Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-19

Poo1
ssH,s mind was an essence, compounded with art
From the finest and best Of all other men powers
He ruled like wizard the world of the heart,
| And could call up its sunshine, or draw down it
showers.
| Like some other men of genius, he was AYERS,
to application, and has been well described 81
having throug life acted upon two dangerous
rules: "Never do to-day what you can pu
off till Tomorrow" and "Never do yoursel
what you can get another to do for YOU" Hi
early course of frvolity and gaity might of itsel
have pointed moral; but it is with his career
as an orator that we have now to do. Al
though sprung from the middle ranks, ant
possessed of only slender means, he was enabled
ere long to obtain seat in parliament.
Shortly after, the trial Of Warren Hastings, fol
malversation in his Office as governor general O
| India took place. 1t was an occasion which
called forth the eloquence of Burke, and which
developed the highest powers of the statesmen
who adorned that period of English history
Westminster Hall was the scene of the trial, ant
tina: place, at the early stages of the proceeding
was crowded with all that was great and intel
lectual in the land.
"The 'whole scene," says Sheridan's biogra.
pher, "was one of the pageants in the drama o.
life which shows US what shadows we are, ant
what shadows we pursue" On this grand are
ma for intellectual display, Sheridan shone con-
spicuous above all competitors. speech which
he delivered drew forth the following acknowl-
edgment from one who listened to it,
"All the various species of oratory, every
kind of eloquence that had been heard either in
ancient or modern times, whatever the acute
ness of the bar, the dignity of the senate, the
morality of the pulpit, could furnish, had moi
been equal to what the house had that day
heard in Westminster Hall. From poetry uE
to eloQuence, there was not specimen OF com
position of which some variety might not have
been culled from that speech"
| Wonderful, however, as this oratorical effort
was, it fell short in its results of another, which
in the course of the same cause, Sheridan made
on the floor of the House OF Commons. Not
only did his speech draw forth the applause ol
all parties in that House, but it seemed to have
entranced them, and bound them with magl'
clans spell, for they were compelled to adjourn
their deliberations to another day, until the ex-
ctement produced by it had disappeared. When
Sheridan sat down, Mr.. Burke rose and said 1t
was the most astonishing effort OF eloquence,
wit, and argument united, which he had ever
heard. Mr.. Fox stated that all he, too, had ey-
| er heard, all that he had ever read, when COM
pared with it, dwindled into nothing, and van
lshed like vapor before the sun. MIR. Pitt ac-
knowledged that it surpassed all the eloquence
of ancient or modern times, and possessed every
thing that genius or art could furnish to agitate
and control the human mind Sir VIM. Dolben
Immediately moved an adjournment of the house
coniessing that in the state OF mind in which Mr.
Sherdans speech had left him it was imposssi'
BILE to give any determinate opinion. Nothing
but miracle, he thought, could have determin
ed him to vote against tMr. Hastings; but he
had Just felt the operation of such miracle.
Sheridan's tame as an orator, was now the
great topic OF public conversation. what my
feelings are" wrote his brother, 'you may i'm
agine. 1t is with difficulty that can let down
my mind to think OF any thing else but your
speech" Even his father, as he walked the
streets, was gratifed by persons turning round
and pointing to him as the parent of the great
orator. Sheridan now stood on the pinnacle
OF his glory. He was the tavorite of his poit'
ical party; the intimate OF his prince and OF the
highest nobility. He had gained the most fat
tering distinction. But his talents were unsanc
titled, and he was destined to feel, by bitter
experience, that the objects which he had sO
keenly pursued were deceptive as the mirage
Unsustained by religious principle, he plunged
into pleasure and expenses which left him ru'
ined man. Old age came upon him, and found
him impoverished and deserted by his friends
"His distresses," says his biographer, increased
every day. HIS books, presented to him by va
rious friends, now stood in their splendid bind
ings on the shelves of the pawnbrokers. The
handsome cup given him by the electors of Stat
ford the same fate; and the portrait of his first
wife, if not actually sold, vanished away from
| his eyes into other hands," One of the most
humiliating trials was, however, yet to follow
He was arrested for debt, and carried to spoDg
ing house. This abode formed sad contrast tc
the princely halls of which he had before been
the most brilliant and favored guest. The un
happy man burst into flood OF tears He wa.
released ). but only to be exposed again to simi
lar trials. "Oh, let me SEQ YOU" he wrote OF
another occasion of the same kind to friend
II find things so settled that one hundred ant
| fifty pounds would remove every difficulty.
. am absolutely undone and broken
hearted" Mistortunes crowded round his dying
bed, and his last moments were haunted by teal
of prison. Forsaken by his gay associates
dispirited and world weary, he closed his eyes
in gloom and sorrow. No sooner was he dead
however, than many titled and wealthy init
mate, who had failed to minister to his sickness
Hocked to attend his funeral-conduct which
drew forth the indignant remonstrance of a poet
"Ohl it sckens the heart to see blossoms SO hollow
And friendship 80 false in the great and hgh-born
To think what long line Of titles may follow
The relics Of him who died triendess and lorn:
How proud they can press TO the fun raj array
OF him whom they shunnd in his sickness and sor
| row;
How bailiffs may seize the last blanket to day,
Whose pail shall be held up by mobiles to morrow
Such was the career of the orator. Fame
popularity, and intellectual greatness, had al
been his; but directed to the service of thi
world, and animated by its spirit, they hat
proved to their possessor false as the mirage.
"Though | speak with the tongues of men and o
angels, and have not charity, am become sound
ing brass, or tinklng cymbal: "-l Cor. xiii l.
THE Mirage Of Life.
The Scotsman newspaper relates the following