danger, when systems are shaken, when precedents and general rules of conduct fail. Then it is that not to that or this measure, however prudently devised, however blameless in execution, but to the energy and character of individuals, a state must be indebted for its salvation. Then it is that kingdoms rise or fall, in proportion as they are upheld, not by well-meant endeavours, laudable though they may be, but by commanding, over-awing talents; by able men.

"I do think that this is the time when the administration of the government ought to be in the ablest and fittest hands. I do not think that the hands in which it is now placed, answer to that description. I do not pretend to conceal in what quarter I think that fitness most eminently resides."

An honourable baronet having remarked, that "those only wished to displace the ministers, who look for power, or emoluments, or honours, from their removal," Mr. Canning, in a happy vein of irony, retorted the imputation on the baronet; but gravely admonished him in the words of Virgil

"Litus ama; altum alii teneant."

Keep thou close to the shore; let others venture on the deep."

On the death of Mr. Pitt, and the succession of Mr. Fox to the place of his rival, Mr. Canning was again seen distinguishing himself in the ranks of opposition. It was to him the administration of that period was indebted for the sobriquet of " All the talents," an appellation supposed to be so ap

plicable to the pretensions of the persons who composed it, that it has remained ever since affixed to them by general consent.

Among the most celebrated of Mr. Canning's speeches, was that on the Indemnity Bill, brought in to cover the proceedings of ministers under the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, in 1818. As long, say its admirers, "as the English language exists, so long will this speech be read by the scholar and statesman with equal admiration and delight." By others, however, it has been regarded as a very wicked piece of raillery; and in a well known pamphlet, to which it gave rise, entitled, "A Letter to the Right Honourable George Canning," attributed to a member of the opposition, the speech and the speaker were alike abused in a style so outrageous, as to call for a particular sort of notice from Mr. Canning. The passages at which Mr. Canning might be supposed to feel most hurt, were these:

"Certainly, sir, you found the legislative assembly more tractable than your sovereign, who has more than once repulsed your rude familiarity. His majesty, were he now on the throne, would recognize the frontless upstart who placed the hand of his sovereign on the seat of the wound which had been inflicted upon him, as the reward of his duplicity (alluding to the duel with Lord Castlereagh), and of him who had referred him to a brother minister, with the indecent freedom of equal intimacy. When, sir, you placed the king's hand upon your thigh, when you told him you would send to Pembroke,' you gave rise to a resentment such as would have

affected your honest interests whilst the throne of England was filled by a gentleman. But I presume the silent rebuke of offended majesty was not sharp enough to be felt by the coarseness of your texture; for the insult offered to those who should be the representatives of the people, and to the people themselves, is equally rude and familiar, and is ten times more overbearing in every respect than that which before offended your sovereign.

"In the House of Commons alone, you find yourself taken on your word, with no enquiries made; and when you display the whole deformity of a heart devoid of all just, generous, and gentlemanly feeling, and when you show by arts untried before, not only how despicable you are yourself, but how you despise all around you, you are not hissed to the ground (as you would infallibly have been, had you ventured at such topics before a popular assembly); you are heard, you are encouraged, you are cheered; your inhuman taunts on the irons and the infirmities of those who demand reparation for injuries they have endured from a bloody police, your ridicule of the prisoner and the oppressed, are received with shouts of laughter-with loud shouts of laughter.

Hampden was no assassin, but what think you he would have said to a minister of Charles I.? You are not protected by your personal insignificance; the power, almost absolute, which has been, and may again be placed in your hands, may make you a respectable victim; and be assured, sir, that if I

should ever be a prisoner of state, and after being maimed by your gaolers, should be assaulted by your jokes, I will put you to death with the same deliberation as I now give you this timely warning; this is no idle, though it is only a defensive menace; nor is the resolution confined to one individual.

"Idem tricenti juravimus,

"YOUR COUNTRYMAN."

A copy of this pamphlet having been sent to Mr. Canning, he immediately addressed the following spirited letter to the anonymous author.

Gloucester Lodge, April 10, 1818. Sir, I received early in the last week the copy of your pamphlet, which you (I take for granted) had the attention to send me.

Soon after I was informed, on the authority of your publisher, that you had withdrawn the whole impression from him, with the view (as was supposed) of suppressing the publication.

"I since learn, however, that the pamphlet, though not sold, is circulated under blank covers.

I learn this from (among others) the gentleman to whom the pamphlet has been industriously attributed, but who has voluntarily and absolutely denied to me that he has any knowledge of it, or of its author.

"To you, sir, whoever you may be, I address myself thus directly, for the purpose of expressing to you my opinion that you are a liar and a slanderer, and want courage only to be an assassin.

"I have only to add, that no man knows of my writing to you; that I shall maintain the same re

serve as long as I have an expectation of hearing from you in your own name; and that I shall not give up that expectation till to-morrow (Saturday) night.

"The same address which brought me your pamphlet, will bring any letter safe to my hands.

"I am, sir, your humble servant,

GEORGE CANNING."

"For the author of A

Letter to the Right Hon.

George Canning.'

[Mr. Ridgway is requested to forward this letter to its destination.]

The writer of the letter, however, chose to remain deaf to this honourable appeal.