The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-03-15
WHOLE No 5O2


ed to the few instances of inconsistency
enumerated by Mr.. Whipple. Sir Thos.
Moore, in his Utopia, expressed very
tolerant views respecting differences in
religious belief, and condemned the
common resort to coercion and violence,
for the conversion Of unbelievers: but
he prosecuted the Protestants with as
much intolerance and severity as his mar
row minded contemporaries. Lord Her
bert, after completing his deistical work,
the first in which deism was ever reduc-
ed to a system,-took his manuscript,
and kneeling in his chamber, devoutly
prayed to God that he would grant him
sign whether or not to publish it. 81
had no sooner spoken these words" he
adds, "but a loud, though yet gentle
noise, came from heaven (for it was like
nothing on earth, J which did so comfort
and cheer me, that took my petition as
granted, and that | had the sign de-
manded, whereupon also | resolved to
print my book" Here was man who
did not believe in divine revelation to
mankind necessary, seriously asking for
special revelation of the will of God
respecting the publication ofhis book.
Even the genius of Shakespeare is not
without its shadow. His sonnets, beau
tiiul as many Of them are, represent the
poet in a character in which we do not
love to behold him, and we almost wish,
with Mr.. Hallam, that he had never
written them.-"His excessive aud eab-
crate praise of youthful beauty in man
seems derogatory to his genius, and savors
of adulation; and when we find him ex-
cuse this friend for robbing him of his
mistress-a married fcmale-and sub
jecting his noble spirit to all the pangs of
jealousy, guilty love, and blind misplace
ed attachment, it is painful and difficult
to believe, that all this weakness and fol-
ly can be associated with the name of
Shakespeare, and still more that he should
record it in verse which he believed
would descend to future ages"
Sir Thomas Browne, one of the most
learned and original writer's of the 18th
century, not only believed in witches,
apparitions and diabolical illusions, but
gravely observes "that to those who
would attempt to teach animals the art
ofspeech, the dogs and cats that usually
speak unto witches may afford some en-
couragement." Lawrence Sterne was
a notable bundle of incongruities, eccen-
tricities and Alterations. He was a
clergyman, hut dissoluts and licentious;
a sentimentalist, whose pen dropt tears
for all animate and inanimate nature,
but hard-hearted and selfish in his inter-
course with others. He published a
volume Of sermons, "but," says the poet
Gray, "you see the author often tottering
on the verge Of laughter, and ready to
throw his periwig in the face of the au.
dience." Pope does not escape a similar
charge of inconsistency; Cowper Won
dered that the same pen that wrote the
Dunciad, could indite,
"That mercy to others show,
That mercy show to me-"
Hume, in his Essays, has noticed re-
markable instance of this failing of great
minds, in the writings and habits of the
classic author Sallust, who "abounds in
praises of the old rigid Roman virtue,
though himself the most egregious in
stance of modern luxury and corruption;
speaks CONTEMPORARY of the Grecian
eloquence, though the most eloquent
writer in the world; nay, employs pre-
posterous digresslons and declarations
to this purpose, though model of taste
and correctness" To such an illustri-
Gus example of the ''two natures" often
found united in a great mind, it is need
less to add any thing more, though SINH
lar illustrations may be found on almost
every page of history. 1t can do us no
harm occasionally to contemplate the
follies of the wise, or the lttleness of the
great. Though we do not believe with
Emerson, that ''there is crack in every
thing that God has made" we are will
ing to accept the remark in its applca-
ton TO human character and endow-
ments; at least till we find perfect spec.
linen of intellectual and moral develop
ment.-Boston Rambler.
FIRE AT EAsToN.-We learn from the
Easton Gazette, that on Wednesday
night Of last week, the stack yard of the
Hon. Samuel Hambleton, took fire, and
the flames spreading, his corn house, con-
tanning about so bbls. of corn, stable,
barn, cattle-shed, &C., with their con-
tents, except a few barrels of corn, were
entirely consumed. Mr.. Hambleton's
dwelling, and the dwelling occupied by
Mr.. S. Barrett, were at one time in great
danger. The loss is estimated at about
$1000-no insurance.
CHEAP POSTAGE IN CANApA.-The
new postal regulations adopted by the
Canadians, 60 into operation on the 9Th
of April. From and after that day, the
rate will be uniform at three pence
the Province, on letters un.