Page:Journal of the First Congress of the American Colonies (1765).djvu/50

 lous and malicious anecdote was related by some enemy of Mr. Cruger, to the effect that he made no address to the people at the polls, but aantented himself with the exclamation-“ I my ditto to Mr. Burlie !” The absurdity of this story is proved by the fact recorded in the newspapers of that period, namely: that Mr. Cruger, a well known citizen and Mayor of Bristol, ina very able and eloquent opening address, to which his colleague handsomely referred, introduced Mr. Burke for the Srst time to the elec` tors of the city. Mr. Cruger, therefore, preceded and did not succeed Mr. Burke in addressing the people. Our correspondent, who has perused the address in question, was impressed with the elegance of its style and the cogeney of its reasoning; and he assures us that the joumals of that day award high praise to the speaker's command of language, his flashes of wit and his classical illustrations-attributes well known to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance or had listened to him in Parliament.

The amusing occurrence referred to occurred in the case of a Mr. Harrington, on another occasion; but, in the newspapers of the day, the anecdote was related in connection. with the initial “ Mr. C-, ” under the cloalt of which some enemy of Mr.Cruger's, long after maliciously applied the story to him. Some of his speeches in Parliament have lately been re-published in the Life cf' Peter Van Sohaack, Esq., heretoimre noticed in the Knickerbocker. Mr. Van Schaack, having married e sister of Mr. Cruger's, along and interesting correspondence on American nfairs was maintained between them. Among the speeches con. tained in this biography, ie the maiden-speech delivered by Mr. Cruger in Parliament. In relation tothis speech and the effect it produced on the minds of his hearers, a letxer from the Rev. Dr. Vardill, rector of Trinity Church, New-York, who-was then in England, contains the following remarks:

Mr. Cruger"e fame has, I suppose, by this time reached his native shore. His applause has been universally sounded in this country. Adnzntiatravion applauds him forhis moderation; Oppoa-ititn for the just line he hu drawn, and all men fer his modest eloquence and gracehil delivery. His enemies are silenced by the strongest oontixtaticn ot' their charges against him of illilteral invective against the people of England; by his manly defence of his country, and honorable approbation ot' his opponents wherever he thought them justifiable. I wasin the house on the debate. It was remarkably crowded with members, and the galleries were filled with peers and persons otldistinotion. When Mr. Cruger rose, there was a deep silence. He (altered alittle at first, but, ashe proceeded, the cry ot' “ Hear him! hear him !” animated him with resolution. Hood, the Irish orator, sat behind me. ' He asked, ' Who is that? who is that Q A young speaker? Whoever he is, he speaks more eloquently than any man`I have yet heard in the house! I took great pains to learn people'a