Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-22

of this unique man was not chapter OF
contradictions each part of his nature
was in harmony with all the rest. With
talents; good nature, and truthfalness, he
had no restraining principles, and
looked down with contempt on those who
had Priding himself on ignorance Of
every selfdenying virtue, an adept in
debauch and vain Of his excesses, he
feared nothing Unlucky at the gaming
table beyond all calculation Of chances,
draining the cup of pleasure to the dregs,
fond of loose women and beloved by
them, the delight of profigates, the sport
of usurers impoverished by has vices,
he braved scandal, and gloried in
lordly recklessness Of his inability to pay
his debts, as if superb ostentation in
misfortune raised him above all his
fellowmen. He had strong will; but
he never used it to bride his passions,
even though their indulgence wronged
his own father, or corrupted his young
admirers. Born to wealth and rank and
easy access TO the service OF the King, at
heart an aristocrat, he could scott at
monarchy and hold the language of a
leveler and demagogue. He loved
poetry and elegant letters, the songs of
Homer above all but science was too
dull for him, and even the style and
lucidty and novelty of Adam Smith
could not charm the liceutious, roicking
statesman to the study Of political econ
omy.
His uncurbed lcentiousness seemed
rather to excite than exhaust his lofty
powers; his perceptions were quick and
instinctively true: and in his widest
dissipation he retained an unextinguish-
able passion for activity of intellect.
Living as though men and women were
instruments Of pleasure, he yet felt him
self destined for great things, and called
forth to the service of mankind. To be
talked about he would stake all he had
and more on a wager but the all-con-
quering instict of his ambition drove him
to the House of Commons. There his
genius was at home, and that body cher
ished him with the indulgent pride which
it always manifests to those who keep up
its high reputation with the world. A
knotty brow, dark brown complexion,
thick, shaggy eyebrows, and compact
frame, marked rugged audacity and
commanding energy, which made him
rude and terrible as an adversary; but
with all this, he had loveliness of tenn
per which so endeared him to his friends
that the survivors among them never
ceased to praise the sweetness and gen.
tleness of his familiar intercourse. II
was natural to him to venerate greatness
like Edmund Burke's and wound in
his affections easily moved him to tears
His life was dissolute; his speech was
austere. His words we're all pure Eng
lish he took no pains to hunt after
them; the aptest came at his call, and
seemed to belong to him. Every part
of his discourse lived and moved. He
never gave up strength of statement for
beauty of expression; and never stop
ped to FIJI up gaps with fine phrases.
His healthy diction was unaffectedly
simple and nervous, always effective,
sometimes majestic and resounding,
rarely ornate, and then only when he
impressed saying of poet or philoso.
pher to tip his argument with fire. He
never dazzled with brilliant coiors, but
could starte by boldness in the contrast
of light and shade. He forced his hear
ers to be attentive and docile; for he
spoke only when he had something to
say that needed to be said, and COM
PEELED admiration because he made him
self understood. What was entangled
he could unfold quickly and lucidly; now
speaking with copious huency, and now
discussing point by point; at one time
confning debate within the narrowest
limits, and again speaking as if inspired
to plead the welfare of mankind. He
had wonderful gift at finding and
bringing together what he wanted,
though lying far off and apart 1t was
his wont to march straight forward to
his end, but he knew how to turn aside
from an attack, to retreat with his eye
ever on his enemy, and then, by an un-
expected reversion, to strike him sud-
denly as with talons When involved in
dispute, he dashes at the central idea,
which was of power to decide the ques-
ton; grasped it firmly and held it fast
turned it over and over on every side /;
presented it in the most various aspects;
came back to dwell upon it with fresh
force; renewed blow after blow till it
became annealed like steel He hit the
nail again and again, and always on the
head till he drove it home into the |
minds Of his hearers; and when he was
beaten by the majority, he still bore away |
The palm as a wrestler. His merits, as |
summed up by Macintosh, we're "rea-
son, simplicity, and vehemence"