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Publifhed Nov 15-1803 by RICHARD PHILLIPS,S! Paul's Church Yar

PUBLIC CHARACTERS

1803-1804.

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SIR ROBERT PEEL, BART. M. P.

N author of great celebrity has observed, that if

the actions of private life were oftener detailed, they would profit the generality of society more than the splendid exploits of heroes, which they can seldom appreciate, and perhaps never hope to imitate. To bring before the tribunal of the public its benefactors, who have contributed to promote the prosperity of their country, to enlarge the sum of human happiness, in the field, in the senate, or in the sciences, is the delightful province of the biographer. And although it be no less his duty to hold up to public abhorrence, as beacons stationed to warn the mariner of danger, those who have raised for themselves monuments of infamy; yet so ungrateful is the task, that rather than fix his eye on the dark shade with the intenseness necessary to the investigation of character, he not unfrequently consigns them, from motives of pure charity, to oblivion.

The attempt to delincate living characters, and to appreciate

1803 1801,

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appreciate their talents and labours, is attended with fewer difficulties than is usually imagined: for although the passions of hope and fear may sometimes warp the judgment, yet prejudice cannot very much distort, or panegyric embellish the portrait, while the original is every day before the eye of the public, proving the fidelity, or impeaching the integrity of the painter.

If to have contributed materially to the commercial prosperity of his country, as well as to have devoted a considerable part of a very active life to the duties of a senator, be titles to public consideration, the following will be no unworthy accession to the PUBLIC CHARACTERS of this country.

Sir Robert Peel, Baronet, of Drayton Manor, in the county of Stafford, and member of parliament for the borough of Tamworth, is the third son of the late Robert Peel, Esq. of Peelcross, in the county of Lancaster. He was born in the year 1750, and spent the carlier part of his life on this estate, where his father also first beheld the light of heaven, and which has for many generations been in the possession and borne the name of the family.

It has been often remarked, that the infancy of those who have by their subsequent merit risen to high consideration, has generally afforded an intimation of their future eminence. Very early in life, and while fortune appeared to shut the door of advancement against him, Sir Robert Peel entertained strong hopes of being the founder of a family, and at the age of fourteen, to the great entertainment of his brothers,

he

he avowed his determination to raise himself to rank and consequence in society; he bottomed these hopes on a conviction that any situation in this free country is accessible to a good capacity, aided by prudence and industry. The distinguished consideration in which he is now held, and the splendid fortune which he enjoys in landed and personal property, afford a striking instance of the effects of persevering industry in a country, where such exertions have the encouragement and support of good laws, impartially administered. A similar presentiment of their future elevation, with prospects not more favourable, is said to have impressed the minds, and to have been avowed by more than one of those prelates who at this time fill the episcopal chair with so much credit to themselves and the church.

It is universally admitted that Sir Robert Peel gave early proofs of uncommon quickness of perception, and betrayed an impatience of being excelled, for when a boy he could little brook a superior. Hence probably arose that spirit in his enterprizes, and that perseverance in habits of industry, in which he seems never to have felt fatigue: and as Genius, when she listens to cautious counsels, never fails of success, so he appears to have steered clear of those reverses which usually accompany even those who prove ultimately fortunate.

The cotton trade was at this period (1770) but a very inconsiderable branch of commerce, although the late ingenious Sir Richard Arkwright had made some happy discoveries in the application of mecha

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