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sand errors, continues still to blunder', and whose age has only added obstinacy' to stupidity', is surely the object either of abborrence' or contempt, and deserves not that his gray hairs should secure him from insult. Much more is he to be abhorred, who, as he has advanced-in age', has receded' -from virtue', and become more wicked'—with less temptation'; who prostitutes himself for money' which he can not enjoy, and spends the remains of his life, in the ruin of his country`.

2. But youth is not my only crime; I am accused of acting a theatrical part. A theatrical part may either imply some peculiarity of gesture, or a dissimulation of my real sentiments, and an adoption of the opinions and language of another man. In the first sense, the charge is too trifling to be confuted'; and deserves only to be mentioned, that it may be despised. I'am at liberty, like every other man to use my own language; and though, perhaps, I may have some ambition to please this gentleman, I shall not lay myself under any restraint, nor very solicitously copy his diction or his mien, however matured by age', or modeled by

experience.

I

3. But, if any man shall, by charging me with theatrical behavior, imply, that I utter any sentiments but my own', shall treat him as a calumniator' and a villain; nor shall any protection' shelter him from the treatment he deserves. I shall, on such an occasion, without scruple trample' upon all those forms with which wealth and dignity intrench nor shall any thing but age restrain my resentment; age, which always brings one' privilege, that of being insolent and supercilious, without punishment'.

themselves,

I am

4. But, with regard to those whom I have offended, of opinion, that if I had acted a borrowed part', I should have avoided their censure: the heat that offended' them, was the ardor of conviction, and that zeal for the service of my country' which neither hope' nor fear shall influence me to suppress'. I will not sit unconcerned' while my liberty is nor look in silence' upon public robbery'. I will endeavors, at whatever hazard, to repel the aggressor, and drag the thief to justice, whoever may protect him in his villainies, and whoever may partake of his plunder.

invaded',

exert my

XXXI.-CHARACTER OF MR. PITT.
FROM GRATTAN.

1. THE secretary stood alone. Modern degeneracy had hot reached' him. Original and unaccommodating', the features of his character had the hardihood of antiquity. His august mind' overawed majesty itself. No state chicanery',

no

narrow system of vicious politics', no idle contest for ministerial victories', sank him to the vulgar level of the great'; but overbearing', persuasive', and impracticable', his object was England', his ambition was fame'.

2. Without dividing', he destroyed' party; without corrupting', he made a venal age unanimous. France sunk beneath' him. With one hand he smote the house of Bourbon, and wielded in the other' the democracy of England. The sight of his mind was infinite'; and his schemes were to affect, not England', not the present age only, but Europe' and posterity. Wonderful were the means by which those schemes were accomplished'; always seasonable, always adequate, the suggestion of an understanding animated by ardor, and enlightened by prophecy.

3. The ordinary feelings which make life amiable and indolent were unknown' to him. No domestic difficulties, no domestic weakness' reached him; but aloof from the sordid occurrences of life, and unsullied by its intercourse, he came occasionally into our system, to counsel and decide. A character so exalted', so strenuous', so various', so authoritative', astonished a corrupt age, and the treasury trembled at the name of Pitt, through all classes of venality. Corruption imagined, indeed, that she had found defects' in this statesman, and talked much of the inconsistency of his glory', and much of the ruin of his victories'; but the history of his country, and the calamities of the enemy, answered and refuted' her.

4. Nor were his political his only' talents. His eloquence was an cra' in the senate; peculiar, and spontaneous; familiarly expressing gigantic sentiments and instructive wisdom; not like the torrent of Demosthenes, or the splendid conflagration of Tully; it resembled sometimes the thunder', and sometimes the music' of the spheres. He did not conduct the understanding through the painful subtility of argumen

tation, nor was he ever on the rack of exertion'; but rather lightened upon the subject, and reached the point by the flashings of the mind, which, like those of the eye, were felt', but could not be followed.

5. Upon the whole, there was in this man something that could create', subvert'; or reform'; an understanding, a spirit', and an eloquence', to summon mankind to society, or to break the bonds of slavery asunder, and to rule the wildness of free minds with unbounded authority; something that could establish', or overwhelm` empires, and strike a blow' in the world that should resound through the universe'.

XXXII. THE GOUTY MERCHANT AND THE STRANGER.

PUBLIC LEDGER; a noted newspaper in London.

King's Head; a tavern in London.

Newgate;

a London prison.

1. IN Broadstreet building, on a winter night,
Snug by his parlor-fire, a gouty wight
Sat all alone, with one hand rubbing
His feet, rolled up in fleecy hose,
With t'other he'd beneath his nose

2.

3.

The Public Ledger', in whose columns grubbing,
He noted all the sales of hops',

Ships, shops', and slops';

Gum', galls', and groceries'; ginger', gin`,
Tar', tallow', turmeric', turpentine', and tin`;
When lo! a decent personage in black,

Entered and most politely said':

"Your footman, sir, has gone his nightly track
To the King's Head,

And left your door ajar', which I

Observed in passing by;

And thought it neighborly to give you notice."

"Ten thousand thanks; how very few do get,

In time of danger,

Such kind attentions from a stranger`!

Assuredly, that fellow's throat is

Doomed to a final drop at Newgate':

He knows, too, (the unconscionable elf),

That there's no soul at home except myself\"

4.

"Indeed," replied the stranger, looking grave,
"Then he's a double knave;

He knows that rogues and thieves by scores
Nightly beset unguarded doors`.

And see, how easily might one
Of these domestic foes,

Even beneath your very nose,
Perform his knavish tricks';

Enter your room, as I` have done,
Blow out your candles—thus`—and thus`———,
Pocket your silver candlesticks`,

And-walk off `—thus`."

5. So said', so done'; he made no more remark,
Nor waited for replies,

But marched off with his prize,
Leaving the gouty merchant in the dark.

XXXIII.-SPEECH BEFORE THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION. FROM PATRICK HENRY.

PATRICK HENRY was a distinguished American statesman during th Revolutionary war. He was a native of Virginia, held its highest offices, and was a member of the convention which met to deliberate upon uniting with the other states in resistance to Great Britain.

Observe that the emphatic pause is freely used.

1. Ir is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope'. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth', and listen to the song of that syren' till she transforms us into beasts'. Is this the part of wise men', engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty'? Are we disposed to be of the number of those', who, having eyes,– -see not, and having ears,--hear not the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation'? For my-part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost', I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst', and to provide` for it.

2. I have but one lamp, by which my feet are guided; and that-is-the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future', but by the past'; and, judging by the past', I wish to know what there has been in the con duct of the British ministry for the last ten years', to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to

solace themselves and the house? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received'? Trust it not: it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss'. Ask yourselves, how this gracious reception of our petition, comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land'. Are fleets and armies'-necessary to a work of love and reconciliation'? Ilave we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force'—must be called in to win back our love'? Let us not deceive ourselves. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.

3. I ask, gentlemen', what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us into submission? Can gentlemen assign any other-possible-motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy'—in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies'? No, she has none'. They are meant for us': they can be meant for no other. They are sent over tɔ bind and riveť upon us those chains, which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? We have been trying that, for the last-ten Have we any thing new' to offer upon the subject? Nothing'. We have held the subject up in every light in which it was capable'; but it has been all in vain'.

-years.

4. Shall we resort to entreaty' and humble supplication'? What terms shall we find, which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, deceive ourselves longer. We have done every thing that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated'; we have supplicated'; we have PROSTRATED' ourselves at the foot of the throne, and implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions' have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications', disregarded; and we have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the throne.

5. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free; if we mean to

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