to mark with accuracy its limits: although she has curtailed him of the power of brandishing the massy weapons of eloquence with the gigantic force of Demosthenes, yet she has enabled him to handle with skill and adroitness those lighter weapons, which learning, experience, and judgment are accustomed to employ with such triumphant success, in foiling the stratagems of cunning, in breaking the toils of ingenuity and wit, in subverting the empire of vice, and establishing the dominion of justice. The next character that I shall introduce to your acquaintance, my dear H., is a gentleman highly conspicuous for his intellectual elevation and moral worth, who concentrates the suffrages of universal esteem, and whom all parties unite to applaud. Mr. Hoffman in public estimation has but few, if any superiors. He is universally considered as a man of great strength and brilliancy of powers, as a profound lawyer and eloquent speaker. To an agreeable person he adds a countenance mild and expressive: his features are bold and finely proportioned, and his forehead a faithful index to his powerful understanding. At a very early period of life, this distinguished ornament of his native state, was called to preside in her councils. The public were not disappointed in the confidence it had bestowed, nor in the expectations it had formed. In this responsible situation the collected powers of Mr. Hoffman's mind, and the benevolent feelings of his heart, were uniformly and successfully exerted in promoting the interests of his constituents. While ordinary minds are immature, and furnished but with the rudiments of knowledge, his was enriched with political science, ripened into maturity, and constantly pouring forth its copious treasures. At the age of thirty he was made attorney-general of his native state, an office which he filled with extraordinary ability and reputation. The recordership of the city of Newyork is the only public station to which he has since been elevated. During the very short period which the proscribing rage of party permitted him to discharge its duties, the public had additional cause to admire the solidity and splendour of his legal abilities, the urbanity of his manners, his strict impartiality, and enlarged capacity for public business. In every thing which Mr. Hoffman does, we can easily discern the marks of a quick and subtle genius. To a mind naturally sagacious and comprehensive, he unites a fancy bold, vivid, and excursive in its flights. His memory is powerfully retentive, seldom parting with the impressions it has received. His voice is harmonious, strong, distinct, and adapted to every variety of subject. The facility and ardour of his elocution, delight the ear, awaken the sensibility, and seize with irresistible force the attention of his auditors. Now descending into the profound depths of legal science, he unfolds with incredible facility the most difficult and abstruse propositions, elucidates his subject by the happiest illustrations, and enforces his arguments by the energy of his manner, and the deepest self-conviction. Now soaring in the regions of imagination, he crops the choicest flowers of fancy, and borrows the richest colours of poetic fancy to decorate and embellish his discourse. Ingenious, prompt, and prepared to meet all occasions, he is never foiled by the unexpected attacks of a skilful adversary. His reasoning, though not uniformly logical, nor his language always polished into classic elegance, yet his readiness of apprehension, and his talents of elucidation, enable him successfully to unravel what is enveloped by sophistry, and to shed light upon what is obscured by misapprehension and ignorance. In appealing to the sensibilities of a jury, he is uncommonly powerful and persuasive. His eloquence, on ordinary occasions, is simple, easy, and flowing, but when an important juncture occurs, and mighty exertions are necessary to overcome mighty obstacles, then the whole strength of his understanding, and the collected forces of his genius are brought into the field of contention. Here his eloquence becomes energetic, vehement and impressive; endued with a power, by which the imagination is delighted, and the understanding convinced. The mild, benevolent and social virtues which grace and dignify the character of this liberal-minded lawyer, command universal respect, soften the asperities of professional rivalship assuage the rancour of political hostility, and enable him to glide into the esteem and affections of all with whom he has intercourse. His house is the abode of elegance and hospitality. It is the resort of strangers from all parts of the union, who are always sure of being welcomed by its generous host, with a polite and cordial reception. Mr. Hoffman, in the opinion of the world, is not only an eminent lawyer, but an intelligent, dignified, and honest politician. The proud superiority of his talents has procured him a deservedly brilliant reputation throughout the union. Open, manly, and sincere, he is bold in the avowal of his sentiments, and consistent in his principles. He has about him no ambiguities, no disguises, none of those paltry finesses, by which intriguing statesmen engage the affections of the people, to abuse their confidence. In all the mutations of party, which have taken place in America, during the last twenty years, his character has not only been unimpeached, but unimpeachable: the tongue of slander itself has never dared to whisper a syllable of reproach against the integrity of his public, or the purity of his private life. INTERESTING ANECDOTE. WE Copy the following interesting anecdote from a late periodical British print. Mr. Dibdin has made it the subject for the song introduced into this number of The Port Folio. Extract of a letter from an officer on board the Barfleur, now stationed off Lisbon. "I CANNOT conclude this letter (says the officer) without mentioning an extraordinary circumstance which happened here the other morning. A sailor of ours on watch, by some accident fell overboard; the sea running very high at the time, prevented the poor fellow from catching any of the ropes that were thrown to him, and upset two boats which put off to his as sistance; every body was now on deck, the man sinking, and nobody able to afford him the least relief; when a comrade of his, struck by the supplicating countenance of the miserable man now on the brink of destruction, cried out suddenly-" by heavens, Tom, I can't bear that look; I'll save you or go with you!" All eyes were directed to the man who spoke; but what was our astonishment when we beheld him plunge into the merciless waves, gain his comrade, and seize him with his left arm, while, with his right, he supported both himself and the man through the buffettings of the high running sea, and thus gave time for another and more fortunate boat to rescue them both from the extended jaws of an untimely death." ORIGINAL POETRY.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO. Lines addressed to Master CHARLES R. LESLIE, now on his voyage to England, to perfect himself in the art of painting. Go, child of genius! go, while youth remains! Go, youth! improve th' auspicious hour, and learn |