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SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH.

SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH.

THE subject of the present article is one of the ablest and most accomplished men of the age, both as a writer, a speaker, and a converser. He is, in fact, master of almost every known topic, whether of a passing or of a more recondite nature. He has lived much in society, and is deeply conversant with books. He is a man of the world and a scholar; but the scholar gives the tone to all his other acquirements and pursuits. Sir James is by education and habit, and we were going to add, by the original turn of his mind, a college-man; and perhaps he would have passed his time most happily and respectably, had he devoted himself entirely to that kind of life. The strength of his faculties would have been best developed, his ambition would have met its proudest reward, in the accumulation and elaborate display of grave and useful knowledge. As it is, it may be said, that in company he talks well, but too much; that in writing he overlays the original subject and spirit of the composition, by an appeal to authorities and by too formal a method; that in public speaking the logician takes place of the orator, and that he fails to give effect to a particular point or to urge an immediate advantage home upon his adversary from the enlarged scope of his mind, and the wide career he takes in the field of argument.

To consider him in the last point of view, first. As a political partisan, he is rather the lecturer than the advocate. He is able to instruct and delight an impartial and disinterested audience by the extent of his information, by his acquaintance with general principles, by the clearness and aptitude of his illustrations, by vigour and copiousness of style; but where he has a prejudiced or unfair antagonist to contend with, he is just as likely to put weapons into his enemy's hands, as to wrest them from him, and

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kuo opponents are luaued with iron or gad. He maara, respectate muly, but not a very formidate opponent be hany, however, to prevail on a neutral, as he is almost cer be baffled on a holy contested ground. On any cance eral poury or leganative improvement, the member for NI heard with advantage, and his speeches are attended wza edert and he would have equal weight and influence at other were the object of the House to hear reason, as it is ha speak it. But on subjects of peace or war, of parale foreign interference, where the waves of party run birh, and the liberty of nations or the fate of mankind hangs tremban scales, though he probably displays equal talent, and dors ft. and braped justice to the question (abstractedly speaking, or if it were to be tried before an impartial assembly,) yet we confess we have seldom heard him, on such occasions, without pain for the event. He did not slur has own character and pretensions, but he corn yerg med the argument. He spoke the truth, the whole track, nothing but the truth; but the House of Commons (we dare es Mj ja mut the place where the truth, the whole truth, and nothing

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