his friends were left without the help of his
excellent sense, his tact, and his urbanity.

But in spite of the absence of these two distinguished members of the
Lower House, the box in which the managers stood contained an array of
speakers such as perhaps had not appeared together since the great age
of Athenian eloquence. There were Fox and Sheridan, the English
Demosthenes and the English Hyperides. There was Burke, ignorant,
indeed, or negligent of the art of adapting his reasonings and his
style to the capacity and taste of his hearers, but in amplitude of
comprehension and richness of imagination superior to every orator,
ancient or modern.

There, with eyes reverentially fixed on Burke, appeared the finest
gentleman of the age--his form developed by every manly exercise, his
face beaming with intelligence and spirit--the ingenious, the
chivalrous, the high-souled Windham. Nor, though surrounded by such
men, did the youngest manager pass unnoticed. At an age when most of
those who distinguish themselves in life are still contending for
prizes and fellowships at college, he had won for himself a
conspicuous place in Parliament. No advantage of fortune or connection
was wanting that could set off to the height his splendid talents and
his unblemished honour. At twenty-three he had been thought worthy to
be ranked with the veteran statesmen who appeared as the delegates of
the British Commons at the bar of the British nobility. All who stood
at the bar, save him alone, are gone--culprit, advocates, accusers. To
the generation which is now in the vigour of life, he is the sole
representative of a great age which has passed away. But those who,
within the last ten years, have listened with delight till the morning
sun shone on the tapestries of the House of Lords, to the lofty and
animated eloquence of Charles, Earl Grey, are able to form some
estimate of the powers of a race of men among whom he was not the
foremost.

The charges, and the answers of Hastings, were first read. The
ceremony occupied two whole days, and was rendered less tedious than
it would otherwise have been by the silver voice and just emphasis of
Cowper, the clerk of the court, near relation of the amiable poet. On
the third day Burke rose. Four sittings were occupied by his opening
speech, which was intended to be a general introduction to all the
charges. With an exuberance of thought and splendour of diction which
more than satisfied the h