Note 58 — ON THE PRESENT STATE OF PARLIAMENTARY ELOQUENCE
Reading edition
His Lordship is said to speak French with as little hesitation as he does his native tongue; and once made a speech in that language to the Congress for three hours without interruption. The sentiments, we may be sure, were not English. Or was it on that occasion that Prince Tallyrand made his observation, ‘that speech was given to man to conceal his thoughts’? I cannot agree with Mr. Hobhouse in his compliment to the expression which Isabey has given to Lord Castlereagh’s face in the insulated figure of him in the picture of the Congress. An old classical friend of Mr. Hobhouse’s would have supplied a better interpretation of it. But I do not think the French artist has done his Lordship justice. His features are marked, but the expression is dormant.