LETTER XL.

LONDON, SEPTEMBER 15th.

On the subject of the English orators I

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should prefer to be silent, rather than to confine myself within the bounds of a letter. However, I will attempt a sketch of the principal speakers.

From that predominant class of contending men in the House of Commons, I might select Pitt, Fox, Windham, Sheridan, Wilberforce, Grey, Tierney, Castlereagh, Hawkesbury, Corry, Addington.

The characters of these men, as orators, are well known in the United States, and particularly so to you. I shall, therefore, confine myself to the three first, Pitt, Fox, Windham. Sheridan I would have included, but I have heard him speak but twice, and then he left no impression. He has taken no part in any important debate which I have attended, but has sitten in his seat, silent, reserved, looking earnestly toward the treasury bench, seemingly dubious of his former principles, which have left him as poor as his old client the Nabob of Arcot,

Mr. Pitt still rises with an ease, composure and assurance, indicative of former influence, while the House, conscious of his presence, are disposed to give him all that attention as a member, which he once commanded as a minister; and though he is, at present, a fallen statesman, he sustains a character none the less ascendant as a man; so that his enemies are not willing to approach nigher plain Mr. Pitt, than they did the once arbiter of the kingdom.

The station which Mr. Pitt has supported so long has given his eloquence a peculiar turn, and even rendered his character ostensibly cold, hard, and bordering on dry inhumanity. The political calculator, always in search of expedients, from habit regards mankind mechanically, and sooner or later becomes impenetrable to the first dictates of nature, and sublimely overlooks every obstacle which might impede his course. A prime minister of Great Britain, must of necessity, if he continues long in office, familiarise himself to deeds, which in their extensive consequences, render comparatively harmless the whole crimes of the decalogue. In fact, Mr. Pitt's eloquence discovers a frigid, palliating, defensive, yet positive, character. It has ever been sufficient for him to maintain his ground; not to be driven from his post has been to gain the vic

tory. At this day, he addresses the speaker as though the conflict was still between himself and his great antagonist, Fox, while Addington is forgotten, and forgets that he is minister.

Had Mr. Pitt laboured his days in the opposition, he would have discovered himself a much greater orator, and a much nobler man. Ever on the defensive, he has naturally fallen into a confined uniformity, which has seldom permitted him to take excursion beyond the tedious business of office, at the same time, the system of government, forcing the current of business to mingle itself with the sighs, tears and groans of the nation, has rendered him officially obnoxious to the people, and afforded his parliamentary enemies the fairest pretences of attack. Once, indeed, Mr. Pitt found himself on the side of humanity, and shone conspicuously among Fox, Burke, Wilberforce and others. singular as it may appear, he that once found himself in a minority. I speak of the famous motion of Wilberforce, for the abolition of the slave trade.

But

Under these circumstances, the members of the opposition have every advantage, not only of popular respect, but of humanity, and consequently of oratory for true eloquence must be bottomed on the honest feelings of nature. But a prime minister has already closed every pore to the glow of hu

manity, before he ventures to open the budget.* Hence, he is cut off from the most fruitful source of eloquence. No appeal to the passions, no earnest supplication, no sympathy with distress, no palpitation of the heart, render him dear to the people, and soften his exactions. He comes into the House, impelled by inexorable necessity, and boldly exposes himself to the whole artillery of the opposition, knowing the final result of the question. But all this confidence in his numbers, does not suffer him to remit the severest exercise of his own powers, in order to give at least, plausibility, to his most suspicious measures. Hence, it may be easily imagined that, before any important step is taken, the treasury bench have already been summoned to weigh every difficulty, which the opposition might possibly raise. Thus, such men as Fox, Sheridan, Grey, have the honour of being answered twice. But Fox is so various, rapid, and overwhelming, that he frequently loses the whole ministry, who, long since ripe for the question, are happy to be released by the last resort of the minister-I mean his majority.

From these observations, you will easily collec

*Budget, a political cant word for the yearly estimate of expenses. I saw Mr. Addington open one of his budgets, and I imagined I heard the groans of a hundred million people.

what the style of Pitt and Fox will probably be ; still, each of them preserves a distinct character.

His

Mr. Pitt is the most cool, perspicuous, dignified, and fluent speaker, who ever rose in a deliberative assembly. The moment he is expected, a solemn stillness pervades the House, and while his presence is felt, his adversaries lose all their influence. manner is gentle and unassuming, his gestures, moderate and conciliatory, his voice, musical, clear and distinct; his words, most happily selected, without the least appearance of selection, flow in an unruffled, uniform stream, always sufficiently rapid to interest, and frequently, to command attention. With these advantages he opens upon the House, a mind veteran in politics, and as extensive as the various relations of the empire. Nor is he deficient, though sparing, of the illustrations of modern science, and the embellishments of ancient literature. With a mind thus adorned by nature, thus disciplined by art, and habitually cool and determined, no wonder he discovers, on all occasions, a reach far beyond the attainment of ordinary men. A mighty kingdom he still seems to support, nor does he sink under the weight, while the fallen statesman is yet willing to hazard his former immense responsibility. Doubtless, no mortal, in a British House of Commons, could support such a weight of char