Page images
PDF
EPUB

LORD GRAHAM'S DIARY,

DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE NEW

PARLIAMENT.

May 20. WENT down to the House-sworn in-odd faces-asked PEARSON who the new people were he seemed cross at my asking him, and did not know-I took occasion to inspect the waterclosets.

N. B. To tell ROSE, that I found three cocks out of repair-didn't know what to do-left my name at the DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY's-dined at WHITE'Sthe pease tough-Lord APSLEY thought they ought to be boiled in steam-VILLIERS very warm in favour of hot water— PITT for the new mode-and much talk of taking the sense of the club-but happily I prevented matters going to extremity. May 21. Bought a tooth-pick-case, and attended at the Treasury-Board-nothing at the House but swearing-rode to WILBERFORCE's at WIMBLEDON PITT, THURLOW, and DUNDAS, watersucky-we all wondered why perch have

such large mouths, and WILBERFORCE said they were like MULGRAVE's-red champagne rather ropy-away at eight -THURLOW's horse started at a windmill-he off.

N. B. To bring in an Act to encourage water-mills-THURLOW home in a dilly we after his horse-children crying, Fox for ever!-DUNDAS stretching to whip them-he off too.

May 22. Sick all day-lay a bed-VILLIERS bored me.

23.

HYDE-PARK-PITT-HAMILTON, &C. Most of us agreed it was right to bow to Lord DELAVAL-PITT Won't to any one, except the new Peers-dined at PITT's -PITT's soup never salt enough-Why must PRETTYMAN dine with us?-PITT says to-day he will not support Sir CECIL WRAY THURLOW wanted to give the old toast-PITT grave-probably this is the reason for letting PRETTYMAN stay. 24. House--Westminster Election-we settled to always make a noise when BURKE gets up-we ballotted among ourselves for a sleeping Committee in the Gallery-STEELE always to call us when PITT speaks-Lord DELAVAL Our dear friend!-Private message from ST.

JAMES'S to PITT-He at last agrees to support SIR CECIL.

May 25. BANKES won't vote with us against GRENVILLE'S Bill-English obstinacythe Duke of RICHMOND teazes us-nonsense about consistency-what right has be to talk of it ?-but must not say so.DUNDAS thinks worse of the Westminster business than-but too hearty to indulge absurd scruples.

26. Court-King in high spirits, and attentive rather to the Duke of GRAFTON -QUEEN more so to Lord CAMDENpuzzles us all-So it is possible the Duke of RICHMOND will consent to leave the Cabinet?--Dinner at DUNDAS'S--too many things aukwardly served-Joke about Rose's thick legs, like ROBINSON's, in flannel.

1

EXTRACTS

FROM THE SECOND VOLUME OF LORD MULGRAVE'S ESSAYS ON ELOQUENCE, LATELY PUBLISHED.

"We now come to speak of Tropes. Trope comes from the Greek word Trepo, to turn. I believe that tropes can only exist in a vocal language, for I do not recollect to have met with any among the savages near the Pole, who converse only by signs; or if they used any, I did not understand them. Aristotle is of opinion that horses have not the use of tropes.-Dean Swift seems to be of a contrary opinion; but be this as it may, tropes are of very great importance in Parliament, and I cannot enough recommend them to my young readers.

Tropes are of two kinds: 1st, such as tend to illustrate our meaning; and 2dly, such as tend to render it obscure. The first are of great use in the sermo pedestris; the second in the sublime. They give the os magna sonans; or, as the same poet says in another place, the ore rotundo; an expression, which shows, by the bye, that it is as necessary to round your mouth, as to round your periods.-But of this more hereafter, when I come to treat of mouthing, or, as the Latins call it, elocutio.

"In the course of my reflections on tropes, I have frequently lamented the want of these embellishments in our modern log-books. Strabo says they were frequently employed by the ancient sailors; nor can we wonder at this difference, since our young seamen are such bad scholars: not so in other countries; for I have seen children at the island of Zanti, who knew more of Greek than any First Lieutenant. Now to return to Tropes, and of their use in Parliament. I will give you some examples of the most perfect kind in each species, and then quit the subject; only observing, that the worst kind of tropes are puns; and that tropes, when used in controversy, ought to be very obscure; for many people do not know how to answer what they do not understand.

"Suppose I was desirous of pressing forward any measure, and that I apprehended that the opposite party wished to delay it, I should personify procrastination by one of the following manners:

** I.“ This measure appears to be filtered through the drip-stone of procrastination." This beautiful phrase was invented by a near relation of imine, whose talents bid fair to make a most distinguished figure in the senate.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »