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    Haantimde to delude me , to add to Bay despair ? I * withis , and tboa answered me the venerable mother : ' Oh »« , it is . not so , my child , thou most unhappy of men . And Proserpine , high daughter of Jove , has not deceived thee . M is the rnle of nature , when mortals come to die , v ¦ •„ ., Fwr tlieT < have not iwy flesh , or sinews and bones , ls # v ^ WB » 1 ia 7 e been consumed by the funereal fire , ¦ i & ' r .-, . Wienthe white corpse was abandoned by the soul I .. Which flew out of the body and flits like a dream . sv But grieve not tfwu , bat hence , and : seek the light of day , . < £# > , And tell thy wife afc home * what things thou sawest here . ' iSlfiBM ^^ Miscellany ire nave the commencement of Haps and Mishaps 9 jg $ 0 tnu' in Europe in 1853 , by Miss Grace Gbeenwood . Toe opening 3043 a not promise much . Aspen Court is continued , and the Turkish Caml ^ tpjpjMr jo » ( her Danube are historically glanced at . People -who are not tired af campaigns under Wellington -will read the Random Recollections here "IR ! Si ^ % * Sg ^ Wv 3 a the 2 > tt 5 / m University Magazine -we bare the first of a series on The F ^ 0 ^ pu ^ Lpiiih , This is onecdevoted to a very long and interesting article on . line Potato . The pleasant articles of theatrical reminiscence and relea ^ oh , communicated under ; the title of the Garrick Club , let no one pass OVOT ., ^ ¦ . ' p ¦ __ ' , ^^^ e % r % " a * yfluxig ; we ; lave to say of the other Magazines , it must be said next week , for here oar reading stops . By way of reminder , let it be n 6 ted that Professor Johhstos * s serial—TTie Chemistry &f Common Lifewnicn wiiu Ctrcfe

    appears we . magazines , xreaw tnis montb oi zyie &red « tfce « a * ja ^ m ^^^ l ^^^ j ^ oHl ^ - ; - ^ . ^^^ B ^^; infi £ &iiL 6 rr > of the Sciences , the ^^^ plp filyjlwirt j ^;|»^^ . . ^ cditiititis , ifrr ' tenpence , a mass of valuable ti ^ m ^^ i ' i ^^^^ 11 part of Dr . Shekidan Muspbatt ' s elaborate work ti |||^^ Alcohol and AJ ^ holovetry . The artfe&s in this Dictionary of Chemistry are prepared in $ 00 & ear * . e ^ g € ' : •" ¦ ¦ ' ' ' ' .

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    US ] THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

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    r-, - : "' -::,: q " ... . ' . ; ,-. ;„ ., , .. ^ : CH ARACTERS FROM gptlDJpEOIXAND'S MEMOIRS . JEm 0 &jj 0 tab Whig Party durmgmv Time . JBy Peniy Richard Lord Holland . Edited . ^ P ? i ^^^^ P # , ^; .. r ,: ¦! ¦ ¦ ^ , tongmanandCo . Jlliij ^^ and the too great expec-^ OMbATeflubmded , this second volume 6 { Lord Holland ' s MemotrsitiSL no doubt be more properly appreciated , and will meet with more success than

    - yi |^ r € ^ coiotanbution to Mstory , even on the personal side ; it is not ; a hifto | y ^ 6 f-the : WhigParty it is not . "But on a lower level the 'book may stand out wil ^ some prpmmence , as the * agreeable . and not . uninstructive myepapjrs of ; an accomplished man who moved amid great people and great ^^ m a ^ : ! . l ^ fe ¦ r ciidf it-. ' with . ease and entertainment ; not provoked by its ^^ J ^ ; b ^ ^ e ^ critica % " and our notice of it will toe confined to a few pers ^ nSl ^ i ^ chiii "which may amuse our readers . ^ 1 | % i ^ 'fem ? TOth - -- ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ • . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ : : ¦ ¦ ¦

    . ,,. , - /• ¦ . . . ; : ¦ .. . - . .,. THK CHCABACTKB OF THURLOW . < c liord ^ Iiiurlow bad been Lord High Chancellor for fourteen years ; and had then and ai » e « . enjoyed great repuUtionfor depth of thought and reach of understanding , for eru ^ ition in . clas 8 ical literature and learning in his profession , for inflexible integrity and sternne ^ of ^ charaetOT , which assamed ; the appearance of austerity and occasionally even of brutality . As a judge , he was revered throughout the country , especially by churchmen and magistrates . As a debater , he was dreaded in Parliament for near twenty years ; and even to this period of his death , the slightest word that dropped from hb lips , though but to suggest an adjournment or move a summons , was greeted by a large portion of the House offpjuxtadsi . aa an oracle of departing wisdom or a specimen of sarcastic wit unrivalled in any um ^ nj j ^ igo . sustain this tremendous character he had , in fact , little but a . rugged brow an ^ sagaciouscountenance , a deep yet sonorous voice , some happiness of expression without tf -Au bwuid

    wwvu ^ iojMviutij , wuu ^ iik , icniuuig uiurw r « iuurK » ui « xur ivu BingUUlIlty man 1 C 8 a ^ ra ^^ or ^ prigctical use , and a large portion of ponderous but impressive wit , supported ^* stfidie 4 lB 0 Qtetppt and acom for his adversary and his audience . Mr . Fox sai d once With eg ^ uid simpUcity and drollery , ( I suppose no irian was ever so wise as Thurlow looks , far that is impossible . ' His language , his manner , bis public delivery , and even his conduct W « M all of a piece with his looks ; all calculated to inspire the world with a high notion of nil gravity , learning ^ or wisdom ; but all assumed for the purpose of concealing , the real scantiness of bia attainments , the timidity as well as obscurity of his understanding , and the yet more grievous defects of his disposition and principles . He contrived in all his speeches to conjure up an opinion in his andience that choice , not necessity , induced him to leave the knotty points of tfce question untouched , that he fully understood them , that his knowledge on the subject was of no superficial kind , that he drew his conclusions from long and

    laborious researches , from premises established on abstruse and philosophical reasonings . He tbus implied thst the real grounds on which his opinion rested lay too deep for common Intellects to fathom ; and that not thinking it worth while to pnrsue a traia of argument which his hearers were unequal to follow , he had contented himself with loitering on his ww / playing with the subject on the surface , and exposing tbe absurdities of his adversaries . Th *| , last fa often did with much wit , and always with prodigious success . Hb humour , likft , the trunk of the elephant , even in its gambols and freuka , seemed to indicate' a hidden aiidbulky strengtli , which , if called into action , would proTe the most formidable of the forest . . To give some instances of his manner : when , in tlie House of Commons Mr . Wedderburn , on the qaestion whether General Burgoyne , a prisoner on parole , could vote , had displayed his eloquence somewhat affectedly by relating and commenting upon the story of ReguraX Tburlow humorously treated the classical allusion , on which the polished orator plained hnuself , as a dry legal precedent , and began his remarks thereon with saying ,

    ' with respect to the case of Reoulua , on which my learned mend has laid such a etrets . ' Again in the Lords , when Lord Stormont had been detailing with a solemnity usual to him the transactions of a meeting of country gentlemen at the Thatched House Tavern , Lord Thurlow described that part of the grave diplomatic senator ' a harangue as ' that which the noble Viscount in the green riband may have chanced to hear at the ale-house . ' And in a similar strain , when Bishop Horsley had quoted Mango Park ' s description of the dresses of the native females of Africa as a proof that society had there reached some degree of retinornent , he observed upon the argument with this preface : ' With respect to the black women with their white petticoats , as Tar as they or their petticoats have any relation to the question , ray reverend and learned friend who has introduced them will allow , ' &c . In scouting the profession * , exposing the cant , and lowering the fopperies of his opponents he was always successful ; but with their arguments I never heard him grapple . He could often confound and perplex an udversary ; he Beldom if ever threw any real light on a question . " Of two things one : either Lord Thurlow's manner must have been of such a wonderfully impressive , suggestive kind that it intensified trifles , and made the feeblest witticisms ring hke the 6 nest wit ( just as a popular comic

    actor makes the house " roar" with jokes , which , on being repeated by one of the laughers to his friend or family , sound altogether dismal in their want of humour ) , or else Thurlow ' s age was an age in which a modicum of humour went much further than it would go now . Pray turn back to the specimens Lord Holland has quoted , and consider them for 6 ne instant as the memorabilia of one who could move the" House of Commons into fits of laughter ! That much of Thurlow ' s effect was due to manner Lord Holland himself distinctly shows . There is something very charming in the concluding passage , where Lord Holland seems almost to regret his strictures : — " The authority of his judgments has declined with the loss of the deep gruff voice and dark ruffled brow which used to enforce them . His will was said to betray much ignorance of law : it certainly manifested injustice of purpose and haTdness of heart . But I seem to have caught a portion of his spirit in thus recording the bad qualities of a nan against whom I never had the slightest motive for personal or political dislike . On the contrary , from his conversation I have derived some instruction and more amusement . While vre Bat together in Parliament , we were generally on the same side ; and I received from him occasional assistance and countenance in debate . What I have written , however , I believe to be strictly true . - If I Lave not softened the darker lines of his character , it is from indignation at the unmerited reputation which lie so long enjoyed ; and from conviction that one use of contemporary notes is to show those over whom adulation , accident , or hypocrisy shall cast a false and temporary varnish , that justice and truth may yet survive to scrape it off , and a faithful resemblance be ultimately preserved for posterity . "

    From the Chancellor let us pass to the hero : — CHARACTER OF NKLSOX . "Many particulars of his life and character are worth preserving . If one were inclined to give any credit to those omens and unaccountable misgivings which by a French name are termed pr&entiments , the conduct of tbe people of London on the return of Lord Nelson in 1805 , and his own language , might be' alleged as evidence of such feelings , if not with better reason , at least with more truth than the facts on which such belief is generally founded . The enthusiasm inspired-by his name , oil his appearance after the West Indian cruise in 1805 exceeded all that his victories off Egypt or in Denmark had at the time produced . < No recent event had occurred to renew such feelings , yet every class of Englishmen seemed to hare contracted additional fondness for his person , to take fresh interest in bia concerns , and yet to harbour some melancholy presage of his impending fate . Hence , when he was namei to a new command , it sounded as if a great victory was' decreed ; but the joy . thus anticipated was mingled with many forebodings of a dreadful calamity attendant

    upon it . Be cad himself expressed his conviction that he should outdo his former achieve ments , but should never return to enjoy the glories which he had acquired . - His state of health possibly suggested such reflections , for it was at that time far from robust . There are , however ^ stronger -proofs of his repeating soch a persnasion-on the day at the battle than the disposition to believe what is marvellous generally stops to collect , or , when it does , is able to find . The victory of Trafalgar as a subject for history , and will be accurately recorded . The three admirals died within thft year ; VUleneuve put an end to his own existence from vexation and despair ; Gravinia , a gallant , active officer and worthy man , died of his wounds and the unskilful treatment of them ; and Kelson fell in the hour of victory preserving in Ills last momenta the characteristic features ^ his life- ^ zealibr his country and profession , a love of glory , and a tender , affectionaterecoljection of his Mends . As he was carried dawn from deck bleeding and exhausted , he cave distinct orders for the

    disentanglement of a rope which he perceived to be out of its place ; and as he lay gasping in the ^ agonies of death , when asked if the next in rank should succeed , he exclaimed with all the ardour and -jealousy of honour which animated him in action , * Nofr while breath remains " * Jp yikxJy : ' a <* ding , however , some kind expression of regard for the officer oh whom tbe command was to devolve on his decease . He avowed hb liopes that Government , in conveying the national sense of the victory which he had obtained , would not overlook the person on earth to whom he was most attached , and that person was Lady Hamilton . His inquiries during the action were incessant and vehement ; nis exultation at the certainty of success unaffected and excessive . Throughout the last eventfnl minutes of his life , he was the ' same zealous , enthusiastic , and affectionate man as well ; as consummate seaman and kind yet vigilant commander , he had ever been . Of his person there are many representations , and will be nearly as many descriptions . It was insignificamVand announced none of

    the qualities of a commander ; though his innumerable scars ( for titanad scarcely ever been in action without receiving a wound ) , the loss of an e / e , and of an arm , and a weatherbeaten countenance , marked the hard service he bad seen , and gave him , at the age of fortytwo , all the appearance of a veteran . Hla greatness ( for who shall gainsay the greatness of the conqueror of Abonkir . Copenhagen , and Trafalgar ?) is a strong instance of the superiority of the heart over the head , and no slight proof that a warm imagination is ' a more necessary ingredient in the composition of a hero than a sound understanding . Nelao ' n was indeed a perfect seaman . He had , too , acquired by an exclusive and constant application to his profession , great knowledge of the management of a fleet , and of such tactics as as are necessary to bring an enemy to engagement with advantage Bis courage , the natural consequence of a boundless love of glory , and & devotion to his duty bordering on

    superstition , enabled him in the moment of danger to apply all the knowledge and exercise all the judgment he possessed . His faculties * remained tlie same when those of other men were somewhat impaired by agitation , anxiety , sense of responsibility , or fear . His powers of mind Beemed to rise , because in action they were comparatively greater ; « Jid that circumstance proenred for him , from such as had witnessed him in those moments , a reputation for abilities which never appeared in his conversation , correspondence , opinions , or condnct elsewhere , and which in truth nature had not conferred upon him . St . Simon observes . ; that goodness of heart and rectitude of intention will , upon great occasions , elevate and enlighten the understanding of very ordinary men ; and the whole life of Nelson is a proof that , combined with disinterested devotion to a causa , they may become permanent and efficient substitutes for great abilities and exalted genius . " It may be worth while to record Lord Holland ' s opinion of the treatment Lady Hamilton received from the Government , especially when we bear in mind the subsequent fruitless appeals made for kelson ' s daughter Honoria : — 11 Whether the Government , which had not the virtue to disown the lad actions that Lady Hamilton had seduced Lord Nelson to commit , did right to ne glect his dying injunctions in her favour or not , is a nice question for political casuists , which I do not pretend to decide . Certain it is that she died near Calais in 1814 , in great distress and even want . It is equally certain that her baneful ascendancy over Nelaon s mind was the chief cuuse of his indefenuible conduct at Naples ; that neither he nor she was ever disavowed or discountenanced by our Court for that conduct ; and that ho retained his affection and gratitude to her to tno last hour of hia life . " The Prince Regent— " the first Gent in Europe" —as Jerrold calls him , does not present a vory respectable figure in these pages ; where , indeed , could he present a figure other than contemptible except in a circle of valets ? He is in a new and ludicrous aspect presented by Lord Holland in this passage : — " He wns indeed at that lime deeply engaged with his paBfiion for Lady Hertford , contracted during hia negotiations with her family to buvo Miati Seymour , llieir niece , under the care of Mrs . Fitzherbert . His health was reported ( o be bad , and his appearance confirmed tho report . Those , however , who had made a sludy of his gallantries , recognised his usual system of lovo-making in these symptoms . Ho generally , it seems , assuiled tho hearts which he wished to curry by exciting their coinniiserutionn for his Bufferings nnd their apprehensions for his health . With this view he actually submitted to bo bled two or three times in the course of a night , when there was ho little necessity for it that different

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 4, 1854, page 116, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2024/page/20/