The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-10-13
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The wonderful Endowments ana
~ FrallIties or q NIari1 Il. fsHrnIna

The Wonderful EndOwments and
Rrallittes or q Man or Genius.
bto7t BGHcIoIIs NetV Sgtls) Hol,fin6 Of ne HIS
sjf % toTyQf tte UtTtteds States. = y .
The character 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 truthfulness; he had UNDERSTANDING
principles, and looked down with con-
tempt on those who had. Priding him.
self on ignorance of every sel E-de denyinR
virtue, tan,adepti ind debauchi and vain 81
his excesses, he feared nothing I'm
lucky at the gaming table beyond all
cup OF pleasure to the dregs; fond 81
loose women and beloved by them, the
delight of profigates, the snort of
usurers, Impoverished by his vices, he
braved scandal, and glorified in a lord
~ recklessnesS1 of his inability to. nav
MS debts,, as if superb ostentation in
misfortune raised him above all his fel-
low men. ~ i7.IHs 'l rs . llirf
He had strong will; but he never
used 10 to bride his passions, even
though their indulgence wronged his
own father or corrupted his young ad-
Inirers.l Born to wealth and rank. and
easy access to the service ofthe king, at
neaEt an arlstocratSg he could 5scoff at
monarchy aud hold the Language of a
leyelier and a demagogue. Hs loved
poetry and elegant letters, the songs of
IHomeE above all; but science was too
dull for him, and even the style and In
cidtty and novelty OF Adam Smith
could not charm the licentiousii rOl.
licking statesman to the study of fipolit-
ical economy. His uncurbed ticen-
tlousneSs seemed rather to excite than
to exhaust his LOFTY powers. His per-
ceptions were quick and instinctivel
true; and in his widest dissipation he
retained an unextingnishRble passion
Ior activity and intellect. Living as
though men and women wer6 instrt.
ments of pleasure, he yet felt himself
destined for great things, and called
Iill ioTth 70 the service of, mankind, To be
talked about he would stalk e ali he had,
and more, on a wager. but the al II con-
quering instinct, oflhis ambition drove
him TO the House Of Commons. There
mis- genius was at home; and that body
cherished him With the indu1Rerit pride
which 1t always manifeSts to those Who
keep up its high reputation with the
world. A .knotty. brow, q dark brown
complexion, thick, shaggy eyebrows,
and a compact frame marked a rugged
alIdRHtty and aFcommandingian energy
which made him rude and teFrible as
an adyefsaryi but with all this be had
Iottliness of temper which SO endeaf-
ed htIn't to his friends that the survivors
among them never ceased the praise of
the sweetness and gentleness ofhis ia
miltar intercourse. It was natural to
MIN TO Venerate greatness like Edmund
BurkeisS and a wound in his affections
easily moved him to tears. His life
was dissolute; his speech was anstere.
HIS words were all pure English; he
TOOK no pains to huntafter 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 beau
ty OF eXpressiOnj and never stopped to
fill up gaps with fine phrases. His
healthy dt6tton was unaffectedI& simple
and pnervous, always efiective, some
times majestic and resounding, rarely
ornate, and. then only when he i'm
pressed saying of poet or philosopher
totip his argument Withf1He. HeneYer
dazzled with brilliant c0lors, but could
startls by boldness in the contrast Of
lignt and shade! BE forced his hearefs
TO be attentive and docile; for he spoke
only; When2he had something, to- saw
that needed TO- be said, and compelled
admiration, because he made himself
understood. What was entangIed Iie
pould unfold quickly and lpcidly; now
speaking with copious fiuency, and now
discussing point by point; at one time
condning debate within the naFr6v1eet
1tmttss and jiagatn speaking as 81 In
sPtred to plead the welfare of all man
kind. He had wonderful gift at find-
ing and bringing together what he
Wanteds though lying far OF and apart.
1t was his wont to march straight for
WaEdto 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
unexpected peYersiOn, TO strike him
suddenly as with talons. When ,in-
yolyed IN dispute he dashed at the
central idea, which was of power
70 decide the question; gFasped it
firmly and held IT. fast; tuEned It
over on every side presented It in the
most various aspects; came back 10
dwell upon &c with fresh force renewed
blow amer blow until it became anS
nealed like steel. He hit the nail again
and again, and always. on the head, TIL
he drove II home Into the minds OF his
hearers and when he was beateffiI1V
thegmajority, he stillybof away. nc,
palm as wrestler. His merits. a
summed up by Macintosh, were reh SON
simplicity and Vehemence," !" 7szf'pi 81
Yet FOX Easlg great oulylasi ajspealSeF.
nay his sphere WAS still narrower: he
was great only as q speaker i'm the
House OF Commons, and there great
only as a speaker in 0ppG Sifi6n IIe
WAS too RkillfnI Ia. cdptF0Versy 20 be
able 70 Present the connections and re-
la1onS OF events with the c0mprehen-
slVe fairness OF an historian aud his
strength went out from when he
undertook only to tell what bad been
done He failed as q statesman, not
rom defect of heart, but from the hn-
Certainty which attends the want OF
hHeds principles, and which slsfb him