New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-17
DAILY CRESCENT.
yunius and colonel Barre.


Junius and Colonel Barre.
The Liverpool Mercury some months ago pub
lished an article which excited considerable
interest, going to show that "Junius that
great literary spectre, that mighty shadow
was in reality Col. Isaac Barre, celebrated as
parliamentary debater, and distinguished
politician. recent number Of the Mercury
contains a communication relating to the same
subject which is interesting to American read
ers, not only because it relates to the author
ship Of Junius, but because it furnishes a
graphic description Of the first appearance in
parliament of Col. Barre, so we'll known as the
eloquent defender of the American Colonists, in
the House of Commons The writer, referring
TO the former communication, says:
A further, and striking confederation of
the arguments then used, is to be found IN the
Memoirs IF the Marquis Of Rockingham, lately
published by the Earl Of Albemarle. 1t Is as
follows:
Isaac Barre was native of Ireland. His
parents kept small grocers' chop in Dublin
AT an early age he entered the army, and served
with much distinction in America against the
French. Dividing his time between literature
kindred spirit in Gen. Wolfe, who lived with him
on the most intimate terms. He was present on
the Heights Of Abraham, when that young sol
der, in the moment Of victory, received his
mortal wound. He was himself wounded in the
same action. In Vests celebrated picture Of
the death Of Wolfe, Barre forms one of the group
Of officers around the dying general. Return
ing to England in 1850, he became in the fol-
lowing year, through the agency Of Mt Fox.
Lord Shelburne's nominee for Wycombs. HIS
motive for attacking Mr.. Pitt was for having
neglected, as he supposed, his application for
promotion. In letter to Pitt, written in April,
1760, he says: g After the defeat of His Majes-
tvs enemy, the trophies can boast only indi-
cate how much suffered, my jealous and sole
advocate killed, my left eye rendered useless,
and the ball still in my head. Z
His appearance on his parliamentary dsbut,
December, 1851, is graphically described by
Walpole: g My ear was struck with sounds
had little been accustomed to of late, virulent
abuse on the last reign, and from a voice I'm
known to me. turned and saw face equally
new, black, robust man, of q military figure,
rather hard favored, not young, with peculiar
distortion on one side Of his face, which it seems
was bullet lodged loosely in his cheek, and
which gave savage glare to one eye. What l
less expected from his appearance, was very
classic and elegant diction, and as determined
holiness as if accustomed to harangue in that
place"
The letter Of Mr. Milbanks to the Marquis of
Rockingham is dated ssArgyle street, December
rs, 1851. In my last ! was rather hasty, as |
concluded before the sport was over The next
day produced some new combatants.
/ pass over some stragglers to hasten to the hero
Of the place. Col. Barre, an frishman of low
birth bred an attorney, but taken to the sword,
was high in favor with Gen. Wolfe, and of good
repute as a soldier, with q consummate assu-
rance, good figure, military oountenance, and
ready at his tongue: he made q most violent
attack on our late measures, the late king, and
personal one on Mr.. Pitt"
The effect produced upon the house by this
extraordinary philippe may be judged Of by the
observation to which it gave rise. Pitt made no
manner of reply, only turning to Beckford, and
asking pretty loud s. How far do the scalping
Indians throw their tomahawks?"
When Barre sat down he was observed to eat
biscuit, upon which some one cried out: You
should feed him on raw flesh"
Another observed that he knew Of nobody fit
to enter against him but an officer in America,
who was distinguished by the name Of '.Kill-
him and eat him.
In the account thus given, Of the entrance Of
"the apparition" on the political stage, there
is some thing truly terrible; its stern military
aspect, its commanding bearing, self-possessed,
conscious of its own dignity, far above the CEN
sure of the despicable assembly into which it
had come; its savage announcement Of their
misdeeds, sin classic and elegant diction," all
bespeak the future e Junius;" it was an I'M
earthened phantom foretelling the devastation
of the American war. Pitt, Rockingham, Wal
pole and Greyille might well shudder at the
sound of that unknown voice. The Stamp Act
was not yet brought id, but from that hour the
fate of these weak, presumptuous men, and their
kings fate, too, was sealed.
Behind lurked Shelhurne, Fox and Denning !;
and behind them might be seen, coming on,
Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Montgomery, Gates
and Washington, with the firm phalanx of the
American revolutionists, men fit for the work
they took in hand.