10 pre-
sume on his apparent inaueniion.
|'Yet, with all this eccenucity Of manner,
this expfessibe love OF talking for the sake Of
talk, there is about all he says and does super
abundant evidence of the highest order of
mind-sueh solidity of information on the
most Heterogeneous and out ot-the way subjects
perpetually peeping forth, and endless play Of
fancy, thathe eXlo:ts admiration when he fails
to win respect. Fiauered, feared, and spoil
ed, he hurres along, goaded by some inexo-
Table demon, who forbids all quiet to his vic
tim, and impels him 10 incessent Occupation of
tongue, hand, and BRAN. from morning till
night, and frequently all night long"