(Mr. Sheridan), whose talents as an orator, or a disputant, are so eminently great; who penetrates into every subject of whatever nature, and understands every weapon exercised in its defence; who rivals Hyperides and Lysias in acuteness, and Menander and Aristophanes in wit.

From the above character Mr. Pitt, with conscious inferiority, sometimes recedes, as if anxious for a pretext to avoid controversy. When he is unable to do this, he forsakes his sarcastic and twisted mode of disputation, and begins to render praise to his opponent, in a manner which shows how greatly he fears him. It would be surpris

ing, indeed, if he, and especially a young man, who contends with Sheridan, did not throw away his weapons, and spare his unavailing powers. The more subtle and inveterate disputants, it becomes either to be silent altogether, or to listen with respectful deference; for, to a profound knowledge of affairs, Sheridan unites all the essential accomplishments of the orator. His vein of humour is great and delightful; his erudition is polite, elegant, and extensive; his quickness of apprehension, and acuteness of reply, are really wonderful; besides which, he upon all occasions discovers the most ingenuous and exquisite urbanity.

It is believed that an orator, however moderately accomplished, if he has any merit at all, can secure the attention of his audience. For my part, great as is the crowd of the minister's friends, I have seldom met with one who can, in any respect, compare with Sheridan. I have among them found several not defective in abi

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lity, but without oratorical ability. The attainments of some of them are very scanty indeed; their natural talents much more so: they are so far from being eloquent speakers, that they do not merit the appellation of speakers at all. Others of them are obscure and new made men; becoming orators very suddenly, and distinguished by their rude vulgarity of style. We will therefore suffer the crowd, the bold Gyas, and the bold Cloanthus, to pass unnoticed, as men who cannot speak with elegance, and are inadequate to the labour of thinking. There are two whom I place in the same scale with Sheridan; one of whom may be called the leader of the combat, the other is the second part actor.

The celerity of the minister in action is ever so prompt and so prepared, that nothing can possibly be more specious. But Sheridan excels him in acuteness, and sometimes in diligence; always in poignancy and wit.

Next to the minister, but with a long interval of distance-next to him, however, is Grenville; who, unequal, and indeed vanquished in the contest, has still carried from it the no mean honour of having contended with Sheridan. This young man has a sufficient share of learning, a prudent and careful considerateness, and a commendable share of industry. But to him, in expediting and perfecting affairs, Sheridan is far superior; and combines, what is very difficult indeed to accomplish, conciseness with ornament.

There may be orators of very great excellence, who differ essentially from each other. We will therefore venture to compare Sheridan with some VOL. II.

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who either resemble him in ardour, or are united to him by the ties of friendship and affection.

Each of the three characters, of whom I have made frequent mention, is accomplished in his own way nearly to perfection; but not one of them possesses a recommendation which is common to them all. I had almost said that Sheridan has attained whatever individually distinguishes them, and supplied what they respectively want of perfection. The golden tide of eloquence which Burke pours forth; the urbanity, the easy unstudied elegance of North; the subtlety, the vigour, the variety of Fox;-all these qualities are conspicuously united in Sheridan.

In the late public cause instituted against a public governor, how extensive were his claims to favour and to fame! With what energy of voice and spirit did he attach the attention of his hearers of all ranks, ages, and parties! In how wonderful a manner did he communicate delight, and incline the most reluctant spirits to his purpose!

To the discussion of this cause he came admirably prepared-all was anxious expectation and attention. From the very beginning he appeared to justify impatience. That subject, so various, complicated, and abstruse, he comprehended with precision, and explained with systematic acuteness. He placed every argument in that particular point where it had the greatest energy and effect. Throughout a very long speech he was careful to use no imprudent expression, but manifestly and uniformly consistent with himself; his style was dexterously adapted to the contingence

of the occasion: in one part he was copious and splendid; in another more concise and pointed, and gave additional polish to truth. As he found it necessary, he instructed, delighted, or agitated his hearers. He appeared to have no other object in view but that of giving the fairest termination to the business; to prove the guilt of the accused by the most indisputable evidence; and to confirm the object of the investigation by strong and decisive reasoning. Then first did that Scot, audacious as he is, tremble with alarm, and altogether forget his usual loquacity. But the minister rendered Sheridan the tribute of his suffrage, either because he felt the irresistible impression of his eloquence, or chose to embrace this as the fairest opportunity of atoning for his former most reproachful conduct.

At that time Sheridan discovered a spirit of wit and humour, not mean and vulgar, but consistent with the purest eloquence. His oratory was often rapid and diffused, but in no one instance crowded or redundant; it was, as contingence required, vehement, indignant, and expressive of the justest sorrow: its impression, its splendour, its copiousness and variety, were, in all respects, responsible to the greatness and dignity of the occasion,

With how great applause he was heard by an attentive senate is universally known. His most determined adversaries were compelled to render tribute to his excellence. A large portion was added, not merely to his ingenuous and honourable popularity, but his solid and unfading glory.

Posterity will again and again, with renewed delight and wonder, peruse that composition; and, with heartfelt animation, will often apply to him the words of Eschines-" Oh, that we had heard him!"

DR. PARR.

LORD BYRON.

AMIDST the general calmness of the political atmosphere, we have been stunned, from another quarter, by one of those death-notes which are pealed at intervals, as from an archangel's trumpet, to awaken the soul of a whole people at once. Lord Byron, who has so long and so amply filled the highest place in the public eye, has shared the lot of humanity. His lordship died at Missolonghi, on the nineteenth of April. That mighty genius, which walked amongst men as something superior to ordinary mortality, and whose powers were beheld with wonder, and something approaching to terror, as if we knew not whether they were of good or of evil, is laid as soundly to rest as the poor peasant whose ideas never went beyond his daily task. The voice of just blame and of malignant censure are at once silenced; and we feel almost as if the great luminary of heaven had suddenly disappeared from the sky, at the moment when every telescope was leveled for the examination of the spots which dimmed its brightness. It is not now the question what were Byron's faults, what his mistakes? but how is the blank which he has