ther, in those cases, the point of ho nour was either well chosen or rightly estimated ;) and still more where general impression, where universal estimation, where the conception to be form ed of the feelings, temper, power, policy, and views of a great nation, are in question, there, to talk of calculating the loss or profit of possessions, to which these considerations may be attached, by their price at market, or the value of their fee simple, is like the idea of Dr Swift, when he is comparing the grants to the Duke of Marlborough with the rewards of a Roman conqueror, and estimates the crown of laurel at two-pence.'

Again, in the same speech, we have a fine specimen of spirited morality: "However true it may be, that the example of France ought to serve as the strongest antidote to its poison, and that it does so in fact in the minds of many, yet it is equally true, that, in another view, and to many other persons, it operates in a directly contrary way, not as a warning, but as an incitement. What I am now speaking of is, however, not the danger of the political principles of France, but the still surer and more dreadful danger

of her morals. What are we to think of a country that, having struck out of men's minds, as far as it has the power to do so, all sense of religion, and all belief of a future life, has struck out of its system of civil policy, the institution of marriage? That has formally, professedly, and by law, established the connexion of the sexes upon the footing of an unrestrained concubinage? That has turned the whole country into one universal brothel? That leaves to every man to take, and to get rid of a wife, (the fact, I believe, continues to be so) and a wife, in like manner, to get rid of her husband, upon less notice than you can, in this country, of a ready-furnished lodging?

"Do we suppose it possible, that with an intercourse subsisting, such as, we know, will take place between Great Britain and France, the morals of this country shall continue what they have been? Do we suppose that when this " Syrus in Tiberim defluxit Orontes," when that "revolutionary stream," the Seine, charged with all the colluvies of Paris, with all the filth and blood of that polluted city, shall have turned its current into the Thames, that the waters of our fair domestic flood can remain pure and wholesome as before? Do we suppose these things can happen? Or is it, that we are indifferent whether they happen or not; and that the morals of the country are no longer an object of our concern?"

The quality of Mr Windham's eloquence, which we regard as the next in value, is the logical connection and judicious disposition of his arguments. of that excellence, however, it would obviously be impossible to comprise a specimen in these pages, inasmuch as such merits are, in their very nature, diffused through an entire speech, and perceptible only by observation of its tenour as a whole.

Perhaps, for a popular assembly, the style of Mr Windham was sometimes too metaphysical; but on many occasions his philosophy was usefully exercised, in clearing the for his argument, and raising the curiosity of the house,

way

"The great division of mankind," says he in his speech on the peace of Amiens," into those who were formed to govern, and those who were born only to obey, was never more strongly exemplified than by the French nation, and those who have sunk, or are sink. ing, under their yoke. Let us not suppose, therefore, that, while these qualities, combined with these purposes, shall continue to exist, they will ever cease, by night or by day, in peace or

in war, to work their natural effect, to gravitate towards their proper centre;-or that the bold, the proud, the dignified, the determined, those who will great things, and will stake their existence upon the accomplishment of what they have willed, shall not finally prevail over those, who act upon the very opposite feelings; who will "never push their resistance beyond their convenience;" who ask for nothing but ease and safety; who look only to stave off the evil for the present day, and will take no heed of what may befal them on the morrow. We are therefore, in effect, at war at this moment; and the only question is, whether the war, that will henceforward proceed under the name of peace, is likely to prove less operative and fatal, than that which has hitherto appeared in its natural and ordinary shape."

It has become a fashion to say, that the eloquence of the House of Commons is rapidly waning,—that a dark age is come upon us, and that no rays of early genius are dawning to revive the glories that are gone. If

it entered into the plan of the present article to analyse and pourtray the powers of the leading speakers of the present day, we should have little difficulty in refuting this prejudice. We would solicit the "laudatores temporis acti" to reflect, that orators, who, in the time of Mr Pitt and Mr Fox, had not enjoyed the opportunity and practice essential to excellence, and who were therefore, at that period, inferior and inconsiderable men, have since improved and ripened their faculties. We could illustrate from various instances, and especially from the last two years of Mr Perceval's life, the satisfactory axiom, that great oc casions are sure to kindle great talents. And we might finally console the ap prehensions of our readers, by specifi cally reminding them, that the voice of Mr Grattan is not yet mute; that Mr Canning is in the full maturity of his genius; and that the early and bril. liant eloquence of Mr Ward affords additional assurance of a legitimate succession to the honours of the de parted great.

THE subject of the present brief memorial will be long distinguished among those whom the elasticity and ardour of genius have raised to distinction from an obscure and humble origin. JOHN LEYDEN was descended from a family of small farmers, long settled upon the estate of Cavers, in the vale of Teviot, a few miles from Hawick. He loved to mention some traditional rhymes, which one of his ancestors had composed, and to commemorate the prowess of another, who had taken arms with the insurgent Cameronians, about the time of the Revolution, and who distinguished himself by his gallantry at the defence of the churchyard of Dunkeld, 21st August, 1689, against a superior body of Highlanders, when Colonel Cleland, the leader of these warlike enthusiasts, was slain at their head. John Leyden, residing in the village of Denholm, and parish of Cavers, Roxburghshire, and Isabella Scott, his wife, were the parents of Dr Leyden, and still survive to deplore the irreparable loss of a son the honour alike of his family and country. Their irreproachable life, and simplicity of manners, recommend

VOL. IV. PART II.

ed them to the respect and kindness of their neighbours, and to the protection of the family of Mr Douglas of Cavers, upon whose estate they resided.

John Leyden, so eminent for the genius which he displayed, and the extensive knowledge which he accumulated during his brief career, was born at Denholm, on 8th September, 1775, and bred up, like other children in the same humble line of life, to such country labour as suited his strength. He was ten years of age before he had an opportunity of attending even the reading school, and as the death of his first teacher, William Wilson, school-master at Kirktown, soon after took place, the humble studies of the future poet, antiquary, and orientalist, were adjourned till the subsequent year, (1786) when a Mr W. Scott taught the same school. But the sacred fire had already caught to the ready fuel which nature had adjusted for its supply. The ardent and unutterable longing fór information of every description, which characterized John Leyden as much as any man who ever lived, was now roused and upon the watch. The rude traditionary tales and ballads of

d

the once warlike district of Teviot dale were the readiest food which offered itself to this awakening appetite for knowledge. These songs and legends became rooted in his memory, and he so identified his feelings with the wild, adventurous, and daring characters which they celebrate, that the associations thus formed in childhood, and cherished in youth, gave an eccentric and romantic tincture to his own mind, and many, if not all the peculiarities of his manner and habits of thinking may be traced to his imitating the manners and assuming the tone of a borderer of former times. To this may be ascribed his eager admiration of adventurous deeds and military achievement, his contempt of luxury, his zealous, and somewhat exclusive preference of his native district, an affected dislike to the southron, as the "auld enemies of Scotland," an earnest desire to join to the reputation of high literary acquirements the praise of an adept at all manly exercises, and the disregard of ceremony, and bold undaunted bearing in society, which might be supposed to have characterized an ancient native of the border. In his early days also he probably really felt the influence of those superstitious impressions, which at a later period he used sometimes to assume, to the great amusement of his friends, and astonishment of strangers. It was indeed somewhat singular, when he got upon this topic to hear Leyden maintain powerfully, and with great learning, the exploded doctrines of dæmonology, and sometimes even affect to confirm the strange tales with which his memory abounded, by reference to the ghostly experiences of his childhood. Even to those most intimate with him, he would sometimes urge such topics, in a manner which made it impossible to determine whether he was serious or jocular, and most probably his fancy, though not his sober judgment, actually retained some im

But the romantic legend and heroic ballad did not satiate, though they fed his youthful appetite for knowledge. The obscure shepherd boy never heard of any source of information within his reach without straining every nerve to obtain access to it. A companion, for example, had met with an odd volume of the Arabian Nights Entertainments, and gave an account of its contents, which excited the curiosity of young Leyden. This precious book was in possession of a blacksmith's apprentice, who lived at several miles distance from Denholm, and the season was winter. Leyden however waded through the snow, to present himself by day-break at the forge-door, and request a perusal of this interesting book in presence of the owner, for an unlimited loan was scarcely to be hoped for. He was disappointed, was obliged to follow the blacksmith to a still greater dis tance, where he was employed on some temporary job, and when he found him, the son of Vulcan, with caprice worthy of a modern collector, was not disposed to impart his treasure, and put him off with some apology. Leyden remained stationary beside him the whole day, till the lad, softened, or wearied out by his pertipacity, actually made him a present of the volume, and he returned home by