As to this, it may be endeavored, by the aid of
wheedling and intimidation, to induce the two privileged chambers to
melt themselves into one, and the Commons, instead of one, to agree to
two Houses of legislation. I see no other middle ground to which they
can be brought.
It is a tremendous cloud, indeed, which hovers over this nation, and he
at the helm has neither the courage nor the skill necessary to weather
it. Eloquence in a high degree, knowledge in matters of account, and
order, are distinguishing traits in his character. Ambition is his first
passion, virtue his second. He has not discovered that sublime truth,
that a bold, unequivocal virtue is the best handmaid even to ambition,
and would carry him further, in the end, than the temporizing, wavering
policy he pursues. His judgment is not of the first order, scarcely even
of the second; his resolution frail; and upon the whole, it is rare
to meet an instance of a person so much below the reputation he has
obtained. As this character, by the post and times in which Providence
has placed it, is important to be known, I send it to you as drawn by
a person of my acquaintance, who knows him well.
Pages:
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035