Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-05-30
An EngIish Bishop.

| The bill legalizng the marriage of deceased
wifes sister, in England has been defeated in the
| House of Lords. Once or twicea bill of the kind
was carried to accommodate particular Peers, who
| had conceived tender passion for their deceased
wifes sister. But there being no Duke of Beaufort
in this quandary just now their Lordships were de-
| terInined not to make the pleasure cheap. There
can be little question, however, from the tone of
the debate, that in short time man will be per-
mitted to marry his grandmother, should his taste
lie in that line The defeat was mostly due to the
| speech of Wilberforce Bishop Of Oxford, which,
like all his speeches, model of evolutionary
excellence of every kind. Wiberforce is one of
the five SONS of that great man whose name finds a
home in many heart in this land, and in every
heart of every land that loves freedom. He is in
politics Peelite in religion Puseyite, trembling
| at times on the confines of Popery. Two of his
brothers, men OF shining parts, eminent distinction
and illustrious virtues have already I" gone over"
to the phrase of the hour, and sacrificed largo
fortunes to what they deemed conscience sake.
Indeed, there arc not to be found upon this earth
men, who, for spotless purity of life gentle and
tolerant nature, and high mental cultivation, are
greater ornaments to our common humanity than
the Newmans, Mannings Wilbenorces, Hopes, and
what are termed the Oxford converts
Bishop Wilberf0rce is admitted to be the first
Parliamentary orator in England. This last speech
OF his is described as being, whether logical sy
i0glStlca, cOaxlng or cOmpulsve, denunclatOry or
aluring dispassonate or declamatory, the finest
piece of oratory ever delivered in the House of
Lords. His delivery, too, is beautiful. He does
not speak from the Episcopal Bench, but generally
comes up to the fable, on which, in moments of
special animation, he executes some spirited rap
pings that would delight Judge Edmonds In
| looking over the pen in which all the Episcopal
Shepherds are confined alongside of the woolsack,
you would at once pronounce his Lordship of Ok
ford the youngest Of the lawn sleeves, yet he is
not so. But he takes special care of his physique
The hair is black and glossy as the rock that caws
around the old cathedral the teeth as sharp and
shiny as those of new steel trap, and the whole
personel tailoring, toeting, and all, fresh and in
high preservation. The expression of the face,
which may be best described as one of gentle
thoughtfulness, is singularly like Mr.. Gadstone's,
who ranks next to him in the Parliamentary lists,
and so, indeed, is the whole manner of the man,
particularly while speaking. There is the same
wonderful somerset of sentences, at which young
Hengler would get gddy, and which make you
shudder for the safety of the orator. and the same
graceful, easy lighting on the feet after all Then
there is the same lubricosity of movement and
oleageousness of accent, which induced Lord
Derby, with an irreverent payfulness, to christen
him Soapy Sam" and what is worse, to call one
of bis Derby nags by that name, after him.