returned member for Stafford in 1780, which place he continued to represent till the last election, in 1806, when he succeeded Fox as member for Westminster. On Fox's accession to office in the beginning of the same year, he was appointed treasurer of the navy. The following is his first speech in the house. He has said more witty things than ever were said by any one man in the house of commons: but at present one may say of him, 'The wine of life is drunk and but the lees remain.' I have retained the compliment with which the following speech is prefaced in the report from which it is taken, that it was the most brilliant reply that perhaps was ever made in the House of Commons,' because I am half inclined to be of the same opinion. The expression brilliant belongs peculiarly to Sheridan's style of eloquence. For brilliant fancy, for vivacity of description, for animation, for acuteness, for wit, for good sense and real discrimination, for seeing the question at once just in the right point of view, being neither perplexed with the sophisms of others, nor led away by the warmth of his own imagination, he was (I do not say he is) equal to any of his competitors; for he has got none left (except indeed Windham, who is however as different a man as can be). I have made more fuss about some other speakers, but to say the truth, he is about as good as the best of them. He was undoubtedly the second public man after Fox, both with respect to talents, and firmness to his principles. SIR GEORGE SAVILLE, (Member for Yorkshire,) distinguished himself by his opposition to the American war, and by bringing in the bill for the repeal of the penal statutes against the Roman Catholics. His speeches abound with real wit and humour. He died 1784, at the age of 59. MR. GRATTAN.—I do not, I confess, like this style, though it is what many people call eloquent. There is a certain spirit and animation in it, but it is over-run with affectation. It is at the same time mechanical, uncouth, and extravagant. It is like a piece of Gothic architecture, full of quaintness and formality. It is all horrid' with climax and alliteration and epithet and personification. From injuries to arms, and from arms to liberty: precedent and principle, the Irish volunteers, and the Irish parliament.' I am not fond of these double facings, and splicings and clenches in style. They too much resemble a garden laid out according to Pope's description, 'Where each alley has a brother, And half the platform just reflects the other.' MR. CURRAN.-This celebrated pleader has been called by some, who probably intended it as a compliment, the Irish Erskine. I do not know what the effect of their manner may be, having never heard them; but this I know, that as to their written speeches, there is no comparison either with respect to brilliancy or solidity between Erskine's speeches and those of Curran. The speeches of the latter are also free from that affectation, or false glitter, which is the vice of Irish eloquence. Every Irish orator thinks himself bound to be a Burke. But according to the old axiom, no man is bound to do that which he cannot. MR. CANNING. This gentleman writes verses better than he makes speeches. If he had as much understanding as he has wit, he would be a great man: but that is not the case. Non omnia possumus omnes. However, there is a degree of elegance and brilliancy, and a certain ambitious tip-toe elevation in his speeches. But they want manliness, force, and dignity. His eloquence is something like a bright, sharppointed sword, which, owing to its not being made of very stout metal, bends and gives way, and seems ready to snap asunder at every stroke; and he is perpetually in danger of having it wrested out of his hands. MR. HORNE TOOKE.-I shall only say of the following speech that it is worthy of the celebrated man by whom it was delivered. |