Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-07-09
MIS- ELL A N E OU S
PERSONAL HABITS AND CHARACTER
OF THE WALPOLES.

OF THE WALPOLES.
BY ELIOT wARBURToN.
We are moi disposed 10 consider the elder
Horace Walpole great statesman, or claim
for him the consideration accorded to his
more celebrated brother; but he was supe
rior in talent to many Of his contempora-
ries who attained much higher eminence !;
and his honesty and zeal would have rem
dered creditable much less amount of po-
li,ical accomplishments than he could boast
of. Measured with the dipoma,sts of q
more modern period, Lord Walpole will
probably fall below par; but he had no ge-
Mus for that fine sub,lety which is now ex-
pec,ed to pervade every important negolia-
,ion, and knew nothing of that scientific
game Of words, in which diploma,ists of the
new school are so eager to distinguish
themselves.
In appearance he was more fitted to ap-
pear as a republican representative, than as
an ambassador from a powerful sovereign
to the mos. polished court in Europe; his
manners were SO unpublished, his form so in
elegant, and his address SO unre6ned. lie
rendered valuable support to the English
monarchy, and won the confidence OF The
shrewd ant calculating Queen Caroline, as
we'll as the esteem of the sagacious and pru
dent Staes-general. A trustworthy autho-
ri,y has styled him "a great master Of the
commercial and political interests of this
coun'ry," and accorded him the merits Of
unwearied zeal, industry, and capaci.y.-
With such advantages, he might we'll con-
fess, without much regret tha, he had never
learned to dance, and could not pride him.
self on making bow.
Though blum, and unpolished, he was
extremely agreeable in conversation; a.
bounding in pleasant anecdo,e, and enter
tsining "reminiscences fond Of society, af-
fable 10 every one, sumptuous in his hos
pi'sli,y, and no. less eslimsble in his do
mestc than in his social relations. Though
he wrote, and printed, and spoke lessons
of political wisdom, that met with the fate
Of entire disregard, it is impossible no. to
admire the unselfsh zeal ,ha, ould almos,
Immediately afterwards induce him to write,
print, and speak similar instructive lessons,
TO the same Sc. of negligent scholars.
There is a statement which having found
its way into such an authority as s'Chan-
dIer's Debaes," has been incorporated in
works pretending to historical accuracy
On debate arising out Of the Bill for the
Encouragement and Increase of Seamen, in
1740, PIT, is represented as attacking Mr.
Horace Walpole for having ven.ured on a
reference to his youth. The fact s, thai
these debates were imaginary or construct.
ed on very Sigh. foundation. DR.. John.
son, as is well known, before he had OBJ.
tanned his colossal reputation, drew up Gc-
,i.ious reports of what took place in the
House of Commons.
Mr.. WaIpole having in discussion beer
severely handled by Pitt, Lyt'leton, and the
Gfanvilles, all of whom were much his ju.
niors, lamen,ed that though he had been sc
long in business, young men should be founc
SO much better Informed in political matter:
than himself. He added that he had a. leas
one consolation in remembering tha. his
own son being twenty years of age, must bt
as much the superior Of Pitt, Lyuleton, anc