Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-29
THE GAZETTE.
GAY OLD PREMIER.
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY 20. 1859

IL mlSut How anu tien Nttui " N'"h-
ger readers how u man like Lard Pallncrst"n.
at the age of seventy-h,e, comes to be once
more installed ms the CHIEF man Of this empire.
We know what most men are wh' survive
to this aye, and how literally they fulfil
the Psalnlist's lament, that after three score
wears and ten all il but labor and tr"uble.-
We know how they humble. and prose, aud
complains; we know their Pre)udlces. the
stupid remarks they make about affairs OF the
day, and their feeble attempt to compensate
for much ignorance and wickedness by the
continual obtrusion Of some foolish hobby or
pretence of godliness. lfthey are strong and
rich, they are brutality selfish aud dictatorial:
ifnot. they are misanthropes. In fact unless
one can hope to he something better than the
average. reason would dictate short career.
But here is Lord PalmerstOn still gay; still
winning friends; still open to conviction;
still learning; aud, besides governing the ma
ton, able to make good speech for any
body that wants one. Here We have him
distributing prizes at the University College,
surrounded by some of the chief education
lists in the country. and surprising them on
their owl ground. even while, with his wonted
good nature. he is reminding people Of their
good sayings Well tell us how this IL. You
Jolly young fellows who think the fun Ut lie
must he over ut thirty. and that at forty
man is a confomed old fogey, good for moth
ing under the sun. except. perhaps. to make
money and leave it u his betters. Your Pre-
mier is twice this age:-beat him il you can
Run tilt with him anywhere. Cross ra
piers at table, put on the gloves with him at
St. Stephens, draw bow with him for a
set speech on an important subject. and You
will find him your better-better for hand
and for eve, and for stamina. How is IT,
think you! What virtue or what vice of our
system still brings this man to the top OF us
all? lie is only an Irish Peer; he has enough
for his position, but no more; he pretends
neither to much religion, nor to none; he Is
not even an orator, for he is incapable OF u
philippe, tremendous argument, or an
overpowering climax. The old idea Of the
man who Yields fierce democracy or COM
mands the applause of Senate ia scarcely
fulfilled in him who again and again becomes
BY common consent the first man in the ma
tioh There is mystery " be solved IN
result of which the means are SD wanting to
the end. Ii is mystery OF nature and OF
art, and when Lord Palmerston Comes before
a throng of young aspirants for fame and
to get on, we hail him not merely ~ man
who has just got up some views on education,
but rs one who has solved in his own case
great secret of life. and now tells Us how ne
has done it.
OF course, we must put some things aside
as very necessary to success III lie, but not
to the purpose in a distribution Of prizes
The chief are the social qualties-a capacity
for friendship. real interest in worthy per
sons and objects. u command OF temper. and
a good natured indifference to the petty AMI
Inosities Of the vulgar. Where these are not
it is almost vain to recommend them. and
Lord Palmerston might rs well have advised
all his young hearers to stand at least hVe feet
ten in their shoes as recommend KIND and
generous disposition. As regards what can
be done, and what every lad can resolve to
do on entering a college or be-taking himself
to his garret, Lord Palmerston gives most
admirable, most simple. and most lntellIgible
advice. The points Of most Importance, in
his own estimation, must be those which he
most insists upon and returns to. The first
of these is perseverance, against failure,
against defeat, against the continued pres
sure of adverse circumstances. Strange ad-
vice to hear from man in theis empire. For
this he quotes remarkable saying OF MIR.
Fox. who hoped more from the man who had
not succeeded, but went on in spite Oft. than
from the buoyant career of the successful
This was well for Mr. Fox, who combined
genius aud success. but lost the prize for
want of the very quality he praised. Lord
Palmerstons career has been pre-emnentiy
one of industry and perseverance,. lie must
be u very old man indeed who remembers the
time when Lord Palmerston was not III the
House of Commons, taking every opportunity
of doing his duty rs legislator, and when
In Office az n servant of the Crown. For hall
a century he has been rs constant to that ho"r
as any man of business to his desk. To un-
dertake such q servitude beforehand is some
thing overwhelming. Who would do it for
any consideration? Consider that it involves
London for more than half the year, renun.
citation Of dinners, parties OF all kinds, ana
what is more, domestic life, except ON few
precious evenings, and the bulk OF ones time
to be spent in listening to exceedingly dull
speeches-conside all this, and one would
glady compound with som" admitted mistor-
tune than he bound for such Il slavery. But
TINT has been Lord Palmerston's own career,
if the hundred thousand revolutions OF mill
horse can be so called. He has made 1t his
rule to give an unAsgging attention to every
thing and everybody; to lose no opportunity;
never to get behind even for five minutes IN
the Parliamentary race. So he is the man to
tell US, with singular authority. 1.-The whole
life of man in country like this is life OF
struggle, of competition--I will say of hght
of competition with those who are running
the same race, struggle with circumstances,
fight against adverse fortune which may eve
nv now and then await him. But he who
enters into the race with that dossed perse-
yerance which is the peculiar characteristic
of the English nation, il sure to bring out sue
cessfully those talents with which nature may
have endowed him, and, whatever the amount
of his ability. will always be sure to improve
that ability and apply it rs successfully rs
circumstances will allow him.
NOTICE TO RAILROAD CONTRACTORS.
CEALED PROPOSALS will be received at the
y Office of the Virginia and Kentucky Railroad
Coupany," in the town of Abingdon until IL o
clock, On the 9Th of September next. for the grad
uation and masonry upon the first fifty miles OF
the road, extending from Abingdon to a short dis
tance West of the Clnch river.
The proposals will be made in one mile sections
at cash prices.
The plans, specifications. and all necessary m
corna,;., s.. thns. tn hid for this Work,