argument in old authors; Mr. Brougham with the balance of power in Europe. If the first is better versed in the progress of history, no man excels the last in a knowledge of the course of ex. change. He is apprized of the exact state of our exports and imports; and scarce a ship clears out its cargo at Liverpool or Hull, but he has notice of the bill of lading. Our colonial policy, prison discipline, the state of the hulks, agricultural distress, commerce and manufactures, the bullion question, the Catholic question, the Bourbons or the Inquisition, "domestic treason, foreign levy," nothing can come amiss to him he is at home in the crooked mazes of rotten boroughs, is not baffled by Scotch law, and can follow the meaning of one of Mr. Canning's speeches. With so many resources, with such variety and solidity of information, Mr. Brougham is rather a powerful and alarming, than an effectual debater. In so many details (which he himself goes through with unwearied and unshrinking resolution) the spirit of the question is lost to others, who have not the same voluntary power of attention, or the same interest in hearing, that he has in speaking; the original impulse that urged him forward is forgotten in so wide a field, in so interminable a career. If he can, others cannot carry all he knows in their heads at the same time; a rope of circumstantial evidence does not hold well together, nor drag the unwilling mind along with it (the willing mind hurries on before it, and grows impatient and absent)-be moves in an unmanageable procession of facts and proofs, instead of coming to the point at once-and his premises (so anxious is he to proceed on sure and ample grounds) overlay and block up his conclusion, so that you cannot arrive at it, or not till the first fury and shock of the onset is over. The ball, from the too great width of the calibre from which it is

length of his tether (in vulgar phrase), and often overshoots the mark. C'est dommage. He has no reserve of discretion, no retentiveness of mind or check upon himself. He needs, with so much wit,

sent, and from striking against
such a number of hard projecting
points, is almost spent before it
reaches its destination. He keeps
a ledger or a debtor-and-creditor
account between the government
and the country, posts so much
actual crime, corruption, and in- "As much again to govern it."
justice, against so much contingent He cannot keep a good thing or a
advantage or sluggish prejudice, shrewd piece of information in his
and at the bottom of the page possession, though the letting it
brings in the balance of indigna-out should mar a cause. It is not
tion and contempt, where it is due.
that he thinks too much of himself,
But people are not to be calculated
or too little of his cause: but he is
into contempt or indignation on
absorbed in the pursuit of truth
abstract grounds; for, however
they may submit to this process away by the headstrong and over-
as an abstract inquiry-he is led
where their own interests are con-
cerned, in what regards the public He is borne along, almost involun-
mastering activity of his own mind.
good, we believe, they must see
tarily, and not impossibly against
and feel instinctively, or not at all.
his better judgment, by the throng
There is (it is to be lamented) a
and restlessness of his ideas, as by
good deal of froth as well as
a crowd of people in motion. His
strength in the popular spirit,
which will not admit of being de perceptions are literal, tenacious,
epileptic-his understanding vora-
cious of facts, and equally com-
municative of them-and he pro-
ceeds to

Pour out all as plain As downright Shippen or as old Montaigne"

without cither the virulence of the one or the bonhommie of the

other. The repeated, smart, unforeseen, discharges of the truth, jar those that are next him. He does not dislike this state of irritation and collision, indulges his curiosity or his triumph, till, by calling for more facts, or hazarding some extreme inference, he urges a question to the verge of a preci

canted or served out in formal
driblets; nor will spleen (the soul
of Opposition) bear to be corked
up in square patent bottles, and
kept for future use! In a word,
Mr. Brougham's is ticketed and
labelled eloquence, registered and
in numeros (like the successive
parts of a Scotch Encyclopedia)
it is clever, knowing, imposing,
masterly, an extraordinary display
of clearness of head, of quickness
and energy of thought, of appli-
cation and industry; but it is not
the eloquence of the imagination
or the heart, and will never save a
nation or an individual from per-
| dition.
'Mr. Brougham has one consi.pice, his adversaries urge it over,
derable advantage in debate: he is
overcome by no false modesty, no
deference to others. But then, by
a natural consequence or parity of
reasoning, he has little sympathy
with other people, and is liable to
be mistaken in the effect his argu-
ments will have upon them. He
relies too much, among other
things, on the patience of his
hearers, and on his ability to turn
every thing to his own advantage.
He accordingly goes to the full

and he himself shrinks back from
the consequence-
"Scared at the sound himself has made !"
Mr. Brougham has great fearless-
ness, but not equal firmness; and,
after going too far on the forlorn
hope, turns short round, without
due warning to others or respect
for himself. He is adventurous,
but easily panic-struck; and sacri-
fices the vanity of self-opinion to
the necessity of self-preservation.
He is too improvident for a leader,

sense, of the length of human life, if we make a good use of our time.

sometimes almost approaching to a scream. He is fluent, rapid, vehement, full of his subject, with There is room enough to evidently a great deal to say, and crowd almost every art and science very regardless of the manner of into it. If we pass "no day withsaying it. As a lawyer, he has out a line," visit no place without not hitherto been remarkably suc- the company of a book, we may cessful. He is not profound in with ease fill libraries, or empty cases and reports, nor does he take them of their contents. Those much interest in the peculiar fea- who complain of the shortness of tures of a particular cause, or life let it slide by them without show much adroitness in the ma- wishing to seize and make the most nagement of it. He carries too of its golden minutes. The more much weight of metal for ordinary we do, the more we can do; the and petty occasions: he must have more busy we are, the more leisure a pretty large question to discuss, we have. If any one possesses and must make thorough-stitch any advantage in a considerable work of it. He, however, had an degree, he may make himself mas. encounter with Mr. Phillips the ter of nearly as many more as he other day, and shook all his tender pleases, by employing his spare blossoms, so that they fell to the time, and cultivating the waste fa ground, and withered in an hour; culties of his mind. While one but they soon bloomed again! person is determining on the choice Mr. Brougham writes almost, if of a profession or study, another not quite, as well as he speaks. shall have made a fortune or gain. In the midst of an election contested a merited reputation. While he comes out to address the popu- one person is dreaming over the lace, and goes back to his study meaning of a word, another will to finish an article for the Edin- have learnt several languages. It burgh Review;' sometimes, in- is not incapacity, but indolence, deed, wedging three or four arti- indecision, want of imagination, cles (in the shape of refaccimentos and a proneness to a sort of menof his own pamphlets or speeches tal tautology, to repeat the same in parliament) into a single num- images and tread the same circle, ber. Such, indeed, is the activity that leaves us so poor, so dull, of his mind, that it appears to re- and inert as we are, so naked of quire neither repose, nor any other acquirement, so barren of restimulus than a delight in its own sources! While we are walking exercise. He can turn his hand backwards and forwards between to any thing, but he cannot be Charing Cross and Temple Bar, idle. There are few intellectual and sitting in the same coffeeaccomplishments which he does house every day, we might make not possess, and possess in a very the grand tour of Europe, and high degree. He speaks French visit the Vatican and the Louvre. (and, we believe, several other Mr. Brougham, among other means modern languages) fluently, is a of strengthening and cularging his capital mathematician, and obtain views, has visited, we believe, most ed an introduction to the cele of the courts, and turned his atbrated Carnot in this latter cha- tention to most of the constituracter, when the conversation turn- tions, of the Continent. He is, no doubt, a very accomplished, activeminded, and admirable person.'

too petulant for a partisan; and does not sufficiently consult those with whom he is supposed to act in concert. He sometimes leaves them in the lurch, and is sometimes left in the lurch by them. He wants the principle of co-operation. He frequently, in a fit of thoughtless levity, gives an unexpected turn to the political machine, which alarms older and more experienced heads: if he was not himself the first to get out of harm's way and escape from the danger, it would be well! We hold, indeed, as a general rule, that no man born or bred in Scotland can be a great orator, unless he is a mere quack; or a great statesman, unless he turns plain knave. The national gravity is against the first-the national caution is against the last. To a Scotchman, if a thing is, it is; there is an end of the question with his opinion about it. He is positive and abrupt, and is not in the habit of conciliating the feelings or soothing the follies of others. His only way, therefore, to produce a popular effect, is to sail with the stream of prejudice, and to vent common dogmas, "the total grist, unsifted,husks andall," from some evangelical pulpit. This may answer, and it has answered. On the other hand, if a Scotchman, born or bred, comes to think at all of the feelings of others, it is not as they regard them, but as their opinion reacts on his own interest and safety. He is, therefore, either pragmatical and offensive, or, if he tries to please, he becomes cowardly and fawning. His public spirit wants pliancy; his selfish compliances go all lengths. He is as impracticable as a popular partisan, as he is mischievous as a tool of government. We do not wish to press this argument farther, anded on squaring the circle, and not must leave it involved in some de. gree of obscurity, rather than bring the armed intellect of a whole nation on our heads.

on the propriety of confining
France within the natural boun-
dary of the Rhine. Mr. Brougham
is, in fact, a striking instance of
the versatility and strength of the
human mind; and also, in one

LONDON :-J. Robins and Co. Ivy Lane,
Paternoster Row: J. Robins, jun, and
Co. 38, Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin;
and all Booksellers, &c.

No. 19.

Or, The Chieftain's Weekly Gazette.

PRIVATE MEMOIRS OF
CAPTAIN ROCK.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE WISDOM OF OLD CAPTAIN ROCK.

PRICE TWO PENCE.

SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1825. through your own eyes, of the far, my son, from apprehending fallacy of your anticipations. Were any mischief to the cause of the there a probability of government Rocks, I view, in these partial following up the liberal spirit re-relaxations, the best hopes of future cently shown, most willingly would strife. To put a sword in one On my arrival at Rockglen II join you in hailing the blessings hand, while the manacle continues found my father, with about a of freedom, though they should on the other-that is, to show us hundred followers, preparing to render the history of the Rocks a our strength and our degradation--set out for Heatley Hall, with the dreary blank indeed. But the exis the sure way to render us dan. intention of rescuing me, should perience of a long life has taught gerous; for who could remain inthere be any necessity. The old me that what is conceded in a mo. active, when imperfectly bound, chieftain, on seeing me safe out of ment of fear is either withdrawn with the instrument of redemption the hands of the Philistines, reor envied when the hour of danger by his side? We have only to turned thanks to the Genius of is past; and, though a few favours dread that complete disfranchiseRockism, and asked what I pur- have been granted to the Catho- ment which would make men enposed doing. To remain at lics, they have been given under lightened and grateful. But this home,' said he, in Irish, will be circumstances which leave the one we can have no apprehension of. now impossible; for, though sol- party without merit, and the other Listen to a short history of the diers are scarce, the degenerate without gratitude. Wait but till penal code, and say if there can be Catholics have become so loyal as America is humbled or declared a rational hope of seeing it repealed to put on a red coat, and swear free, and you will once more find in a hurry :allegiance to the government, which the government either repenting of insults them. No doubt they what it has done, or, out of rewould be glad of an opportunity venge, drawing tighter that portion which should put their fidelity to of the chain which still clanks the test, and ten to one if they upon the legs of Catholics. + So would not assist in apprehending the son of him who rendered the penal laws a dead letter.' 'What then,' I asked, you have me do?'

would

'I'll tell you,' he replied. Go to Dublin, and stop a month or two with your aunt in the Coombe, until this business is forgotten. Cousins, if you stay at home, will give us no rest; and I should, at the present moment, feel very un. willing to awaken angry feelings in the country.

'Besides,' he continued, 'Dublin is now the grand centre of political movements; and, though I reverence that thoughtless enthusiasm which makes you enamoured of the acts and actors of this our

day, I wish you to be convinced,

At this period there were about one hundred soldiers in Munster, the fourth of whom had been drawn from Clonmell, by Cousins, to arrest me-the civil authority being seldom employed in Ireland on such occasions.

+ The penal code at this period (1762)
had been relaxed so far as to permit Ca-
tholics to testify their allegiance, and to
take and enjoy, &c. leases for 999 years.
The first took place in 1774, and the latter
in 1788. In 1772 they were permitted,
indeed, to take a lease of unprofitable
bog, provided the depth of the bog,
be four feet at least.' Against this indul-
from the surface, when reclaimed, should
gen
gence the Protestant ascendancy of the
day made great opposition, insisting that
reclaiming bogs was an encouragement of
that day may be inferred from the follow-
Popery!! The spirit of the parliament of
ing fact, stated by the Earl of Charle

mont:

'As some slight alleviation to the suffer

ings of the Papists, and to encourage the
peasantry of this persuasion to benefit the
country by building cottages, heads of a
bill were prepared to enable them to take
leases, for ninety years, of the tenement
on which their cabin was to be built, and

of a small portion of ground to serve as

a potatoe garden. This bili has been re-
peatedly moved in the Commons, and re-
peatedly rejected. In 1772 I resolved to
try it in the Lords, and so far prevailed,
as to get it read twice and committed.
But all in vain. The House had hitherto

In 1691 Catholics were excluded from the Irish Houses of Lords and Commons, by compelling them to take the oath of supremacy before admission. In 1695 they were deprived of all means of educating their children at home or abroad, and even of being their guardians. Then all the Catholics were disarmed, and their priests banished. In 1701 it was enacted, amongst other arbishould marry a Papist; that no trary clauses, that no Protestant Papist should purchase land, or take a lease of land for more than the land so leased amounted to thirty-one years-If the profits of

been thinly attended, and to this circumstance I owed my success. But the trumpet of bigotry had sounded the alarm. To give the wretched cottager a permanent interest in his miserable mud-built habitation was said to be an infringement on the penal code, which threatened the destruction of church and state. A cry was raised that the Protestant interest was in danger. The Lords were summoned to attend, the House was crowded with zealous supporters of orthodoxy and oppression, and I was voted out of the chair, not wholly unsuspected of being little better than a Papist,'-Life of Charlemont.

laws as I have related, there can
be no possible fear of Rock being
in want of assistance in the pleasing
pursuit of riot-making. No, no,
my son, a long reign of glory is
still before us. Our rulers are at-
tentive to our interests; for in the
words of the old prophecy,

As long as millions shall kneel down,
To ask of thousands for their own;
While thousands proudly turn away,
And to the million answer nay;
So long the merry reign shall be
Of Captain Rock and his family.'

more than a certain sum, the farm
to belong to the first Protestant
who made the discovery. No
Papist to be in a line of entail,
but the estate to pass on to the
next Protestant relative.-No Pa-
pist to hold any office, civil or
military; not to dwell in Galway
or Limerick-not to vote at elec-
tions. In 1709 Papists were not
to hold an annuity for life-Pa-
pists' wives to have an increase of
their jointure upon conversion.—
Papists keeping schools to be pro- This speech of my father stag-
secuted as convicts-Popish priests, gered, for a moment, all my en-
who were converted, to receive thusiasm ; but, still recollecting
thirty pounds per annum.-Re- that he was the only man who held
wards are given for the discovery these opinions at the time, I soon
of Popish clergy; fifty pounds for began to flatter myself that he
discovering a Popish bishop; might be mistaken, and I confess
twenty pounds for a common Po- that I embraced the opportunity
pish clergyman; ten pounds for a of visiting Dublin with alacrity, as
Popish usher. Two justices em. I hoped to see there some of those
powered to compel any Papist, political characters who then dis-
above eighteen years of age, to tinguished themselves in the cause
disclose every particular which has of the people. On the morning of
come to his knowledge respecting my departure the venerable cap-
Popish priests, celebration of Mass, tain called me into his own room
or Popish schools; imprisonment above the kitchen, and having,
for a year if he refuses to answer. with a parental tear in his eye,
Nobody to hold property in trust slipped a little purse into my hand,
for a Catholic; juries in all trials desired me to sit down. You
growing out of these statutes to are now, my son,' said he, in
be Protestants; Catholics not to your twentieth year; and, as your
serve on grand juries. In the father has not long to continue on
reign of George I. Popish horses this earthly scene, the sooner you
were attached and allowed to be begin to prepare to succeed him
seized for the militia; Papists not the better. Death has now left
to be either high or petty con. me only you; yet I am grateful,
stables; Papists in towns to pro- knowing that you will tread in the
vide Protestant watchmen, and not footsteps of old Captain Rock, to
to vote at vestrics. In the reign of the satisfaction and advantage of our
George II. Papists were prohibited numerous adherents. To be quali-
from becoming barristers; bar-fied for this task, perhaps my own
risters and solicitors marrying Pa- private instructions were sufficient;
pists considered to be Papists, and but, as knowledge is power, I wish
subjected to all penalties as such. you to see and learn all that is taught
-Persons robbed by privateers at this eventful crisis in the metro-
during a war with a Popish prince polis of the nation. But let not
to be indemnified by money levied your eyes be dazzled by unsubstan-
on the Catholics only; no Papist tial glare. Appearances are gene-
to marry a Protestant-any priest rally deceitful, and he who pretends
celebrating such a marriage to be to most patriotism has seldom any.
to most patriotism has seldom any.
hanged.
Vanity and ambition are ruling
passions in most legislators; and,
as Vice always assumes the dress
of Virtue, the hypocrite is uni-

The Parliament may be de clared free; but, while five-sixths of the people are governed by such

formly clothed in the garb of an honest man. Think for yourself, decide with caution, and never hastily. Avoid bad company, and write frequently to your father. When I consider it safe for you to return I'll let you know; and now set out on your journeyGod bless you.'

The good old man's admonition drew tears into my eyes; and, after kissing his cheek, I took my departure. Owen was waiting for me outside the door, with a saddled horse, which I quickly mounted, and set out on my journey, my foster-brother walking beside me.

REDMOND BARRY. CHARITY-and, above all, Eng. lish charity-is ostentatious. The left hand is generally made acquainted with the donation of the right; and even this is always scanty, unless called forth by public meetings or newspaper para. graphs. English benevolence, it would appear, disdains. to act silently; the names of benefactors must be announced, or nothing will be given; and those who solicit aid are so well aware of this, that they hang out the catalogue of subscribers as regularly as the shopkeeper displays his show. board. Nothing less than a fa

mine or an inundation is calculated to open private purses; and, while thousands are sent to distant states, hundreds of individuals groan at home in absolute misery, notwithstanding all their national institutions for relieving distress.

'I had flattered myself,' says a contemporary, that the days of Dryden and Otway and Savage were past for ever-that the progress of knowledge and philosophical experience had shown the world, that any advance made on its part for the encouragement of genius was certain to be refunded in a thousand-fold by the operation of its influence on the movements of society. I thought that no man who by connexion with, or the possession of, talent, could