The Daily Advertiser

LORD NORTH.

This nobleman possesses great acuteness, which he has improved by art and experience. With considerable dignity he unites those powers of wit which are both agreeable in adorning a narration, and particularly fertile and happy in exciting ridicule.

His memory is rich in the knowledge of antiquity, and happy in applying it to his purpose. His speeches distinguish him as an individual most amicably resolved to bear with the infirmities and follies of mankind: and often has his polished urbanity restrained the ill humor and asperity of others. His style, though not much ornamented, is not mean: he comprehends a subject readily, and explains it with success. It is not his smallest praise, that he not only says all that is necessary to his purpose, but that he never says more. Upon all occasions he discerns the proper limits; and would rather conclude, to avoid exciting tediousness, than hazard the failure of obtaining attention, by speaking too long. Considering him as a civilian, we cannot think him deficient in any one quality necessary to form the politician. To these accomplishments of the orator, possessed from nature, or acquired by diligence, is added the genuine and the greatest love of his country, whose ancient forms and discipline he not only understands to admiration, but defends, whenever they become subject matter of dispute, with vigor and with firmness.

If we investigate more minutely the character of his mind, we shall have occasion to observe, that when in possession of the highest dignity, and opposed by a powerful competitor, he conducted himself with the extremest moderation. We shall find him steady in his attachments, placable when offended, successful in inspiring that confidence which he never disappointed; never using his power to the depression of the weak, without the very appearance of criminality; unless it be imputed to him, that in the prosecution of the American war, he did not keep pace with the ardor of public expectation. That war, originally occasioned by measures in which he had no concern, was undertaken by him with hesitation and reluctance. All resistance being ineffectual, he was compelled to arms—to arms already stained with unexpiated blood—by the combined efforts of the sovereign, the senate, and the people.

He has left us an impressive but melancholy example, how little the remembrance of past liberality benefits the generous donor; and how essentially noble minds may be injured by incautious credulity and the imputation of imagined criminality.

Whenever with conscious rectitude his memory dwells on that acrimony of reproach which has pursued his character; whenever he calls to mind the faithlessness, the ingratitude of that gaudy tribe, whom he led by the hand to honors and to wealth—he will remember also, and exclaim in the language of Lycurgus, "What manner of citizen do you suppose me to be, who, having so long conducted public affairs, have perhaps given money for the prevention of injustice, but ne'er received any thing to promote it?"