production of eloquence? more especially when we have the testimony of an able and unprejudiced critic, as to our excellence in one of its constituent parts, and that too the only one which demands any peculiar portion of intellectual vigour. The Abbé Maury, before quoted, speaks thus of some parts of the writings of Lord Bolingbroke and Mr. Fox. "These are specimens which would be no discredit to the writings of Demosthenes. But a sublime idea does not constitute a discourse; a beautiful passage does not constitute the whole of eloquence." From what has been here advanced, we trust it will be apparent to all, that none of the causes by which we sought to account for the decay of eloquence, has in fact any existence: we must therefore seek elsewhere for the solution of the problem. Oratory was stated at the beginning of this essay to be the most exalted object of literary exertion; and to combine all that the perfection of Composition can produce, and the perfection of Delivery recommend and enforce. In the first branch of oratory, Composition, it will not, we think, be contended that we are much, if at all, inferior to the ancients: shall we err, then, if we conclude that our failure is to be wholly attributed to our deficiency in the other grand requisite, Delivery? If this cause should at first sight appear inadequate to the effect produced, let us not decide that it is so, until we have examined the question. We have ever been of opinion that the high priests of eloquence, both ancient and modern, who have attempted to unfold its mysteries, have deterred many from essaying to approach the temple, by exaggerating the dangers and difficulty of access. Cicero, in order to raise the dignity of that profession of which he knew himself to be the head, asserts that a complete orator must be a complete every thing; lawyer, philosopher, divine, &c. Upon this assertion it was observed by Lord Chesterfield, who, perhaps, of all men that ever lived, possessed the clearest and fullest knowledge of the human heart, "That would certainly be well, if it were possible; but man's life is not long enough." Quintilian too remarks that an orator ought not only to be a strictly virtuous man, but to be well versed in all the arts and sciences. Treading in their steps, Dr. Blair has the following passage. "The sentiments and dispositions particularly requisite for them (orators) to cultivate, are the following: the love of justice and order; an indignation at insolence and oppression; the love of honesty and truth, and detestation of fraud, meanness, and corruption; magnanimity of spirit; the love of liberty, and their country, and the public; zeal for all great and noble designs, and reverence for all worthy and heroic characters." Again, "A true orator should be a person of generous sentiments, of warm feelings, and of a mind turned towards the admiration of all those great and high objects which mankind are naturally formed to admire. Joined with the manly virtues, he should at the same time possess strong and tender sensibility to all the injuries, distresses, and sorrows of his fellow-creatures, a heart that can easily relent, that can readily enter into the circumstances of others, and can make their case his own." Without a wish to depreciate these invaluable qualities, which are such as every great and good man would aspire to, I feel no hesitation in affirming that he who asserts that a man cannot, without enjoying all these accomplishments, win the hearts and the passions of his auditors by his eloquence (which is the only end of oratory) possesses but a very superficial knowledge of the mind of man. We all undoubtedly admire "magnanimity of spirit," and "detestation of corruption," but does any man think Demosthenes to be less an orator, because he evinced his cowardice at Cheronæa, or because he accepted the gold of Harpalus? Having thus endeavoured to shew that the attainment of oratory is not so formidable an attempt as some would represent, let us now revert to our former division of it into Composition and Delivery. As there are ample and abundant stores open for those who seek to perfect themselves in the former; and as to our deficiency in the latter we have ventured to attribute our failure in oratory, to that we shall devote the remainder of our observations. The opinion of Demosthenes himself on the subject of Delivery, is too well known to require comment; and it proves that he not only considered it the most important quality in an orator, but in a great degree as that which alone was necessary. When he was interrogated as to what he judged to hold the first place in eloquence ? he answered" Delivery."-And the second?" Delivery."-And the third?" Delivery." Such was the opinion of the great master of eloquence ! The opinion of Isocrates, one of the earliest orators who obtained celebrity in Athens, may be learned from his own words. His compositions were beautiful, and polished to a fault, but even he considered it necessary thus to apologize to Philip of Macedon, for the probable inefficacy of a written oration which he had sent him in his old age. "I think I shall lay before you something which you will allow to be proper and expedient for you: and yet I am not ignorant how much, in their efficacy to persuade, discourses which are delivered by the orator differ from those which are merely read; and that, when discourses are so delivered, all consider the occasions to be important and pressing; and that the others are written only for ostentation, or in the hope of gain. And their judgment in these respects is not amiss. For, when an oration is deprived of the influence of the speaker, and of his voice, and of that variety of action which takes place in rhetorical delivery; and loses the effect of the occasion, and the zeal which the immediate occasion inspires; and has no auxiliary to contend on its side, and to aid its persuasion; but when, stripped of all these circumstances, it is left deserted and naked, and is then read by some person who manifests no expression of feeling or sentiment, but reads as if he was going over a calculation of numbers; the discourse in my opinion is likely to appear to every one who hears it, a dull composition. This may probably prove very injurious to that which I now present to you, and lower it in your estimation *." Cicero also, in his treatise, to which we have before referred, has this sentence." But all these things have their effect just in proportion as they are delivered. Delivery, I say, bears absolute sway in oratory. Without this, the greatest orator cannot be reckoned in the number of the perfect; whilst a moderate speaker, if possessed of this, often excels the best †." The same author, in his book addressed to Brutus, having bestowed upon Callidius, an eminent orator of his own time, unqualified praise for his exquisite choice of words, strongly illustrates by his example the importance of expression of voice and countenance, in which alone it appears he was deficient. "I remember," says Cicero, speaking of Callidius, “when in his prosecution of Q. Gallius, he had charged him with a design to give him poison, which he discovered and had in his possession, and said that he would himself produce his hand-writing, attestations, circumstantial proofs, and examinations, in evidence of the fact, and when he had most accurately and precisely discussed the charge, that in my answer to him, having advanced such arguments as the case admitted, I stated this very circumstance as one of my arguments against him, that even whilst he declared he held in his hand the drug aimed against his life, and that he had evident proofs of the design to murder him, he had delivered himself with such carelessness, such mildness, such indifference. Could you plead in this manner, if you were not conscious of the falsehood of the charge? So far were you from inflaming our minds, that we could hardly refrain from sleep ‡.” We will only add one more authority of an ancient writer with regard to the importance of delivery. Valerius Maximus observes, "The ornaments of eloquence consist in correct delivery, and in suitable gesture of the body; and he who arms himself with these, assaults his hearers in three ways. He invades their understandings by his eloquence, he delivers up their ears to be charmed by his voice, and their eyes to be charmed by his gesture §." But it will perhaps be said that this warmth and earnestness of manner would be ridiculous in modern times. To this we answer * Isocrates ad Philip: Oratio Suasoriarum Secunda. † Cic. de Orat. l. iii. c. 56. Cic. de Clar. Orat: c. 80. § Val. Max. lib. viii. c. 10. that it can never be ridiculous, because it is the language of nature. In Shakspeare's Richard II., the Duchess of York thus impeaches the sincerity of her husband. "Pleads he in earnest ?-Look upon his face, "His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast; "We pray with heart and soul." But enough has been said to prove the advantage of graceful delivery in general; let us proceed to demonstrate its utility and importance with reference to those particular purposes to which it is peculiarly adapted in this country. The Parliament of Great Britain is undoubtedly the noblest field for the display of eloquence which Europe affords, and yet how little is there displayed. The best proof of this is the small interest which the debates in either house excite. When Demosthenes was to plead, persons flocked to Athens to hear him from the remotest parts of Greece. In London you may see men sauntering about Westminster Hall, while the most important debates are going on; and many do not think themselves sufficiently compensated for the loss of their dinners by the harangues of our most celebrated speakers. To those who aspire to eminence at the bar or in the senate, and who hope to gain it by their talents and exertions, we would most anxiously address ourselves. These form a class which comprises a very large proportion of the rank and talent of this country. Upon them we would again and again press the importance, the paramount importance, of cultivating the art of eloquence. It is a talisman which will open to them the road to power, to wealth, to honour; and guide them to that height, "Where Fame's proud temple shines from far." To the possessors of this invaluable gem, it may emphatically be said, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." In nine cases out of ten, in Parliament at least, eloquence will be more effectual, even if unsupported by argument, than solid sense and sound reasoning divested of eloquence. Lord Chesterfield, who, whatever be his faults, must be acknowledged a consummate master of the art of persuasion, writes thus to his son. "When you come into the House of Commons, if you imagine that plain and unadorned sense and reason will do your business, you will find yourself grossly mistaken. As a speaker, you will be ranked only according to your eloquence, and by no means according to your matter: every body knows the matter almost alike, but few can adorn it. I was early convinced of the importance side, and to aid its persuasion; but when, stripped of all these circumstances, it is left deserted and naked, and is then read by some person who manifests no expression of feeling or sentiment, but reads as if he was going over a calculation of numbers; the discourse in my opinion is likely to appear to every one who hears it, a dull composition. This may probably prove very injurious to that which I now present to you, and lower it in your estimation *." Cicero also, in his treatise, to which we have before referred, has this sentence. "But all these things have their effect just in proportion as they are delivered. Delivery, I say, bears absolute sway in oratory. Without this, the greatest orator cannot be reckoned in the number of the perfect; whilst a moderate speaker, if possessed of this, often excels the best +." The same author, in his book addressed to Brutus, having bestowed upon Callidius, an eminent orator of his own time, unqualified praise for his exquisite choice of words, strongly illustrates by his example the importance of expression of voice and countenance, in which alone it appears he was deficient. "I remember," says Cicero, speaking of Callidius, "when in his prosecution of Q. Gallius, he had charged him with a design to give him poison, which he discovered and had in his possession, and said that he would himself produce his hand-writing, attestations, circumstantial proofs, and examinations, in evidence of the fact, and when he had most accurately and precisely discussed the charge, that in my answer to him, having advanced such arguments as the case admitted, I stated this very circumstance as one of my arguments against him, that even whilst he declared he held in his hand the drug aimed against his life, and that he had evident proofs of the design to murder him, he h delivered himself with such carelessness, such mildness, suc1 difference. • Could you plead in this manner, if you w conscious of the falsehood of the charge? So far wer inflaming our minds, that we could hardly refrain f We will only add one more authority of an ans regard to the importance of delivery. Valerius But it will perhaps be said that t of manner would be ridiculous in mod * Isocrates ad Philip: Orat † Cic. de Or Cic. de Clar. Orat: c. 80. |