Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-16
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 10, 1858
LORD PALMERSTON.

The last time saw Psimerston vas 10 the
summer of 1854, in the House of Commons
1t was field day, and he had been rupoipg
q tilt against every Parliamentary knight
that dared break q lance With him in the
encounter of, dshats. His face was flush
ed, bis eyes wss bright, and With the snow
of seventy winters on bis head, he ap-
peared to mea perfect miracle Of intellect
There is sgs in bis hair, bis Iimbs and his
voice; bot this is physical decay only--she in-
tellect is unconscious Of decline, the sword is
not the less sharp that it has gradually cut
through the scsbbsrd.
The late DIR Maginn, writing Of the my.
thioally old MIR, Rogers, said that af:ss pass
ing the fret. eighty or ninety years OF his age
in the dissipation of youth. he began to
think him Of profession; and in the same
way the illustrious career of Pslmerston com
menced when bis lordship was attaining half
hundred years. 1t is true be was 10 the
House Of Commons before he was 10 beard,
but the silence of some twenty years would
appear to intimate his profound conviction,
that the Romsos were right 10 admitting to
the Senate only those who had attained the
dignity of forty years. But although be
came late upon the House Of Commons arena
his whole life had been spent in Office.
lie has held Office nineteen years under the
tories, and sboutsixteeD years under the whigs.
He was the Secretary Of War who signed
vsrrsnts for the conveyance Of Napoleon
to St. Helena-snd he was the Secretary OF
State who offended his sovereign by recog
uizing that Napoleon Ill had commenced to
reign. Az the Euglish orieketers would say
-"be has had the largest innings on record. :"
His Offices, too, appear to have been no SID
ecures. He was Secretary of War at war
tune; and bis sixteen years of Foreign Score
tsryship were sixteen years of attempts to
break the peace.
With the pressure Of age be has nothing to
do-the daring and the indifference OF youth
are the salient points Of his character to this
dsy-and from the time when be, on behalf
of Canning. undertook to crush 1.-THE Duke"
to that manifesto Of few years since, when
in answer to some SCOTCH clergymen who
pesitioned him to advise her Mejesty TO FIX
dsy Tor national fast on account Of the ohol.
era and he suggested "they bad better look
after the town drainage" he has always
manifested the same energy, spirit and hu-
NOR; and now in 1857, in his seventy forth
year, the veteran statesman has triumphed
IN one of the 6erosst popular struggles Fog
land has witnessed since the days of the
great Reform agitation.
The high position of Lord Pslmerston in
the House Of Commons is attributable, not
only to the fact that be is FIRST rate intellect
leading the century, but to his most euphat-
ically practical char acter, polishedinto states
manship by the experience Of more than for
ty years of responsible Office.
He is said to be the only peer Of pure Sax
on descent, and be has always appeared to
me the intensess Englishmsn in English pub
lie life. No one has perused his recent Par
liaueutsry efforts, bot has been struck with
the 0,gor and variety of his intellect. Prsc-
tically comprehending ell the details OF Fog
lish craftsmanship. and thoroughly CONVEX
ssnt with the political history Of European
politics, be is perfect giant in debate. Cool
and ssgscious be is ever prompt and ready
at self defence. Full of humor, and abound
ing 10 sarcasm. he 10 most formidable ad-
versary in the running tilt of an off hand de-
bate.-Nepark advertiser.