Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-15
tions Of their own Bossuet and Calvin, Of
Descartes and Fenelon. W

oONObbACus uoA SSs $500
driven out from North America, whose
remaining colonies collectively had ba;
about seventy thousand white persons,
whose commerce with the New World
could only be consequence Of Ameri'
can lnlependence-two opposite pow
ers competed for supremacy; on the ono
side monarchy, claiming to be absolute;
on the other, free thought, which was be-
coming the mistress Of the world.
Here is graphic dcinea,ion Of the
characters Of two ofthc cminen. man Of
Great Britain at that time:
LORD MANSFIELD.
To Mansfield belonged the sad Office
Of struggling to preserve the post. in
which success is impossible; for nature
flows on, and is never at rest. He per.
formed his office earnestly and sincerely;
though he entered public life a Wing,
he leaned toward an arbitrary Govern.
msn., wos jealous Of popular privileges
or influence, and stood ready TO serve
the cause Of power, even without shar.
ing it. Cautious even to timility, his
understanding was clear, but his hear,
was cold. The childless man had been
unsuccessful in love, and formed no
friendships. His vast accumulations Of
knowledge, which a tenacious memory
stored up in its hundred cells, were ever
ready TO come forward at his summons.
The lucid order Of his arrangement, as.
sisted to bring conviction; and he would
readily expound the most mysterious in.
rcacies Of law, or analyze the longest
series Of reaso onings and evidence with
an intelligent smile on his features ,ha.
spoke plainly ,hcperfcct ,se with which
he did ii. In sub,le,y he had no equal;
ornament seemed to flow so naturally
from his subject, that while none could
speak with more elegance, it seemed i'm.
possible for him to speak with less. His
coun;cnancc was beautiful, inspiring
reverence and regard; his eye cleaning
with light; his voice acutely clear, ye,
varied and musical; his manner grace.
fu' and engaging.
EDMUND prRxE.
1t belonged to tina, period for q man
like Rockingham to hold fer life q re.
tainer like Edmund Burke, and never
did a true hearted. kindly and generous
patron have more faithful adhe,en..
I.e bfough, to his employer, and gave
up to his party, all that he hal--bound.
less stores OF knowledge, especially re-.
speesing the colonies, wit. philosophy,
Imagination, gorgeous eloqusnce. un.
wearicd industry, mastery OF the Eng.
lish tongue, and. as some think, the most
acc omplished intellect which the ma.
ton had produced for centuries. His
ambition was fervii, We: con,en. with
the applause of;he aristocracy. His po.
li'ical training had brough, him in con.
tao: with the Board Of Trade, and after.
ward with the Government Of Ireland,
the country Of his birth. His writings
are brilliant picture Of the British
Constitution, as i, existed in the bes,
days Of the eighteenth century; and his
genius threw rich luster over the de.
cline Of the party which he served. No
man had better heart, or more thor.
oushly hatel oppression; but he possess.
cd neither experience in affairs, nor
tranquil judgment, nor the rule over his
own spirit, 50 tha, his genius, under the
impulse Of his hewildcring passions,
wrought much evil to his country and
TO Europe, even while he rem Tered noble
service TO the cause Of commercial free.
dom, to Ireland, and TO America.