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hands are to be employed, in expreffing the paffions, muft, in my apprehenfion, be weak and ineffectual. And, perhaps, the only inftruction which can be given with advantage on this head, is this general one: Observe in what manner the several emotions or paffions are expreffed in real life, or by thofe who have with great labour and tafte acquired a power of imitating nature? and accuftom yourfelf either to follow the great original itfelf, or the beft copies you. meet with; always, however, "with this fpecial ob"fervance, that you o'ERSTEP NOT THE MODESTY * OF NATURE."

IN the application of thefe rules to practice, in order to acquire a just and graceful elocution, it will be neceffary to go through a regular courfe of exercifes; beginning with fuch as are moft eafy, and proceeding by flow fteps to fuch as are more difficult. In the choice of thefe, the practitioner fhould pay a particular attention to his prevailing defects, whether they regard articulation, command of voice, emphafis, or cadence: and he should content himfelf with reading and speaking with an immediate view to the correcting of his fundamental faults, before he aims at any thing higher. This may be irk fome and disagreeable; it may require much patience and refolution; but it is the only way to fucceed. For, if a man cannot read fimple fentences, or plain

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narrative or didactic pieces, with distinct articula tion, just emphafis, and proper tones, how can he expect to do juftice to the fublime defcriptions of poetry, or the animated language of the paffions?

IN performing these exercises the learner fhould daily read aloud by himself, and, as often as he has opportunity, under the correction of an Inftructoror Friend. He fhould alfo frequently recite com-pofitions memoriter. This method has feveral advan-tages: it obliges the fpeaker to dwell upon the ideaswhich he is to exprefs, and hereby enables him to. difcern their particular meaning and force, and gives him a previous knowledge of the feveral inflexions, emphafis, and tones which the words require. And by taking off his eye from the book, it in part relieves him from the influence of the fchool-boy habit of reading in a different key and tone from that of con-verfation; and gives him greater liberty to attempt the expreffion of the countenance and gefture.

IT were much to be wifhed, that all public speakers would deliver their thoughts and fentiments, either from memory or immediate conception; for, befides that there is an artificial uniformity, which almost always diftinguishes reading from fpeaking,. the fixed posture, and the bending of the head which reading requires, are inconfiftent with the freedom,

eafe,

ease, and variety of just elocution. But if this is too much to be expected, efpecially from Preachers, who have fo much to compofe, and are so often called upon to speak in public; it is however extremely defirable that they fhould make themselves fo well. acquainted with their difcourfe, as to be able, with a fingle glance of the eye, to take in feveral claufes, or the whole, of a sentence.

I HAVE only to add, that after the utmost pains have been taken to acquire a just elocution, and this with the greatest fuccefs, there is fome difficulty in carrying the art of fpeaking out of the fchool or chamber, to the bar, the fenate, or the pulpit. A young man who has been accustomed to perform frequent exercises in this art in private, cannot easily perfuade himself, when he appears before the public, to confider the business he has to perform in any · other light, than as a trial of skill, and a display of oratory. Hence it is, that the character of an Orator has of late often been treated with ridicule, fometimes with contempt. We are pleased with the eafy and graceful movements which the true gentleman has acquired by having learnt to dance; but we are offended by the coxcomb, who is always exhibiting his formal dancing-bow, and minuet-step.

So,

* See Dean Swift's advice on this head in his Letter to a young Clergyman.

So, we admire the manly eloquence and noble ardour of a British Legiflator, rifing up in defence of the rights of his country; the quick recollection, the forcible reafoning, and the ready utterance of the accomplished Barrifter; and the fublime devotion, genuine dignity, and unaffected earnestness of the facred Orator: but when a man, in either of these capacities, fo far forgets the ends, and degrades the confequence of his profeffion, as to fet himself forth to public view under the character of a Spouter, and to parade it in the ears of the vulgar with all the pomp of artificial eloquence, though the unfkilful may gaze and applaud, the judicious cannot but be grieved and disgufted. Avail yourself, then, of your skill in the Art of Speaking, but always employ your powers of elocution with caution and modefty; remembering, that though it be defirable to be admired as an eminent Orator, it is of much more importance to be refpected, as a wife Statesman, an able Lawyer, or a useful Preacher.

THE

THE SPEAKER.

BOOK I.

SELECT SENTENCES.

CHAP. I.

To be ever active in laudable pursuits, is the diftin

guishing characteristic of a man of merit.

THERE is an heroic innocence, as well as an heroic courage.

THERE is a mean in all things. Even virtue itself hath its stated limits; which not being ftrictly obferved, it ceases to be virtue.

It is wifer to prevent a quarrel beforehand, than to revenge it afterwards.

Ir is much better to reprove, than to be angry fecretly. No revenge is more heroic, than that which torments envy, by doing good.

THE difcretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pafs over a tranfgreffion.

MONEY, like manure, does no good till it is fpread. There is no real use of riches, except in the diftribution: The reft is all conceit,

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