'"I'-' 3'^ I': j Pi t, z/ilJ^' THE AMERICAN ORATOR: MANUAL OF EXTEMPORANEOUS ELOQUENCE INCLUDING A COURSE OF DISCIPLINE TOR THE FACULTIES OF DISCRIMINATION, ARRANGE- MENT, AND ORAL DISCUSSION ; AND ALSO PRACTICAL EXERCISES IN READING, RECITATION, AND DECLAMATORY DEBATE. INTENDED FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS OF ORATORY, AND ALL PUBLIC SPEAKERS. PHILADELPHIA: T. ELLWOOD ZELL, 17 & 19 South Sixth Street. 1871. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by T. ELLWOOD ZELL, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. CAXTON PRESS OF SHERMAN k CO., PHILADELPHIA Cicero, Demoslbenee. TO THE AMERICAN YOUTH, ^hx§ Iporh, AN HUMBLE ATTEMPT TO TEACH THAT ART WHICH IS THE MASTER-POWER OF THE STATESMAN, THE ADVOCATE, AND THE PREACHER, IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 3 HON. DANIEL WEBSTER. PREFACE Among the endowments with which human nature is invested, the faculty of speech must be regarded as eminently valuable. The endear- ments of friendship, the tenderness of sympathy and the interchange of convenience yield alike their testimony and homage to the utility of oral communication. But when this faculty is viewed in that excellence of which it is susceptible, at once subduing the prejudices and expanding the minds of men, its powers and its possessor be- come equal objects of wonder and reverence. To facilitate this exalted improvement of our common intellect is an object of too much import- ance not to be desired. An attempt therefore to render the art of oratory susceptible of tuition, has a claim on indulgence which the difficulty of the undertaking seems peculiarly to increase. Should it be the fortune of the author of this Treatise to n PREFACE. succeed in his arduous effort, he will derive manj^ pleasing reflections from its publication For the general scope of the work the author refers his reader to the Introduction ; assuring him that it ought to be carefully perused before he proceeds further in his examination. With the view of affording the student an opportunity of considering the value and utility of the art, this portion of the following pages has been written with greater regard to perspicuity than elegance. The intent of the First Part of the work is to inculcate correctness in articulation, accent, em- phasis, pauses, tones and gesture. The instruc- tions given for these preliminary attainments may have an appearance of puerility ; but the evident deficiency in the most humble of these acquire- ments, which is frequently betrayed by those who read and speak in public, will afford excuse for giving some directions by which error may be avoided in these subordinate qualifications. The single words which are set down for separate enunciation, will, it is believed, be found to be the best exercise that could be devised for attain- ing a clear articulation. The contrast of words having v and w for their respective initials, and of those with an aspirate, against words having PREFACE. VII no aspirate, but otherwise similar, has a manitest utility. The short sentences are introdnced, not as models of tasteful writing, but as initiatory exercises upon the pauses which are to be ob- served in correct reading and speaking. It may be proper to remember, that those to whom such humble directions are not wanting, may pass them ; and that for this purpose they are kept in an exclusive part of the work. An objection may be made to a deficiency of taste in some of the selections in the commence- ment of the Second Part of the work. These selections are intended, not as examples of elegant composition, but as exercises of discrimination and retention^ and as means of exciting^t^ewc^ in oral expression. In making them, it was neces- sary to begin with narrative, and to place the most simple narratives first in order. On the Third Part, which treats more particu- larly of the application of the mind to its own resources, the author has endeavoured to employ particular care. The great object of this division of the work is to bring into familiar practice the principles of reasoning which have hitherto been granted only to mathematical and logical research. It will not be thought presumptuous to say thai Ill PREFACE. Chose acquirements have frequentlj been found inefficient in the investigation of occurrences in real life. Some mode vras wanting to apply those principles of analysis and demonstration to the causes and effects of human action. The author has endeavoured to lead the mind, by cau- tious gradation, from the habits of definition, to the investigation of complex proposition. In every stage the principle is put into practice upon such subjects as form the inquiries of life. And although the author has not offered to the public an extended system of reasoning, yet he trusts that v^hat he has done v^dll materially conduce to readiness in arrangement, to perspicuity in expres- sion, and even to the facilitation of colloquial intercourse. " Exercises in Reading and Recitation" occu- py the Fourth Part. Their literary excellence is so faultless, that the author of this book pre- sumes they will approve themselves to all read- ers. It will not diminish the gratification, that so many of them are from the pens or the lips of our own great writers or speakers. In the Con- tents, the titles of such of the pieces printed in the Second Part as were deemed suitable, have been enumerated with those of the Fourth Pait ' PREFACE. IX' the articles thus selected will serve the double purpose of examples under rules, and of exercises for recitation. Allusion is made in the Introduction to the " Debate on the Character of Julius Caesar," which forms the Fifth and concluding Part. Its eminent author has afforded by its composition strong evidence of the estimation in which he holds debating schools, as sources of instruction and amusement. Such institutions are to be encouraged wherever they exist under proper regulations. No young man who prepares him- self duly, by previous investigation and reflection, to debate the subjects proposed in an intelligent and lucid manner, can fail to obtain advantage from them. It need hardly be suggested, that some acquaintance with grammar and some prac- tice in written composition should precede the attempt to engage in extemporaneous discussion. CONTENTS. DEDICATION iii PREFACE V INTRODUCTION ] 7 PART I. Reading and Recitation, Introductory Remarks 35 ARTICULATION 36 Rules 1 to 4, and Examples 37 — 42 ACCENT 42 Accent on Dissyllables 43 Accent on Trisyllables , 44 Accent on Polysyllables 45 EMPHASIS 46 Rule 6, and Examples 46 PAUSES 49 Sentences divided by a Comma 50 Sentences divided by two or three Commas 51 Sentences divided by several Commas 51 Sentences divided by a Semicolon 52 Sentences divided by several Semicolons 52 (11) m CONIENTS. Sentences divided by a Colon 52 Paragraphs divided by several Periods 53 THE VOICE 53 Tones and Inflections 53 Use of the Monotone 54 Use of both Inflections 54 Rising Inflection 55 Falling Inflection 56 The Circumflex 56 Rules for managing the Voice 57 Rules for Reading Verse 57 The Interrogation 61 Examples of Interrogations and Answers 62 The Exclamation 62 The Dash 63 The Parenthesis 64 GESTURE 65 Gesture for Reading 68 Gesture for Speaking 69 PART II. Discrimination and Retention. Introductory Remarks , 71 OP NARRATIVE ^72 Rules 1 to 16, and Examples 72 — 82 OF THE DESCRIPTIVE 82 Rules 17 to 23, and Examples 82 — 94 THE ARGUMENTATIVE 94 Rules 24 to 34, and Examples 94 — 105 CONTENTS. Xlll PART III. Reasoning and Expression* NTRODUCTORY REMARKS 106 Rules lto26, and Examples 107 — 120 METHOD 120 Rules 27 to 30, and Examples 121 — 125 STYLE OF LANGUAGE 126 Rules 31 to 46, and Examples 126 — 130 FIGURES OF SPEECH 130 Metaphor 131 Allegory 132 Comparison or Simile 132 Metonymy 133 Synecdoche 133 Personification or Prosopopoeia 134 Apostrophe 134 Antithesis 134 Interrogation 135 Exclamation 136 Amplification or Climax • 136 CONCLUSION 136 PART TV. Exercises in Reading and Recitation, Character of Chief Justice Marshall Wirt 80 Person of Patrick Henry Wirt 83 Person of Chief Justice Marshall Wirt 84 XIV CONTENTS. Manners of Patrick Henry TVirt 84 On the Measure of the Irish Union Plunkett 138 Vengeance of Hyiier Ali Burke 140 Character of William Penn Duponceau 142 Speech in the Convention of Virginia .. • John Randolph 143 Speech before the Legislature of Virginia Patrick Henry 144 Speech in the Senate of the United States Hayne 147 Speech, in reply to the foregoing Webster 148 The Field of Waterloo Bi/ron 151 Outalissi's Death Song Campbell 153 Marco Bozzaris Halleck 155 The American War Chatham 157 Imaginary Speech of John Adams, on the adoption of the Declaration of Independence Webster 160 Public Faith ^mes 162 The Death of Charles James Fox Sheridan 164 Speech of Robert Emmett, at the close of his Trial for High Treason Emmett 165 The Three Black Crows Byrom 168 The Frenchman and the Rats Anonymous 169 The Best of Wives Anonymous 170 The Doctor and his Apprentice Colman 172 Right of Discovery Trving 173 Right of Cultivation Irving 175 Right of England to tax America Burke 177 Colloquial Powers of Franklin Wirt 78 Bernardo del Carpio Mrs. Hemans 178 Patriotic Exhortation Bev. Robert Hall 180 Moral Desolation JV. E. Review 182 On the Transportation and Distribution of the Mail on Sunday R. M. Johvson 183 Character and Fate of the American Indians Story 187 Speech, in the Senate of the United States, on intro- ducing his Public Lands Bill Clay 189 Rienzi to the Romans Moore 192 'i'he Death of Sheridan Byron 1P4 America Phillips 195 The Political Demagogue, and the Real American States- man contrasted JV*. Biddle 196 CONTENTS. Xt Alfred, King of England Jinonymous 87 Soliloquy of Manfred Byron 20i The Utility of Spectacles ; or, Helps to Read Byrom 203 The Newcastle Apothecary Colman 204 ExcelBior Longfellow 206 The Patriot's Hope Ewing 207 The Public Informer Curran 209 Speech of Macbriar to the Scotch Insurgents Scott 210 Alexander Hamilton Jlmes 88 Speech on the Catholic Question Grattan 212 Wilson the Ornithologist " JV. j9m. Rev. 77 Decisive Integrity Wirt 214 Right of Free Discussion Webster 216 Speech in the Convention of Virginia Ravdolph 216 Graves of the Patriots Percival 218 To the American Flag Drake and Halleck 219 The Gouty Merchant and the Stranger Anonymous 221 The Country Bumpkin and Razor Seller Wolcolt 222 Freedom of the Ancient Israelites Croly 224 Defence of a Client on his Trial for a Libel on the Clergy of Durham Brougham 225 Intellectual dualities of Milton Channing 86 Noble Burst of Judicial Eloquence Mansfield 226 The President of the United States — what he ought to be Louis M'Lane 229 Conclusion of his Speech on the French (Question Everett 231 Speech of Lord Chancellor Thurlow in the House of Lords, in reply to the Duke of Grafton Thurlow 2?4 Union of the Statesman and Man of Letters .JV Biddle 235 Thanatopsis Bryant 236 Burial of a College Classmate J^. P. Willis 238 PART V. Exercise in Argumentative Declamation, DEBATE ON THE CHARACTER OF JULIUS CM- SAR Knowles ^(S XVi CONTENTS. PART VI. Selections from Modern American OrationSy Etc, Sheridan's Ride T. B. Read 280 Lincoln's Address at Gettysburg Lincoln 282 Tribute to Webster Rufus Choaie 283 Our Heroes shall Live Rev. H. W. Beecher 284 The National Banner Edward Everett 285 Sorrow for the Dead Irving 285 Dirge for a Sailor G. H. Baker 288 CICEEO. AMERICAN ORATOR'S OWN BOOK INTRODUCTION. The faculty of forming a just succession of correct ideas, and of delivering them with clearness, fluency and elegance, has commonly been esteemed one of the most difficult attainments, and one of the most enviable distinctions, with which a human being can be endowed. There is perhaps no condition of life, in which the ability to arrange and express what the mind suggests, is not useful as well as pleasing. In many departments of human action it is almost indispensable ; and a mo- mentary recollection of those who have obtained the largest share of reverence, will suggest how great a value has always been placed on true oratory. The situations in this free country in which eloquence is particularly valuable, are the hails of legislation, the pulpit, and the bar: and in each of these stations, it iq rewarded always with fame, and generally with wea^lr The senator who awakes the slumbering energies o! mankind, and guides them to the preservation or attain B (17) 18 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. mentof public welfare; the advocate who defends the oppressed and vindicates the innocent ; and the divine, who, with sweet persuasion, reclaims the dissolute, and consoles the afflicted: are amongst the first objects of general gratitude and respect. But m a more enlarged view of mankind, there is undoubted utility in a clear habit of thinking, and an easy mode of enunciation. Town meetings, and other local assemblies, are fre- quently convened, to decide on subjects materially af- fecting general interests. On these occasions, artifice can be exposed, or prejudice successfully encountered, only by the aid of ready elucidation. The advantage indeed of correctness and facility of speech is so obvi- ous, and the want of it is a deficiency so sensibly felt, that it would be useless in this place to attempt any fur- ther illustration. That there is however a prevaihng defect in the an of public speaking, is proved by continual experience : it may therefore not be unworthy attention to inquire into its cause. To attain the powers necessary for standing up before a numerous audience, and delivering without hesitation or embarrassment, a long series of well-adjusted senti ments, appears so difficult, that many are deterred even from an attempt. Nor will this timidity seem extraordi- nary, when the powers requisite to an orator, are merely enumerated. He must be perfectly acquamted with his subject, and be able to examine it in detail, as well as in the aggre- gate. Whatever can favour his own opinion, or can be urged against it, must be familiar to his mind. All that Introduction. 1& can illustrate or embellish his subject must be recollect- ed: and these resources must be so digested, that there be not omission, redundancy or disorder: but that one topic lead to another by regular connection. Lastly, he must have such command of language, as will prevent, not only hesitation, but the use of an inelegant phrase ; and will preserve his sentences in strict modulation. And though men have existed, and still exist, who have faithfully realized this sketch of an orator; yet one of the causes which have contributed to the scarcity of good public speakers, seems to be a diffidence, or rather a despair of conquering such overbearing difficulties. Another cause of this deficiency, has probably been the embarrassment which a person, unaccustomed to address a large number, must leel in the attempt: an embarrassment so distressing, and seemingly so invinci ble, that few have the fortitude to endure it. The circumstance however to which the deficiency in the art of public speaking may perhaps in the greatest measure be attributed, is the- want of any plan of in- struction in this most useful art Among the extent and variety of our elementary works, with the single ex- ception of the one referred to on a preceding page, and that addressed to one class only, not one has appeared professing to teach this valuable art. A great deal has been done to promote the practice of recitation, and to train young persons in a correct and elegant mode of articulation and gesture. But it remains to be shown by what means the mind may be trained to the habit of thinking accurately ; and of expressing its ideas orally, in clear, elegant, and unembarrassed terms. Whether the apparent difficulty of devising a mode by which this purpose could be accomplished, has dis- suaded persons from the attempt ; or whether an acci- dental disregard of the subject, has been the cause ol 20 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. ihis omission : it can hardly be useful to inquire. The defect must be acknowledged ; and the utility of a sys- tem, to inculcate a practice so elegant and advantage- ous, can scarcely be doubted. It is from these considerations, and under a persuasion that the art of extemporaneous speaking is susceptible of tuition, that we have attempted to supply the de- ficiency in the following work. The art of written composition has been explained and facilitated by various modes. As the object of speaking and writing must be the same, it may not be unprofitable first to consider the means by which the ability for written composition can be acquired. In order to WTite upon any subject, it is necessary to understand it ; that is, to be able to appreciate what it is intended to discuss ; this is commonly called the percep- tion. After the subject itself is thus far understood, an opinion or judgment must be formed upon it. The con- siderations which produced that judgment, generally termed arguments, are next to be ascertained, and ar- ranged in regular connection. When, in addition to these mental operations, correctness in the choice, and harmony in the disposition, of language shall have also been acquired ; little seems wanting for this art of dis- cussion. All these however may be effected at leisure, and in seclusion : and the distinctions therefore between oral and written composition, seem to consist in the dif- ference between writing and speaking; between de- liberation and rapidity; and between the tranquillity of retirement, and the agitation of a public assembly. To the requisites therefore thus enumerated for the art of written composition ; the faculty of public speak- ing moreover needs rapid discrimination, retentive memory, clear articulation, correct emphasis, and grace- ful deportment. Let each of these qualifications be now Introduction. 21 separately examined, and let us inquire by what mean* they may be obtained or improved. The power of discrimination is by far less a natural endowment than a result of habit. It is indispensable in every art and science, and is gained by continued practice. If a picture be shown to a connoisseur, his experience enables him to determine, first, the depart- ment of the art to which it belongs ; that is, whether it represent an event in history, a scene in nature, a gen- eral passion, or a particular individual: and next, to ascertain its peculiar excellences, whether in genius of coiception, accuracy of delineation, or brilliancy of colouring. The quickness with which he forms his con- clusions, will generally be proportionate to the extent of nis practice. The same principles of discrimination pre- vail in all the departments of life ; and they all arise from the same source — habit. A remarkable example of its power may be seen in the command which it gives to the orator, who has long been practised in ex- tempore elocution ; a command not of words merely, but of thoughts and judgments, which, at the very moment of their inspiration, appear like the long-weighed cal- culations of deliberative reflection. AH the divisions of the subject start before* him at once ; image after image, as he proceeds, arises to illustrate it ; and proper words, in proper places, are all the while embodying his senti- ments, as it without the slightest effort of his own.* * We cannot resist the temptation to insert the following eloquent passage from Lord Brougham's celebrated Dis- course on Natural Theology. "The influence of habit upon the exercise of all our faculties is valuable beyond expression. It is indeed the great means of our improvement both intellectual and moral. Whoever has observed the extraordinary feats ^per- formed by calculators, orators, rhymers, musicians, nay, by artists of all descriptions, can want no further proof of the power that man derives from the contrivances by which 82 AMERICAN ORATOR S OWN BOOK. A further illustration of these remarks may be found .n the common business of education. When a boy translating an author, wants to ascertain the meaning of a word, he first, from habit, determines its part of speech^ habit next guides him to seek in his lexicon, the word or its primitive ; and out of the many explanations which he finds, habit suggests that which is the most suitable to his present purpose. Thus we find, that discrimi- nation is a faculty, of which even childhood is capable, and to which it has constant recourse. It is in this manner that the youthful mind may be trained to distinguish the several kinds of literary com- position from each other : and at length, by regular gradation, to discriminate the leading characteristics of each. The early intellect which can discern the narrative, the descriptive, and the argumentative, from each other, habits are formed in all mpntal exertions. The perform- ances of the Italian Improvisatori, or makers of poetry off- handed upon any presented subject, and in almost any kind of stanza, are £;enerally cited as the most surprising efforts in this kind. But the power of extempore speaking is not less singular, though more frequently displayed, at least in tnis country. A practised orator will declaim in measured and in various periods— will weave his discourse into one texture — form parenthesis within parenthesis — excite the passions, or move to laughter— take a turn in his discourse from an accidental interruption, making it the topic of Jiis rhetoric for five minutes to come, and pursuing in like man- ner the new illustrations to which it gives rise — mould his diction with a view to attain or to shun an epigrammatic point, or an alliteration, or a discord ; and all this with so much assured reliance on his own powers, and with such perfect ease to himself, that he shall even plan the next sentence while he is pronouncing off-hand the one he is engaged with, adaptiuji each to the other, and shall look forward to the topic which is to follow and fit in the close of the one he is handling to be its introducer; nor shall any auditor be able to discover the least difference between all this and the portion of his speech which he has got by heart, or tell the transition irom the one to the other.'* Introduction. 23 laaysoon be taught to determine their respective species. Narrative will be divided into history, biography and detached events ; the descriptive, into representations ol places, persons and objects ; and the argumentative, into that which relates to public, and that which regards in- dividual affairs. Surely the mind which can correctly apply the rules of grammatical syntax, may as easily ap- preciate these departments of composition. Descending however still further into detail, it will be found with how much facility, discrimination may be extended. A boy, by short practice, will distinguish the objects and the actions included in a fable as easily as he can point out nouns and verbs. A little more experience will suggest to him the purpose, or, as it is commonly called, the moral of a fable: and thus he will soon readily determine the leading circumstance of every proposed narrative. The quickness of his discernment will, of course, be in proportion to the extent of his prac- tice.^ No one will doubt this faculty of discrimination, and the practicability of exciting it, who has observed with what readiness young persons discover and correct violations of even the refined rules of grammar. As it is one part of the system contained in the follow- mg work, to train youth in this habit of discriminating, and in the practice of relatmg with scrupulous fidelity all the circumstances of a narrative, I may be allowed to observe, that such a discipline must also have a pro- bable tendency to produce a salutary effect on early morals. Falsehood frequently proceeds from thoughtless ex- aggeration, careless omission, and an imperfect discern- ment of what is heard or seen. The habits of accuracy in discrimination, and of correctness in statement, will, it may be hoped, prevent much of this disgraceful evil. 24 From narrative the student may be conducted to the descriptive, and thence to the argumentative. In the former, he may be trained to distinguish the several ob- jects of which the representation is formed ; and in the 'atter, to analyze the reasoning, and to separate the argu- ments from the inference. But as these gradations will be explained in the progress of the work, they need not be introduced here. Hitherto, discrimination has been considered only as it may be employed on narratives, descriptions, and rea- sonings already prepared, and submitted to the pupil for an exercise of his skill. But it is easy to conceive, how quickly the same intellect will acquire the power of dis- criminating its own resources upon any subject with which it may be acquainted : and as the habit of orally stating what has been discovered in the compositions of others, will have already been acquired, there cannot be much difficulty in training young persons to the like habit of expressing their own suggestions. That the mind may not, however, seem to be urged to inordinate transitions, the faculty of mental discussion is inculcated by slow and cautious advances, and the most clear and easy methods are employed to initiate the pupil into the habit of thought, as well as of oral discussion. Having thus explained the nature of discrimination, and the mode by which it may be taught, it is necessary to give some attention to memor)^ without which no one can hope to attain the art of speaking extempore. No endowment with which man is blessed is more abused than that of memory. Want of recollection is one of the first excuses which ignorance and indolence plead for their deficiencies. But it is not always ob- served, that it is what they have never tried to remem- ber, that has been thus soon forgotten. There is scarcely one of these forgetful persons who does not, in many Introduction, 25 instances, expose a good memory, whoi. inclination hap- pens to have its influence. There are those who can recount the exact succession of cards in a game at whist, and yet shelter the most disgraceful ignorance under the plea of bad memory. There are three modes, by either of which recollec- tion will generally be supplied: inclination, practice, and association. There is scarcely any effort or extent to which remem- brance may not be enforced, if the inclination be but sufficiently strong. In confirmation of this opinion, re- ference need only be had to the fayourite pursuit or amusement of any one ; and it will seldom be found that memory is inadequate to the desired attainment. The astonishing tenacity which is requisite to perform, from remembrance, a musical piece of any considerable ength ; and the accuracy with which it is thus fre- quently executed, will sufficiently illustrate this position. It is however of small consequence to know that in- clination has so great an ascendency over the memory, if no useful result be thence obtained. But it seems to suggest, that subjects of instruction should always be rendered as inviting as possible ; and that the most pleas- ing modes of tuition should be devised and adopted. In this treatise, therefore, narrative has been first in- troduced, as most interesting, and therefore most easily retained. Description next succeeds, as being nearest in attraction ; and reasoning does not follow, until mem- ory shall have thus been trained by habit. That memory is susceptible of improvement almost incredible, by the force of practice, is proved by constant observation and experience. " Concerning the ideas themselves," says Locke, "it is easy to remark, that those that are oftenest refreshed (amongst which are those that are conveyed into the mind by more wayi 26 «han one) by a frequent return of the objects or actions that produce them, fix themselves best in the memory, and remain clearest and longest there."* If a person go to a shop where two or three thousand different articles are sold (as is frequently the case), it is seldom found that even the most stupid vendor is at a loss to recollect the commodity required, nor the place wherein it has been deposited. A medical practitioner, by force of habil, recollects and combines all the probable ameliora- tives of disease ; and a lawyer, by the same power of habit, recurs to and arranges all the authorities which affect his client's interest. In like manner, continued practice will enable the young student in the art of public speaking, to retain the leading points of every narrative, description, and argu- ment, which is offered to him, as well as of those sub- jects upon which his own judgment is employed. Memory however may be greatly improved, if not almost re-created, by the method of association. Indeed, if memory be strictly examined, it will appear to be nothing more than a faculty, which combines images ■with each other. We never recall an idea, without ac- quiring some combination. In reading, we perceive only words, letters, or characters, which certainly do not por- tray any idea ; and yet ideas immediately follow, be« cause we recollect the thought, sensation, or image, to which those words or characters are the index : hence a poem has been denominated, a speaking picture. The same principle will also apply inversely. A botanist desirous of ascertaining the name of any vegetable pro duction, examines the root, the plant, and fructification and thence determines its class, order, genus, species and variety; and from these he collects its appropriate name * £ssav on the Human Understanding, b. ii. c. 10. Introduction. £7 All our senses assist us in the same manner; sound, feel- ing, smell, sight, and taste, bring to our memory their respective resources. Thus a blind man recognizes per- sons by the voice, and objects by feeling.* These may be termed natural combinations ; but it re- mains to be seen, whether an artificial mode of associa- tion may not also be formed, applicable to every subject and occasion. If in teaching a child to recollect the five vowels, it were to be instructed to affix them separately to one of the fingers and the thumb of one hand, they would soon be confirmed in the memory ; as the child by reference to the indices would instantly recur to their appropriated .etters: in other words, the pupil by looking at the thumb would recollect a ; by looking at the next finger, would remember e ; and so on. Many persons tie knots in their handkerchiefs, or twist strings round their fingers, as convenient mementos ; and a labouring man has been seen to mark the surface of his shoe with chalk, for the like purpose. As soon as these monitors are observed, they bring to mind the circumstance to be remembered. A series of palpable objects will, in like manner, serve as indications of a train of events or a course of reason- mg; and it will be difficult to look at any one of such indices without recalling the idea with which it has thus been associated. But indeed this method is nothing more than the reduction to a regular system, of that, which natural memory performs in all its exercises. Dr. Watts was aware of the effi^ct of association in fixmg any object in the recollection. In his inestimable * It is related of Sir John Fieldinjj, the celebrated Lon- don magistrate (brother of the novelist), that as soon as he heard a culprit speak, he could determine whether he had been arraigned before him at any former time, however distant. 28 work "On the Improvement of the Mind," he says "When you would remember new things or words, endeavour to associate and connect them with some words or things which you have well known before, and which are fixed and established in your memory. This association of ideas is of great importance and force, and may be of excellent use in many instances of human life. One idea which is familiar to the mind, connected with others which are new and strange, will bring those new ideas into easy remembrance." The mode of association is not, however, made a part of the following system for speaking extempore. Me- mory will be sufficiently aided by the practices and methodical arrangements which are prescribed in the work. Having thus endeavoured to explain and assist the faculties of discrimination and memory^ little remains to be done in this place. The remaining requisites, articu- lation, emphasis, and gesture, are already well under- stood ; and have also been discussed and taught, by many able and well-known writers. Nevertheless, they are each reduced to clear, practical rules in this work. To speak distinctly, and sufficiently loud to be heard by those who are addressed, is necessary for conversa- tion and reading, as well as for recitation and oratory.* Ii public speaking, every word should be uttered, as * Lord Chesterfield, in one of his letters, thus advises his son : — " Take care to open your teeth when you speak : to articulate every word distinctly; and to I)ej? of any friend you converse with to remind and stop you, if ever you fall into a rapid and unintellipible mutter. You should even read aloud to yourself, and tune your utterance to your own ear; and read at first much slower than you need to do, in order to correct that shameful habit, of speaking faster than you ouf^ht. In short, you will make it your business, youi study, iiid your pleasure, to speak well, if you think -ight ly." Introduction, 29 though it were spoken singly. The solemnity of an oration justifies and demands such scrupulous distinct- ness. That careful pronunciation which would be ridi- culously pedantic in colloquial intercourse, is an essential requisite of good elocution. There are in every sentence some word or words which require pecuhar emphasis, so that they may reach the hearer with distinguishing force. In selecting them, the meaning intended to be conveyed by the passage, is certainly the best guide ; but the judgment of the pre- ceptor will, in this instance, be of great assistance to the pupil. It is likewise an excellent mode, for the student to read or repeat a passage from some author, to a person of correct taste and good delivery, who would imme- diately afterwards recite the same selection. The dif ference in effect would be perceived, and would furnish an excellent general lesson to the unformed orator. The well-known anecdote of Demosthenes and the player affords a striking instance of the efficacy of such instruc- tion. Upon the same principle, much advantage may accrue to a young person from hearing some of the best public speakers and theatrical performers, particularly if a dis- creet friend point out at the time their respective excel- lences : and it may reasonably be hoped, that when the youthful capacity shall be enabled to appreciate in the works of others, the particular words which require emphasis, that it will have little difficulty in ascertain- ing the emphatic words in its own compositions, whether written or oral. As gesture must be regarded in the discipline for pub- lic speaking, it claims attention in this treatise- It should be clearly understood, that the gesture suit- able for an orator, is very different from that which is displayed on the stage. The business of an orator is to 30 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. instruct and persuade. The business of an actor is to exhibit the effect, which the passions produce on the figure and countenance. The former is the adviser; the latter, the representation of his fellow-creatures. The orator is guided by reason ; and his appeals are more to the reason than the feelings. The player is guided by feeling alone ; and addresses the feelings only. The violence of gesticulation which is correct in one, would be hyperbolical or ludicrous in the other. Thf\t the figure should be erect, but not perpendicu- i-ir; the body resting upon one leg; the other leg being a little advanced : and that the arms should be employ- ed alternately, in temperate action, are among the plain- est and most useful precepts for the gesture of an orator But to observe the deportment of those public speakers who possess elegance of manner, is to obtain the most eilicacious lesson. It should be remembered, that gesture is an accom- plishment worthy even of great attention. The advan- tage of a graceful appearance and suitable action is of too much consequence to be dispensed with. An audience is always more favourably disposed toward a prepossess- ing, than an uninteresting speaker. Demosthenes hav- ing been asked what was the first and most essential qualification of a public speaker, answered, Gesture Being asked, what was the second, he replied as before. Gesture. Being asked, what was the third, he answered again. Gesture: still continuing to make the same reply till (hey had done questioning him ; giving them to un- derstand, that, without gesture, all the other qualifica- tions of a speaker were to be considered as of litile or no moment, — a truth which he himself had been taught too sensibly not to abide by it for ever. After intense application to private study, and notwithstanding the un- commo 1 vigour of his genius, and the matchless energy Introduction. 31 of his language, he was ill received by the people till he learned how to manage his weapons, — how to direct his thunder, — how to rouse or allay the passions at pleasure by the powers of utterance and action. As he with- drew, in the utmost confusion, Satyrus, one of the most excellent actors of those times, who was his friend, met him ; and having learned from himself the cause of his being so much dejected, he assured him, that the evil was not without remedy. He desired him to repeat some of the verses of Sophocles or Euripides to him, which he accordingly did. Satyrus spoke them after him; and gave them such effect, by the tone, gesture and spirit with which he pronounced them, as clearly discovered to De- mosthenes, that without animated gestures, the most beautiful language may be compared to a lifeless corpse, and is more likely to chill the hearer than to warm and transport him. Such are the powers which the art of extemporane- ous public speaking requires. To accommodate the pre- ceding views to the acquisition of this valuable attain- ment, the present work is divided into five parts. The First treats of the faculties of reading and recitation ; and includes a practical discipline for arliculation, ac- cent, emphasis, pauses, tones, inflect iojis, and gesture. The Second contains compositions and selections, narrative, descriptive and argumentative. Each of these is ana- lyzed, that the pupil may perceive its several parts; and thus become initiated in the practice of discriminating all the branches of a discourse. Clear and copious rules are therefore given to assist the student in the practice of distinguishing the members of every species of literary composition: and their connection and dependence are reduced to method, as the most efficacious mode of //x- ing them in the memory. The Third part contains a 32 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. gradual exercise of the student's intellect. Rules are given for acquiring, by slow and cautious advances the habits of discussing subjects with facility and clearness; and thence of speaking on them with fiuency and ele- gance. The Fourth and Fifth parts supply exercises under such of the rules laid down in the three foregoing parts of the work as can be thus illustrated : the former consisting ol' copious selections from the most approved authors, for practice in Reading and Recitation ; and the latter, of a Debate on an interesting subject, which is intended as an example of Argumentative Declamation. The First part will train the pupil into accurate enuncia- tion and graceful deportment. The Second will initiate him in the faculties of understanding, recollecting and repeating the sentiments he may read or hear. The Third will familiarize him in the art of ascertaining, arranging and delivering the ideas which his own judgment may provide. And the Fourth will furnish the materials and inducements for perfecting himself in all the requisitions of his art. The gradations of art are always laborious. No one can hope to attain excellence at once. The patience and diligence necessary for the acquisition of a language, a science, or even an amusement, should always repress such hopes of progression as are rather sanguine than rational. Those, however, who duly appreciate the value of the art, which it is the object of these pages to facilitate, will patiently submit to the discipline by which alone its attainment seems likely to be insured. But with this disposition for perseverance, and by proper cau- tion against too rapid an advancement, much advantage may reasonably be hoped from adherence to the pro- posed system. Neither does it seem extravagant to be- lieve, that besides the effect which the prescribed dis- cipline would produce, in accelerating the art of oratoD', Introduction. 33 other salutary consequences would thence accrue to the student. By the practice of discrimination, he would become enabled to understand and analyze, whatever should be offered to his attention. The value of such a talent may be easily appreciated. It would facihtate every species of investigation, and afford a strong protection against imposture. A mind thus qualified would not be dazzled by splendid imagery, nor deluded by arguments merely specious. Sophistry, whether written or oral, which frequently seduces the unwary, could obtain no undue ascendency over an understanding which could distin- guish and estimate the reasoning and deductions, on which it bestowed attention. To instructors, it need hardly be observed, that as the object of this treatise is to accelerate the powers for public speaking, the various exercises proposed in this system should take place, not in particular seclusion, but in the presence of as many persons as can be conveni- ently assembled. The efficacy of speaking or reciting before many others, in overcoming too much diffidence, may be observed in the annual exhibitions at some of the public schools and colleges. It may not be improper to recur here to the admirable Debate on the Character of Julius CcBsar, which occu- pies the fifth and concluding part of this work. Few young men pass through the grades of a polite education in this country, who are not, at some period of their career, members of a Debating Society, or moot court, where questions are proposed and discussed under the forms and regulations which appertain to more serious assemblages. The " Debate" above-mentioned was com- posed by the eminent teacher of Oratory, Mr. James Sheridan Knowles, expressly for the purpose of exercising students in argumentative declamation. The youthful 34 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. age of the disputants who took part in it, the gentlemanly personalities in which they indulge, the evident fact of its being intended to be delivered in public, the strong case made out by each of the opposing parties, and its useful ness in furnishing a model and precedent for similar attempts by any association of young men who by their remote location are prevented from familiarising them- t^elves with the mode of conducting the proceedings of a debating society: all, unite to win it a place in " The American Orator." It is scarcely necessary lor us to say that such practice is highly beneficial, and is always to be sought after by the ambitious student. Having thus stated the principles and system upon which the following work has been formed, we trust that we may be allowed at least the praise that is due for good intention, as well as for industrious solicitude to attain a desirable object. The first attempt to bring a valuable accomplishment within practical tuition, has strong claims on liberality. Whether we have been suc- cessful in forming a method of instruction in this impor- tant art, we must leave to be determined by the judg- ment of others. But even if it shall appear, that the system now suggested, is inadequate to the full extent which it proposes, we shall nevertheless feel ccmsider- able satisfaction, if it be found susceptible of improve- ment; and that, thus assisted, it finally accomplish the beneficial end lor which it has been designed. DEMOSTHENES. Readins[' and Recitation, 35 PART I. READING AND RECITATION. Before the student can attempt to become an orator, he must be sure that he is a good reader, Trifling' and unimportant as the necessary talents merely for a good reader may seem, yet they are amongst the fundamental requisites of a good speaker. Clear articulation, proper accent, judicious empha- sis, and suitable tones and inflections, are not to be acquired without patient and diligent attention. The practice of recitation requires something more — it needs graceful and suitable gesture. Ex- tempore speaking also must be accompanied by pro- per action. As the requisites therefore for good reading and recitation, are so indispensable to a public speaker, the first part of this work contains a system of rules and illustrations for the purpose of facilitating these attainments. The student must not despise the simplicity of the earlier exercises. It was necessary to provide a system as nearly perfect as might be ; and therefore no part of the discipline for reading and recitation could have been correctly omitted : besides, as there 36 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. must be some beginning-, where could we commence more properly than at the true and rational founda- tion? ARTICULATION. A g-Qod articulation has ever been regarded as the first requisite in delivery ; without which, indeed, all other attainments in this art are of little importance. It consists in the distinct utterance of words and the elements of which they are composed; and in ma- king such a distinction between syllables, that the ear may easily perceive to which syllable each letter or element belongs. *' In just articulation," says Austin in his Chironomia, " the words are not to be hurried over ; nor precipitated syllable over syllable ; nor as it were melted together into a mass of con- fusion. They should be neither abridged, nor pro- longed ; nor swallowed, nor forced ; they should not be trailed, nor drawled, nor let to slip out carelessly, so as to drop unfinished. They are to be delivered out from the lips as beautiful coins newly issued from the mint, deeply and accurately impressed, per- fectly finished, neatly struck by the proper organs^ distinct, in due time, and of due weight." To ac- quire a distinct enunciation, and to overcome what- ever obstacles habit may have thrown in the way of it, requires great effort. It was for this end alone that the young Athenian orator repaired to the sea- shore and spoke amidst the noise of dashing waves. Indistinct articulation may arise from various causes. A physical defect in the vocal organs may produce a stammering hesitancy in speech. A slug- gish action of the mind may cause a dull, imperfect utterance; while excess of sensibility or vivacity may produce a hasty, indistinct utterance. But the principal causes of all the faults arising from a bad articulation, are the difliculty of uttering the con Reading and Recitation, 37 sonant sounds ; the tendency of the mind to slide over unaccented vowels ; the numerous prefix and affix syllables with which our langung-e abounds ; and the influence of accent when thrown back in 9 word so far as to be followed by several syllables. To these may be added the immediate succession of similar sounds of difficult utterance, and the effect of early habit in distorting the organs of speech. As the human voice is susceptible of an almost unlimited degree of cultivation, most of the difficul- ties and faults preventing a clear enunciation may be overcome by a proper exercise of tlie vocal organs upon the elements of speech, and the various com- binations of them which produce sounds most dif- Jicult of utterance. With a view, therefore, to remedy the faults above enumerated, to acquire a deliberate and distinct utterance, to strengthen the voice, to soften and im- prove its tones, and finally to obtain a perfect man- agement of it ; let the following rules and exercises be carefully attended to. Rute i. — Pronounce the toll owing words with as much compass and explosive force of the voice as possible; and prolong the consonant sounds at the beginning and end of the words, so as to render them distinct and audible at a considerable distance : UiidgH. False. Rhythvi. Craft. laength. Faults. Slay. . Fetched, Sh ength. Shelved. Starve. Spasm. Breadths. Filch. Thistle. Wreck. Frob'dst. Riing'd. Travel. Mulcts. Deeds. EntowftW. Pluck. Bulbs, Bredg'd. Wh\sps. Pray. Whelm'd. haughs. BriveVd. Grow. Songs. Think'st Hearths. Glow. Thrust, Acta. Errs. Frame. Skies. 38 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. Rule 2, — Pronoance the foUowinff words clearly and distinctly, by giving io each syllable its proper and full share in the word. Deliver the syllables slowly at first, and increase in rapidity progressively ; taking care not to con- nect them by a humming or drawling sound. Utter not more than one word in a breath ; and 'et there be an interval of silence after each : Har-nion y. Dis-crini in-a-tion Hap-pi-iiess. Fig-u-ra-tive-ly, In-no-cence. Ne-ces-sa-ril-y. Or-na-meiit. Pro-fit-a-ble-ness, Ni«;l)t-in-j;[ale. Em-phat-ic-al-ly. Par-a-dise. E-niin-ci-a-lion. Pi-et-y. Aux-il-i-ar-y. Riv-ii-let. Iii-ex-o-ra-ble. Bol-it-ude. Re-pos-it-or-y. Straw-ber-ry. Phi!-o-s(iph-ic-al. 6yc-o-phant. Mis-cel-la-ne-ous. Wilder ness. Ac-a-doni-ic-al. Ac-qui-esce. Af-fa-bil-it-y. Ap-pre-hend. Mag-na-nim-it-y. Car-a-van. Char-ac-ter-is-tic. Cav-alcade. As-si-du-it-y. Cor-re-spond. Ad-inin-i?-lrator. En -tor-tain. Ec-cle-si-as-lic. In-tro-duce. Sii-per-a-bun-dant. Ma«?-a-zino. Re-com-meu-da-tion. Mas-querade. Coii-ve-ni-eut-ly. Pal-i-sade. Phi -Ian -thro j)-ic-al. Vi-o-lin. - Sanc-tif-ic-a-tion. Vol-ut)-t(.*cr. NoM-con-forin-it-y. Am-bas-sa-dor. In-dustri-oiis-ly. As-|>.ir-a-<.MJS. Per-spi-ca-cit-y. Bar-bar-il-y. Hy-dro-plio-bi-a. Be-iiev-o-lence. In-fiam-nia-tor-y. En-coiir-a<;e-inent. Dis-siin-u-la-tion. For-m't-fiil-ness. An-ni-liil-a-n»)n. Inn mii-nit-y. In-tor-loc-ii-tor-y. Ma^-nan-i mous. Ini-pro-ba-bil it-y. No-bil-it-y. Con-cil-i-a-tor-y. O-be-di-enco. Con-grat-ii-ia-tor-y Pre-cm-in-ence. Ex-pos-tu-la-lor-y. Tranquil lit-y. Sus-cep-tibil-it-y Readina and Recitation. 39 Per-son-if-ic-a-tion. Val-e-tu-din-a-ri-an. In-ter-rog-a-tor-y. Rec-om-mend-a-tor-y. Met-a-phor-ic-al-ly. Al-le-gor-ic-ally. An te-dil u-vi-an. Pu-sil-lan-im-it-y. Gen-er-al-iss-i-mo. In-ter-rog-a-tive-ly. Re-ca-pit u-la-tion. Ir-re-sis-ti-bil-it-y. Per-pen-dic-u-lar-it-y, Im-pen-e-tra-bil-it-y. In-ter-co-lum-ni-a-tion. Ple-ni-po-ten-ti-ar-y, Et-y-mo-lo-gic-al-ly. An-ti-triii-it-a-ri-an. In-cvjn-sid-er-a-ble-ness. Hi-er-o-glyph-ic-al-ly. In-cor-rup-ti-bil-it-y. An ti-pes-til-en-ti-al. In-con-tro-ver-ti-bil-it-y. In-com-pre-lien-si bil-it-y. Rule S, — Avoid pronouncing v for w; and w for V, For this purpose, read the following words distinctly : Vail Wail. Vane Wane. Vary Wary. Vent Went. Verse Worse. Vest West. Vicar Wicker. Vile Wile. Vine Wine, Vizard Wizard. V We. Vast Wast. Vaults Waltz. Veal Weal. Vocal Woful. Volatile Wolf. Workman .. Verrnicelli. World Verilv. Worship . . . . Verdure. Womanhood Vehemence. Waterfall . . Vatican. Well-wisher Vellication. Wallet Valley. Wallow .... Volley. Witticism . . Vivify. Work Vogue. For the like purpose, let these sentences be often repeated : A versifier wants a very wonderful variety of words. Wander wherever you would, worthy and valued women were viewed walking, and visiting the various works. Rule 4. — Take care to sound the aspirates h^ and wh. For this purpose, read the following words, distinctly : Aft Haft. Ail Hail. Air Hair. Ale Hale. All Hall. Alter Halter. Am Hani. And Hand. 40 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. Ark Hark. Arm Harm. Arrow Harrow. Art Hart. Ash Hash. Asp flasp. At Hat. Ear Hear. Eat Heat. Eave Heave. Edge Hedge. Eel Heel. Eli Hell. Elm Helrn. M Hem. N Hen. Yew Hew. Eye High. Ill Hill. Is His. It Hit. Oar Hoar. Odd Hod. Old Hold. Owes Hose. Wale Whale. Weal Wheel. Were Where Wet Whet. Wine Whine. For thf* like purpose, let these sentences be often repeatrd Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone. Hail, ye high ministers of heaven! how happy are we in hearing these your heavenly tidings. How I hate, how I ahhor such hell hounds! Hope, open tn-^u his ear to hear. Guide thine eye to look on high. Teach thine heart, the holy art of humbly hearing truth. Let the following^ short sentences be pronounced clearly and distinctly, with a full stop, and an inter- val of perfect silence between them : A woody country. A gloomy forest. An aged oak. A nodding beech. A shady grove. A ragged rock. A high mountain. A rapid river. A winding stream. A crystal lake. A fertile vale. A charming prospect. A thatched cottage, A little town. A country church. A ruined abbey. A stately tower. An old castle. A rural seat. A splendid palace. A royal park. A flowery lawn. A large orchard. A fine garden God made all things. He is the source of all felicity. He provi les for every creature. Reading and Recitation, 41 The least insect is an object of his care. He is present in every region of nature. He sees all our actions. He knows our private thoughts. The heavens proclaim his glory. His dominions are unbounded. He governs innumerable worlds. He encircles the universe. The earth is a planet. The earth turns round its axis. The sun is in the centre. The sun is thp source of light. The planets are other worlds. The tixed stars are other suns. Space has no limits. The creation is a scene of wonders. The bee collects honey from the flowers. The silkworm spins a thread from her bowels. The spider weaves a curious web. The ant lays up stores for winter. The mole makes her apartments under ground. The rabbit forms her grotto in the hill. Let the student exercise his voice upon the follow- ing short sentences, which are selected for the pur- pose of giving" facility and precision of articulation in some of the most difficult combinations : This act, more than all other acts, of the legislature, 1*»J the axe at the very root of the evil. It is false to say he had no faults. The magistrates ought to prove the charge. The magistrates soM^Ai to disprove the charge. Back! to thy punishment, false fugitive ! The hosts still stand in strange^jt plight. That last still night. That lasts till night. He was most formidable and unmanageable. His worA:s demonstrate his existence. On either side an ocean exists. On 7J,either side a viotion exists. Around the rugged rocks the restless rangers ran. I said pop-u-lar, not pop'lar. I said omnip'0-tt"ce, not omnipertunce. 42 AMERICAN orator's OWN BODE. I said pre-vai\, not pr'vail. I said fee-hold, not b'hold. He peremptorily refused to enter the receptacle of tha dead. He acts from disinterested motives. Think'st thou so meanly of my PAocion ? 0''erwhelmed with whirlwinds and tempestuous fire. Henceforth look to your hearths. Canst thou minister to a 7Hi7ic? diseased ? My lords, this is a tre-mcn-dous and awful crisis! A thousand shrieks for hopeless mercy call. ACCENT. Utile 5. — Pronounce every word, consisting of more syllables than one, with its proper accent. Accent means a pecuHar manner of distinguish- ing one syllable from the rest. This distinction is made in two ways : either by dwelhng longer on one syllable than on the rest ; or by giving a smarter percussion of the voice in utterance. Of the for- mer, we have instances in the words glory^ father^ holy ; of the latter, in halt!' , ha.h'it^ borrow. It may therefore be observed, that the essence of a syllable consists in articulation ; the essence of a word consists in accent as well as articulation. In accenting words, cure siiould be taken to avoid all affected deviations from common usage. Let the accent therefore be always placed on tlie same sylla- ble, and on the same letter of the syllable, that are usual in common discourse. Accent seems to be regulated in a great measure by etymology. In words irom the Saxon, the ac- cent is generall}^ on the root ; in words from the learned languages, it is generally on the termination : and if to tliese we add the different accent we lay on some words, to distinguish them from others, we seem to have the three great principles of accentua- Readinrr and Recitation, 43 o tion ; namely, the radical^ the terminational, and the distinctive. The radical ; as, " Love, lovely, loveli- ness :" the terminational ; as, " Harmony, harmoni- ous :" the distinctive ; as, " Convert, to convert." ACCENT ON DISSYLLABLES. Words of two syllables have necessarily one of them accented, and but one. It is true, for the sake of emphasis, we sometimes lay an equal stress upon two successive syllables ; as, " Di-rect, some-times :" but when these words are pronounced alone, they have never more than one accent. The word " ^-men," is the only word which is pronounced with two accents when alone. Of dissyllables, formed by fixing a termination, the former syllable is commonly accented : as, "Childish, kingdom, actest, acted, toilsome, lover, scoffer, fairer, foremost, zealous, fulness, meekly, artist." Dissyllables formed by prefixing a syllable to the radical word, have commonly the accent on the lat- ter : as, " To beseem, to bestow, to return." Of dissyllables, which are at once nouns and verbs, the verb has commonly the accent on the lat- ter, and the noun on the former syllable : as, " To cement, a cement; to contract, a contract; to pre- sage, a presage." This rule has many exceptions. Though verbs seldom have their accent on the former, yet nouns oflen have it on the latter syllable : as, " Delight, perfume." Those nouns which, in the common order of language, must have preceded the verbs, oflen transmit their accent to the verbs they form, and inversely. Thus, the noun " water" must have preceded the verb " to water," as the verb " to cor- respond," must have preceded the noun " correspond- ent:" and "to pu'-sue" claims priority to "pursuit." 44 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. So that we may conclude, wherever verbs deviate from the rule, it is seldom by chance, and generally in those words only where a superior law of accent takes place. All dissyllables ending in ?/, our^ ow, le, ish, c, ter^ age, en, et : as, *' Cranny, labour, willow, wallow,'* (except " allow, avow, endow, below, bestow) bdttle, banisli, cambric, batter, courage, fasten, quiet;" ac- cent the former syllable. Dissyllable nouns in er, as, "Cdnker, biitter," have the accent on the former syllable. Dissyllable verbs, terminating in a consonant and c final, as, "Comprise, escdpe ;" or having a diph- thong in the last syllable, as, " Appease, reveal ;" or ending in two consonants ; as, " Attend ;" have the accent on the latter syllable. Dissyllable nouns, having a diphthong in the lat- ter syllable, have commonly their accent on the lat- ter syllable ; as, " Applause ;" except some words in ain: as, "Villain, curtain, modntain." Dissyllables that have two vowels, which are separated in the pronunciation, have always the ac- cent on the first syllable : as, " Lion, riot, quiet, liar, ruin ;" except " create." ACCENT ON TRISYLLABLES. Trisyllables formed by adding a termination, or prefixing a syllable, retain the accent of the radical word : as, " Loveliness, tenderness, contemner, wag- oner, bespatter, commenting, commending, assu- rance." Trisyllables ending in ous, al, ion : as, " A'rduous, capital, mention," accent the first. Trisyllables ending in ce, ent, and ate, accent the first syllable : as, " Cyountenance, continence, Arma ment, imminent, elegant, propagate ;" unless they are derived from words having the accent on the Readinnr and Recitation, 45 i? last, as, " Connivance, acquaintance ;" and unless the middle syllable has a vowel before two conso- nants ; as, " Promulgate." Trisyllables ending- in ?/, as, " E'ntity, specify, liberty, victory, subsidy," commonly accent the first syllable. Trisyllables in re or Ze, accent the first syllable : as, " Legible, theatre ;" except " Disciple," and some words which have a preposition, as, " Example, in- denture." Trisyllables ending in ude commonly accent the first syllable : as, " Plenitude, habitude, rectitude." Trisyllables ending in ator have the accent on the middle syllable: as, "Spectator, creator;" except " Curator, senator, barrator, legator." Trisyllables which have in the middle syllable a diphthong, as, "Endeavour;" or a vowel before two consonants; as, "Domestic;" accent the middle syllable. Trisyllables that have their accent on the last syl- lable, are commonly French: as, "Acquiesce, re- partee, magazine ;" or they are words formed- by prefixing one or two syllables to a long syllable ; as, " Immature, overcharge." ACCENT ON POLYSYLLABLES. Polysyllables, or words of more than three sylla- bles, generally follow the accent of the words from which they are derived : as, " A'rrogating, conti- nency, incontinently, commendable, communicable- ness." Words ending in ator have the accent generally on the penultimate, or last syllable but one : as, " Emendator, gladiator, equivocator, prevaricator." Words ending in le commonly have the accent on the first syllable: as, "A'micable, despicable;" un- 46 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. less the second syllable has a vowel before two con- sonants, as, " Combiistihle, condemnable." Words ending- in ion, ows, and ty^ have their ac- cent on the last syllable but two : as, " Salvation, vict6rious, activity." Words which end in iff, io, and cal^ have the ac- cent on the last syllable but one : as, " Cyclopae'dia, punctilio, despotical." These rules on accent are not advanced as com- plete, but proposed as useful. EMPHASIS. Rule 6. — In every sentence distinguish the more significant words, by a natural and forcible emphasis. Emphasis is a peculiar utterance of words that are especially significant, and is effected, either by increasing the quantity of the voice, or by changing its pitch, or by prolonging the time of utterance. There are in every sentence certain words which have a greater share in conveying the speaker^s meaning than the rest ; and are on this account dis- tinguished by the forcible manner in which they are uttered. This stress or emphasis serves to unite words and form them into sentences. By giving the several parts of a sentence their proper utterance, it discovers their mutual dependence, and conveys their full import to the mind of the hearer. Every one who clearly comprehends what he says in private discourse, never fails to lay the emphasis on the right word : when, tiierefbre, he is about to read or repeat the words of others or his own in public, let him only reflect on the place where he would lay the emphasis ; supposing those words had proceeded from the immediate sentiment of his own mind in private discourse. Reading and Recitation. 47 Every one, also, should content himself with the use of those tones only that he is hahituated to in speech ; and give none other to emphasis but what he would do to the same words in discourse. Thus, w-hatever he utters, will be done with ease, and ap- pear natural ; whereas, if he endeavour at any tones to which he is not accustomed, either from fancy or imitation of others, it will be done with difficulty, and carry witii it evident marks of affectation and art. The most common faults respecting emphasis, are, that of laying so strong- an emphasis upon one word, as to leave no power of giving a particular force to other words — which, though not equally, are, in a certain degree, emphatical: and that of placing the greatest stress on conjunctive particles, and other words of secondary importance. As accent dignifies the syllable on which it is laid, and makes it more distinguished by the ear than the rest ; so emphasis ennobles the word to which it be- longs, and presents it in a stronger light to the un- derstanding. Were there no accents, words would be resolved into their original syllables; were there no emphasis, sentences would be resolved into their original words : and, in this case, the hearer would be under the painful necessity, first, of making out the words, and afterwards, their meaning. Emphasis is of two kinds, simple and complex. Simple, when it serves to point out only the plain meaning of any proposition: complex, when, besides the meaning, it marks also some affection or emo- tion of the mind ; or gives a meaning to w^ords, which they would not have in their usual accepta- tion. In the former case, emphasis is scarcely more than a stronger accent, with little or no change of tone, when it is complex, besides force, there is al- ways superadded a manifest change of tone. The following sentence contains an example of 48 simple emphasis : " And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man." The emphasis on thou serves only to point out the meaning- of tiie speaker. But in the following sentence we perceive an emotion of the speaker superadded to the simple meaning : " Why will ye die ?" As the emphasis often falls on words in different parts of the same sentence, so it is frequently re- quired to be continued, with a little variation, on two, and sometimes three words together. The fol- lowing sentence exemplifies both the parts of this position : " If you seek to make one rich^ study not to increase, his stores^ but to diminish his desires T Emphasis may be further distinguished, into the weaker and the stronger emphasis. In the sentence, "Exercise and temperance strengthen the constitu- tion ;" we perceive more force on the w^ord strengtheriy than on any other ; though it is not equal to the stress which we apply to the word indifferent^ in the following sentence: "Exercise and temperance strengthen even an indifferent constitution." It is also proper to remark, that the words exercise^ tenu perance, constitution, in the last example but one, are pronounced with greater force, than the particles and and the ; and yet those words cannot properly be called emphatical : for the stress that is laid on them, is no more than sufficient to convey distinctly the meaning of each word. — Froni these observa- tions it appears, that the smaller parts of speech, namely, the articles, conjunctions, prepositions, &c. are, in general, obscurely and feebly expressed ; that the substantives, verbs, and more significant words, are firmly and distinctly pronounced ; and that the emphatical words, those which mark the meaning of a phrase, are pronounced with peculiar stress and energy, though varied according to the degree of their importance. Emphasis changes, not only the quantity of words, Reading and Recitation. 49 and syllables, but also, in particular cases, the seat of the accent. This is demonstrable from the fol- lowing examples : " He shall irzcrease, but I shall fc?ecrease." " There is a difference between giving and /orgiving." " In this species of composition, plau^ih'iWiy is much more essential than ^robabihty." In these examples, the emphasis requires the accent to be placed on syllables to which it does not com- monly belong. There is one error, against which it is particularly proper to caution the learner ; namely, that of multi- plying emphatical words too much. It is only by a prudent reserve in the use of them, that we can give them any weight. If they recur too often ; if a speaker or reader attempts to render every thing v^hich he expresses of high importance, by a multi- tude of strong emphases, we soon learn to pay little regard to them. To crowd every sentence with emphatical words, is like crowding all the pages of a book with Italic characters, which, as to the effect, is just the same as to use no such distinctions at all. PAUSES. Rule 7. — Relieve your voice at every stop ; slightly at a comma, more leisurely at a semi- colon, still more so at a colon, and completely at a period. But support your voice steadily and firmly, and pronounce the concluding words of the sentence with force and vivacity, rather than a languid cadence. Pauses are not only necessary to enable the reader or speaker to take breath without inconvenience ; but in order also to give the hearer a distinct percep- D 60 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. tion of the construction and meaning* of each sen ence, and a clear understanding of the whole. In all reading, and public speaking, the manag'e- ment of the breath requires a g-ood deal of care, so as not to oblige us to divide words from one another, which have so intimate a connection, that they ought to be pronounced with the same breath, and without the least separation. Many sentences are greatly injured, and the force of the emphasis totally lost, by the divisions being made in the wron^ place. To avoid this, every one, while he is speaking- or read- ing, should be careful to provide a full supply of breath for what he is to utter. It is a g-reat mistake to imagine that the breath must be drawn only at the end of a period. It may easily be gathered at the intervals of the period, when the voice is only suspended for a moment; and, by this management, one may always have a sufficient stock for carrying" on the longest sentence without improper interruption. Pauses in reading* and public discourse, must be formed upon the manner in which we express our- selves in ordinary sensible conversation ; and not upon any stiff artificial manner which is sometimes acquired. Practise the following examples of the various pauses. Sentences divided by a Comma. Prosperity grains friends, and adversity tries them. Sincerity and truth, form the basis of every virtue. No knowledfie can be attained, but by study. By the faults of others, wise men correct their own. Be more ready to forjjive, tlian to return an injury. When our vices leave us, we flatter ourselves we leave them. If you would be revenged on your enemies, let your life be blameless Disappointments and distress, are oMen Dlessmgs in ais- guise. It is wiser to prevent a quarrel beforehand, than to re- venge it alHerwards. 1 Reading cmd Recitation. 51 Sentences divided by two or three Commas, They who have nothing to give, can often afford relief to others, by imparting what they feel. Ingratitude is a crime so shameful, that the man was never yet found, who would acknowledge himself guilty of it. As you value the approbation of heaven, or the esteem of the world, cultivate the love of virtue. Be armed with courage against thyself, against thy pas* eions, and against flatterers. Riches, honours, pleasures, steal away the heart from re- ligion. Forget not, that the brightest part of thy life is nothing but a flower, which withers almost as soon as it has blown. Prepare for thyself, by the purity of thy manners, and thy love of virtue, a place in the happy seats of peace. Sentences divided by several Commas. The external misfortunes of life, disappointments, poverty and sickness, are light in comparison with those inward dis- tresses of mind, occasioned by folly, by passion and by guilt. Every leaf, every twig, every drop of water, teems with life. In the least insect there are muscles, nerves, joints, veins, arteries and blood. Luxury, pride, and vanity, have much influence in cor- rupting the sentiments of the great. Ignorance, bigotry, and prejudice, have much influence in corrupting the opinions of the multitude. The earth is adorned with a beautiful variety of moun- tains, hills, valleys, plains, seas, lakes, rivers, trees, flowers, plants, and animals. Human society requires distinctions of property, diver- sity of conditions, subordination of ranks, and a multi- plicity of occupations, in order to advance the genera! good. The astonishing multiplicity of created beinns. the won- derful laws of nature, the beaulif il arrauL^ement of the heavenly bodies, the eleirance of the vesretable world, the operations of arnmal life, and the ania/.my harrnony of the whole creation, loudly proclaim iht; wisdom of tne Deity. 52 Sentences divided by a Semicolon. Blame not before thou hast examined the truth; under* stand before thou dost rebuke. Make a proper use of your time ; for the loss of it can never be retrieved. A friend cannot be known in prosperity; and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity. Men's evil manners live in brass ; their virtues we write in water. Enjoy pleasure ; but enjoy it with moderation. Sport not with pain and distress; nor use the meanest insect with wanton cruelty. Envy not the appearance of happiness in any man, for Fou know not his secret griefs. The book is well written; and I have perused it with pleasure and profit. Sentences divided by several Semicolons. The shadow of knowledge passeth over the mind of man as a dream ; he seeth as in the dark; he reasoneth ; and is deceived. The wisdom of God is as the light of heaven ; he rea- Boneth not ; he is the fountain of truth. Every thing grows old ; everything passes away; every thing disappears. Every seed contains in it a plant of its own species ; this plant another seed; this seed another little plant; and so on without end. Some men are intent upon gathering riches; others en deavour to acquire reputation and honour; a third sort are devoted to their pleasures; and a few are engaged in the nobler pursuits of learning and wisdom. Sentences divided by a Colon. Apply thyself to learning: it will redound to thy honour. Read the Scriptures : they are the dictates of divine wis- dom. Fear God: he is thy creator and preserver. Do not insult a poor man: his misery entitles him to pity. All mankind want assistance: all therefore ought tc assist. A tear is sometimes the indication of a noble mind Jesus wept. Reading and Recitation. 53 A talkative man is a nuisance to society : the ear is sick of his babbling. The tongue of the sincere is rooted in his heart : hypocrisy and deceit have no place in his words. Paragraphs divided by several Periods, Beware of the seducing appearances which surround you. Recollect what others have suffered from the power of head- strong desire. By any passion your inward peace will be impaired. But any which has the taint of guilt, will ruin your tranquillity. Every man has some darling passion which generally affords the first introduction to vice. Irregular gratifica- tions are cautiously indulged in the beginning. But the power of habit grows. One vice brings in another lo its aid. By a sort of natural affinity they entwine themselves together. Their roots come lo be spread throughout the soul. Truth is the basis of every virtue. It is the voice of rea- son. Let its precepts be religiously obeyed. Never trans- gress its limits. Every deviation from truth is criminal. Abhor a falsehood. Let your words be ingenuous. Sin- cerity possesses the most powerful charm. It acquires the veneration of mankind. Its path is security and peace. It is acceptable to the Deity. Blessed are the pure in heart. THE VOICE. TONES AND INFLECTIONS. Attention to the tones and inflections of the voice is as essential in oratory, as the tuning of an instru. ment is in music. There are four modifications of the voice in speaking", namely : the Monotone, the Rising- Inflection, the Falling- Inflection, and the Circumflex. The Monotone is a sameness of sound on succes- sive syllables or w^ords, without any inflection of the voice, and may be represented by a horizontal line, thus - . The Rising Inflection turns the voice upward, and makes it end on a higher iiote than it began upon 64. AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. It may be represented by the mark of the acute accent ' . The Falhng Inflection turns the voice downward, causing- it to end on a lower note than it commenced upon ; and may be represented by the mark of the grave accent ^ . The Circumflex is the union of the two inflections upon the same syllable. When it commences with the rising inflection, it is called the Rising Circum- flex, and is marked thus ''; when with the falling, it is called the Falling Circumflex, and is represented thus'". Use of the Monotone. Rule 8. — The Monotone may be used with good effect in grave and elevated descriptions, and in the expression of emotions of sublimity and reverence, as in the following passage from Milton. High on a throne of royal state, which fur Outshone the wealth of Ormus, or of Ind, Or where the gorgeous east, with richest hand Showers on her kings barhuric, pearl and gold, Satan exalted sat ! Or in the following from one of Sheridan's speeches. The hour is not far distant when an awful knell shall tell you that the unburied remains of your revered patriot are oassing to that sepulchral home, where your kings — your heroes — your sages and your poets lie. Use of both Inflections. Rule 9. — The direct question, admitting the answer yes or no^ requires the Rising, and th*» Reading: and Recitation. 55 to fr^swer, the Falling Inflection. The followirtg are examples. Was it done in anger? JsTo. Did you not speak to it? My lord, I did. A' rmed^ say you ? JTrmed, my lord. From top to toe 7 My lord, from head to foot. Tiien saw you not liis face? O yes, my lord. Rule 10. — When the interrogation affects two objects taken disjundively, the former has the Rising, and the latter the Falling Inflection. Also when negation is opposed to affirmation^ the former has the Rising, and the latter the Falling Inflection. As in the folio wingf exam- ples. Will you go to-duij, or to-morroio1 Are you toiling for fume, or for fortune? Are they affluent, or indigent ? Choose not evil, but ^ooc? companions. Seek not for amusement, but for wisdom. Pray not for wealth, but for health. Rising Inflection. Rule 11. — The Rising Inflection is required in periodic sentences, consisting of several mem- bers, in which the sense is not complete, or the meaning is suspended till the close. The same is the case with emotions of grief, compassion, love and reverence. The following are exam- ples. Ye who listen with credulity to the whispers of fu7icy, and pursue with eagerness the phantoms of hope; who ex pect that uge will perform the promises of youth, and thaf 56 the deficiencies of the present day will be supplied by the morrow ; attend to the history of Rasselas, prince of Aby8< si III a. But not to me returns Day, or the sweet approach of ew'n or morn^ Or siffht of vernal bloevt, or summer's rose^ But clouds instead, &e. Falling Inflection, Bule 12. — The Falling Inflection is required in uttering language of terror, indignation, au- thority and contempt; also in a repetition of eniphatic words, or succession , of particulars, and in the final pause : as in the following ex- amples. Back to thy punishment,/r2Zse fugitive. Charge, Chester, charge! on, Stanley, bit! He who cannot persuade himself to withdraw from society, must be content to pay a tribute of his time to a multitude of tyrants; to the loiterer, who makes appoint- ments lie never keeps — to the consulter, who asks advice he never takes— to the boaster, who blusters only to be praised — to the projector, whose happiness is only to entertain his friends with expectations which all but himself know to be vain— to the ccovomist, who tells of bargains and settlevients — to the politician, who predicts the fate of battles and breach of alliances — to the usurer, who compares the dif- ferent funds — and to the talker who talks only because he Idves talking The Circumflex, Rule 13. — The Circumflex is employed where the language is sneering, hypothetical or ironical. To die— to sleep— wo more. He is more kndve, Ihan fool. Tell them too, we seek no change, 'east of all such change ds they would bring us. Reading and Recitation, 57 Fling down your sceptres— take the rod and axe, And make the murder sa^ you make the law. TVaitor ! I go — but I return. Yet this is Rome! That sits on her seven hills And from her throne of beauty rules the world. Yet we are Romans. Is she honest 1 Honest, my lord? Ay, htnest for aught I know. RULES FOR MANAGING THE VOICE. Rule 14. — Begin gently. Let the tone of voice, in reading and speaking, be natural and easy. Bule 15. — Increase the force of the voice, so that it may be heard by the most distant person in the room. But do not be boisterous : a clear articulation and moderate force of voice will be sufficient. Rule 16. — If the voice should have imper- ceptibly become too loud, begin the next sen- tence with a lower tone. Rule 17. — Vary the voice according to the nature of the subject; the solemn, the serious, the vehement, the familiar, the gay, the humor- ous, or the ironical. RULES FOR READING VERSE. Wherever a sentence, or a member of a sentence, would necessarily require the fulling inflection in prose, it ought always to have the same inflection in poetry. V 58 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers, And heavily in clouds brings on the day The great, the important day, Big with the fate of Cato and of Rome. Tlie word Rome should have the falling inflection : On the contrary, if the word Rome has the rising- in- flection, the whole will have a disagreeable whining tone. Wherever, in prose, the member or sentence would necessarily require the rising inflection, this inflec- tion must always be adopted in verse. Rule 18. — As the exact tone of the passion, or emotion, which verse excites, is not at first easy to hit, it will be proper always to begin a poem in a simple and almost prosaic style, and so proceed till w^e are w^armed with the subject, and feel the emotion we wish to express. Rule 19. — Almost every verse admits of a pause in or near the middle of the line, which is called the caesura ; this must be carefully observed in reading verse, or much of the dis- tinctness, and almost all the harmony will be lost. Thus : Nature to all things fixed tho limits fit, And wisely curbed proud nian's pretending wit. As on the land, while here the ocean gains, In other pans it leaves wide sandy plains ; Thus in the soul, while memory prevails. The solid power of understaiuling fails; Where beams of warm imagination play, The memory's soft figures melt away. These lines have seldom any points inserted in the middle, even by the most scrupulous punctuists ; Reading and Recitation. 59 and yet nothing can be more palpable to the ear, than that a pause in the first at things, in the second at curbed, in the third at land, in the fourth at parts , and in the fifth at soul, is absolutely necessary to the harmony of these lines ; and that the sixth, by ad- mitting no pause but at understanding, and the seventh none but at imagination, border very nearly upon prose. Rule 20. — At the end of every line in poetry there must be a pause proportioned to the inti- mate or remote connexion subsisting betv^een the two lines. Rule 21. — In order to form a cadence in a period in rhyming verse, we must adopt the fall- mg inflection with considerable force, in the cae- sura of the last line but one. One science only will one genius fit, So vast is art, so narrow human wit ; Not only bounded to peculiar arts. But oft in those confined Ri single parts; Like kings we lose the conquests gained before. By vain ambition still to make them more; Each might his several province well command, Would all but stoop to what they understand. In repeating these lines, we shall find it necessary to form the cadence, by giving the falling inflection with a little more force than common to the word province. Rule 22. — A simile in poetry ought always to be read in a lower tone of voice than that part of the passage which precedes it. i.-^ 'Twas then great Marlborough's mighty soul was proved, That in the shock of charging hosts unmoved. Amidst confijsion, horror and despair, Examined all the dreadful scenes of war; In peaceful thought the field of death surveyed, To fainting squadrons sent the timely aid; Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. iSo when an angel, by divine command. With rising tempests shakes a guilty land^ Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past: Calm and serene he drives the furious blast; And, pleased th' Almightifs orders to perform^ Rides on the whirlwind and directs the storm. Rule 23. — Where there is no pause in the sense at the end of the verse, the last word must have exactly the same inflection it would have in prose. O'er their heads a crystal firmament, Where on a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure Amber, and colours of the showery arch. In this example, the word pure must have the falling inflection, whether we make any pause at it or not, as this is the inflection the word would have, if the sentence were pronounced prosaically. For the same reason the words retired and went^ in the following" example, must be pronounced with the rising- inflection. At his command th' uprooted hills retired Each to his place ; they heard his voice and wint Obsequious ; heaven his wonted face renewed, And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. Rule 24. — Sublime, grand, and magnificent description in poetry, frequently requires a lower tone of voice, and a sameness nearly approach ing to a monotone, to give it variety. Rcadincr and Recitation. 61 Hence! loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born. In Stygian cave forlorn, ■:MoiTcre6 rocks. As ragged as thy locks, In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. In lepeating this passao-e, we shall find the dark- ness and horror of the cell wonderfully augmented, by pronouncing the eighth line, There, under ebon shades, and low-browed rocks, in a low monotone. JRuIe 25. — The Interrogation. An interro- gation generally requires a longer stop than a period ; because an ans\ver is either returned or implied : and consequently a proper interval of silence is necessary. Interrogative sentences are to be read with an elevation of the voice, as they are usually spoken in conversation. Practise the following examples. Have you seen your friend? Is he better or worse ? What caused his accident ? Is he abl^ to ride ? Do you believe such a tale? Are you so foolishly credulous? Do you expect to deceive rae? Am I void of reason? What man will venture further? Who then can charge me with cowardice? Who can view such misery without pity? Who can restrain liis tears? Do we not all need assistance ? Ought we tD withhold our aid? 62 Wherein does happiness consist ? In what scene of life is it to be found} Is it to bf3 purchased by riches? Can we obtain it by power? What think you of dress and equipage? What is your opinion of fame? Does felicity consist in amusements? Is it to be acquired by knowledfje ? Is it not to be derived from religion? Examples of Interrogations and Answers. Which now of these three, was neighbour to him that fell among thieves ? He that showed mercy to him. What is >our favourite pursuit ? The improvement of my mind. Can you forgive me, and be still my friend ? As firmly as have ever been. Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction? 'Tis the Divinity that stirs within us. Where are you now? and what is your amount? Vexa tion, disappointment, and remorse. To purchase heaven, has gold the power ? Can gold remove the mortal hour? In life, can love be bought with gold ? Are friendship's pleasures to be sold? No. All that 's worth a wish or thought, Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hands ? No. Dost thou then love him better than thyself? No; I love him as myself. Rule 26. — The Exclamation. An excla- mation requires an elevation of voice, and such a pause as may seem to ^ive room for a mo- mentary reflection. Practise the following ex amples. Hear me, O Lord ! for thy loving kindness is great I Reading and Recitation. 63 How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how is she become as a widow ! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary ! Fathers! Senators of Rome! the arbiters of nations ! to you I fly for refuge. I'll call thee, Hamlet ! King I Father ! Royal Dane ! oh i answer me! Eternity! thou pleasing dreadful thought ! How much vanity is in the pursuits of men ! Live! live! ye incomparable pair ! What a noble scene is before us ! How charming is the face of nature ! Behold the daughter of innocence! What a look ! what beauty ! what sweetness ! Behold a great and good man ! What majesty! how graceful! how commandingl venerable shade ! O illustrious hero ! Behold the etfects of virtue ! Leave me, oh ! leave me to repose! 1 am stripped of all my honours! I lie prostrate on thi earth ! Farewell ! a long farewell to all my greatness ! It stands, solid and entire! but it stands alone! and it stands amidst ruins ! How glorious are the works of God 1 How presumptuous is man ! Rule 27. — The Dash. The dash requires a pause somewhat less than a period. The pause should come upon the hearer unexpected ly ; and therefore there should be no preparatory inflection of the voice. Here lies the great— false m^irble, where 7 Nothing but sordid dust lies here. When the poor victims were bayoneted clinging round the kneas of the soldurrs ' woiild niv friend — but I cannot pursue tne strain or interrogation ! If thou art he, so much respected once — but oh ! how fallen! 64 I despaired at first, said the corporal, of being able to bring back year honour any kind of intelligence concern, ing the poor lieutenant — Is he of the army then 7 said my Uncle Toby. Base as thou art false— No. Art thou not— what?— a traitor? And God said— what?— Let there be light! And longer had she sung— but, with a frown, Revenge impatient rose. The manor, sir ?— " The manor— hold !" he cried, *' Not that — I cannot part with that" — and died. Bule 28. — The Parenthesis. In the follow- ing examples, read the former part of each sen- tence with a tone, suitable to the nature of the subject, and make a short pause with a suspend- ed voice. In the parenthesis, lower the voice and proceed more quickly. After the parenthesis is concluded, assume the same elevation with which you began. Know then this truth (enough for man to know). Virtue alone is happiness below. Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to them that know the law), how that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as he liveth ? My dear friend (said he to Mentor), you save my honour! Come (said she with a look of complacency), come into my habitation. This (replied the marchioness) is a painful separation. Remember (continued she with a sigh) your absent friend. An honest man (as Mr. Pope expresses himself) is the noblest work of God. Pride (to use the emphatical words of a sacred writer) was not made for man. I have seen charity (if charity it may be called) insult with an air of pity. Life in general (for exceptions are extremely few) is thrown away in sloth and trifling. The Tyrians were the first (if we may believe what is told us by writers of high antiquity) who learned the art of navigation. I am happy, said he (expressing himself with the warm* eei emotion), infinitely happy, in seeing you return. Reading and RecitatioTU 65 GESTURE. We are aware that some are opposed to tlie study of Gesture as an art. Among them there is none more distinguished than Archbishop Whately ; who contends, that the natural unstudied manner is that which is most becoming to every speaker. He re- marks, that he who is careful to follow the dictates of nature, will have the advantage of carrying within him an infallible guide ; and that by abstain- ing from all thoughts respectmg his action^ he will be the better able to fix his mind intently on the business he is engaged in. " Those," says he, " who cultivate a studied delivery, may be more successful in escaping censure and insuring admiration ; but he will far more surpass them in respect of the pro- per object of the orator, which is, to carry his points But so strong is the tendency to indicate vehe- ment internal emotion by some kind of outward gesture, that those who do not encourage or allow themselves in any, frequently fail unconsciously into some awkward trick of s-winging the body,* folding a paper, twisting a string, or the like. It is reason- able that the study of a graceful manner should pre- vent the formation of such modes of delivery ; and even the author just quoted admits, that if any one find himself naturally and spontaneously led to use, in speaking, a moderate degree of action, which he finds, from the observation of others, not to be un- graceful or inappropriate, there is no reason that he should repress this tendency. * Of one of the ancient Roman orators it was satirically remarked, on account of his having this habit, that he mnst have learned to speak in a boat. Of some other orators, whose favourite action is risinjj on tii^oe, it would jieriiaps have been said, thai they had been accustomed to address their audience over a high wall. S 66 AMERICAN orator's OWN B00& Althougli nature must be the groundwork, there is ample room for study and art. The study of action in public speaking- may be said to consist chiefly in guarding against awkward and disagreeable mo- tions, and in learning to perform such as are natura. to the speaker in the most becoming manner. The public speaker sfiould study to preserve as much dignity as possible in the whole attitude of the body. An erect posture is generally to be chosen ; stand- ing firm, so as to have the fullefc^t and freest com- mand of all his motions : any inclination which is used should be a little to the right ; and forwards toward the hearers, which is a natural expression of earnestness. As for the countenance, the chief rule is, that it should correspond with the nature of the discourse ; and when no particular emotion is ex- pressed, a serious and manly look is always the best. The eyes should never be fixed close on any one object, but move easily round the audience. In the motions made with the hands, consists the chief part of gesture in speaking. Motions performed by the left hand alone are not always offensive ; but it is natural for the right hand to be more frequently em- ployed. Warm emotions demand the motion of both hands corresponding together. But whether the orator gesticulates with one or both hands, it is an important rule, that all his motions should be free and easy. Narrow and straitened movements are generally ungraceful; for which reason, motions made with the hands should proceed from the shoul- der rather than from the elbow. Movements with the hands perpendicularly, which Shakspeare in Hamlet calls "sawing the air with the liand," are seldom good. Oblique motions are in general the most graceful. Too sudden and nimble motions should be likewise avoided : earnestness can be fully expressed without them. Shakspeare's direc- tions on this head are full of good sense : " use all Reading and Recitation. 67 o gently," says he, " and in the very torrent and tem- pest of passion, acquire a temperance that may give it smoothness." One word in regard to the time of action. The action employed must always precede somewhat the words it is to enforce : it must not be used after or daring their utterance. The former is always the natural order of action : while the latter suggests the idea of a person speaking to those who do not fully understand the language, and striving by signs to explain the meaning of what he has been saying. An emotion* struggling for utterance, pro- duces a tendency to a bodily gesture, to express that emotion more quickly than loords can be framed ; the words follow as soon as they can be spoken. And this being always the case with an earnest speaker, this mode of placing the action foremost, gives it (if it be otherwise appropriate) the appear- ance of strong and unfeigneil emotion, actually pre- sent in the mind. The reverse of this natural order would alone be sufficient to convert the action of Demosthenes himself into unsuccessful and ridicu- lous mimicry. We shall dismiss this portion of our w^ork with the rules subjoined below : premising, that they bear chiefly on the attitude and position of the speaker w^hen not actuated by any emotion, and that of course they are subject to modification when the contrary is the case, that is, when he is swa3"ed by any inward emotion or passion labouring to express itself They cannot, therefore, be considered as complete, or as embracing the whole subject: they are believed by the author to be as comprehensive as it is possible to make them, in subordination to the * Format enim natnra priiis nos intus ad omnem Fortuiiarum habitum; juvat, aut iinpellit ad iram, Aut ad hiinium moerore ^ravi deducit, et aiifiit : Po5t effert. animi inotus interprete lingua.— JTor. 68 AMERICAN ORATOR S OWN BOOK, paramount necessity of their being " few and short," in order to be of any practical value. A careful study of them, and withal a familiarity (to use the words of our introduction) " with the deportment ol those public speakers who possess elegance of man- ner, which is the most efficacious lesson :" will, he doubts not, put the student into possession of a suf- ficient knowledge of the art of Gesture for all ordi- nary purposes.* GESTURE FOR READING. Rule 29. — Rest the whole weiofht of the body on the right leg; the other just touching the ground, at the distance at which it would naturally fall, if lifted up to show that the body does not bear upon it. Let the knees be straight : and the body straight, )^et not perpen- dicular, but inclining to the right and rather f.ir- wards. Rule 30. — Hold the book in the left hand. Rule 31. — Look at those who are hearing as often as possible ; but do not lose the place or forget the words. Rule 32. — Elevate the right hand when any thing sublime, lofty, or heavenly, is expressed. * To those who are desirous of pursuing the study of the Art of Gesture, the author recommends the following works, viz.: Barber on Gesture. Russell's Rudiments of Gesture and especially Austin's Chironomia, This latter work is expensive, and not easily procurable; but it is deemed the lighest authority on the subject, and is the text-book of •^ibse who study for the stage. Reading and Recitation. 69 Rule 33. — Let the right hand (but not any ^ single finger) point downwards, when anything low or grovelling is expressed. GESTURE FOR SPEAKING. Rule 34. — Beo^in as in readinof. Let the w^hole weight of the body rest on the right leg; the other just touching the ground, at the distance at which it would naturally fall, if lift- ed up to show that the body does not bear upon i^ it. Let the knees be straight and firm, and the body straight, yet not perpendicular, but inclin- inor to the riorht and rather forwards. Let both arms hang in their natural place by the side. Rule 35. — As soon as the sentiment requires a gesture, let the right arm be held out, the palm open, the fingers straight and close, the thumb almost as distant from them as possible, and the flat of the hand neither vertical nor horizontal, but between both. Rule 36. — Durinof the utterance of the last word in the sentence, the right hand, as if life less, must drop down to the side. Rule 37. — When a change of position be- comes necessary, the body, without moving thf feet, must poise itself, on the left leg : the left hand must be raised exactly as the right one was 70 AMERICAN ORATOR S OWN BOOK. before, and continue in this position till the end of the sentence, and then drop as if lifeless. Rule 38. — Take care to end each sentence completely, before the next is begun. Rule 39. — In every movement of the arm, keep the elbow at a distance from the body. Rule 40. — Let the eyes be directed to those who are addressed ; excepting when the subject requires them to be raised. Rule 41. — Endeavour to suit the action to the word, enter into the sense and spirit of every passage, and feel what is expressed. This is the best guide to emphasis, tone and gesture. Discrimination and Retention. 71 PART 11. DISCRIMINATION AND RETENTION. The student having* acquired habits of correct enunciation and graceful deportment, it is unneces- sary to urge that they are to be preserved, during the exercises which are yet to be prescribed. Hitherto there has been no exertion of the intel- lect. The practices of readme and recitation, re- quire very little more of mental effort than patience and attention. To relate accurately any circumstance or reason- ing with which we are acquainted, needs all the requisites enumerated for good reading and recita- tion ; but to understand a subject clearly, and recol- lect it faithfully, there are also necessary, the addi- tional powers of Discrimiriation and Retention. The discrimination here required is the faculty of distinguishing the principal features of a narra- tive, description ,or argument : so as to collect them in the mind independently of its subordinate parts. Retention is the power of holding them in the mind after they have been thus discriminated. We have no ideas but of persons, objects and ac- tions ; and all we can do is to relate, describe, and reason on them. Hence the faculties of discrimi- nation and retention, can be employed only on Nar ratives, Descriptions, and Arguments. •^2 OF NARRATIVE. Rule 1. — Narrative is an account of evente; and of the persons or objects concerned in them. Rule 2. — The principal features of a narra- tive are expressed by nouns and verbs. Rule 3. — Narrative includes detached events, biography, and history. Rule 4. — Detached events are single circum- stances, generally preserved on account of some particular instruction or amusement vi^hich they convey. Such are fables, anecdotes, &c. Rule 5. — When the principal nouns and verbs of a fable, &c. are collected together, they con- tain its real substance. The following are examples : A dog crossing a little rivulet with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow represented in the water, and believing it to be another dog, who was carrying another piece of flesh, he could not forbear catching at it ; but was so far from getting any thing by his greedy design, that he dropped the piece he had in his mouth, which immediately Bunk to the bottom, and was irrecoverably lost. In this fable the principal nouns are — dog, flesh, shadow, water. The principal verbs are — saw, be- lieving, catching, dropped, lost. These nouns and verbs collected together, repre- sent, with very little assistance, the sub^ance of tho fable: thus — A dog with flesh saw his shadow in the water ; (believing it to be another dog, with an- other piece of flesh) catching at it, dropped the flesh, and lost it. Discrimination and Retention. 73 In the following- examples, the principal nouns and verbs are distinguished by italics : A coachman hearing one of the wheels of his coach creak, was surprised ; but more especially when he perceived that it was the worst v)heel of the whole set, and which he thought had but little pretence to take such a liberty. But upon his demanding the reason wliy it did so, the wheel replied, that it was natural for people who laboured under any affliction or infirmity to complain. The tortoise, weary of his condition, by which he w^as con- fined upon the ground, and being ambitious to have a pros pect and look about him, gave out, that if any bird would take him up into the air, and show him the world, he w^ould reward him with a discovery of many precious stones, which he knew were hidden in a certain place of the earth: the ea^-Ze undertook to do as he desired; and when he had jt/er/ormerf his commission, demanded the reward: but find- ing the tortoise could not make good his words, he struck his talons into the softer parts of his body, and made him a sacrifice to his revenge. Agesilaus, king of Sp rta, being asked, what things he thought most proper for boys to learn, answered, " Those which they ought to practise when they come to be men." A wiser than Agesilaus has inculcated the same sentiment : " Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Sir Philip Sidney, at the battle near Zutphen, was wounds ed by a musket-ball, which broke the bone of his thigh. He was carried about a mile and a half, to the camp ; and being faint with the loss of blood, and probably parched with thirst, through the heat of the weather, he called for drink. It was immediately brought to him: but as he was putting the vessel to his mouth, a poor wounded soldier, who happen- ed at that instant to be carried by him, looked up to it with wishful eyes. The gallant and generous Sidney took the bottle from his mouth, and delivered it to the soldier, saying, *' Thy necessity is yet greater than mine." Rule 6. — Detached events are sometimes used to inculcate a moral principle or opinion to which the fable or anecdote evidently leads. 76 AMERIfJAN orator's OWN BOOK. ling. Tho pomp of his attendance, the glitter of the carved plat(3, and the delicacy of the viands, cease to afford him any pleasure. He dreads to stretch forth his hand to the table. He throws off the garland of roses. He hastens to remove from his dangerous situation ; and earnestly en- treats to be restored to his former humble condition, having no desire to enjoy any longer a happiness so terrible. By this device, Dionysius intimated to Damocles, how miserable he was in the possession of all the wealth, hon- ours and enjoyments which royalty could bestow. Rule 8. — Detached events sometimes convey in themselves a principle or admonition ; so that the object requires neither previous nor subse- quent explanation. In the following- example, the principle or moral IS distinguished by italics : An old man had many sons, who were often falling out with one another. When the father had exerted his au- thority, and used other means in order to reconcile them, and ail to no purpose, at last he had recourse to this expedi- ent ; he ordered his sons to be called before him, and a short bundle of sticks to be brought; and then commanded them, one by one, to try, if, with all their might and strength, they could any of them break it. They all tried, but to no purpose, for the sticks being closely and compactly bound up together, it was impossible for the force of man to do it. After this, the father ordered the bundle to be untied, and gave a single stick to each of his sons, at the same time bidding hijn try to break it. Which when each did with ali imaginable ease, the father addressed himself to them to this eflect : "O my sons, behold the power of unity ! For if you, in like manner, would but keep yourselves strictly con- joined in the bonds of friendship, it would not be in the power of any mortal to hurt you ; but when once the ties of brotherly affection are dissolved, how soon do you fall to pieces, and are liable to be violated by every injurious hand liiat assaults you." Rule 9. — Biography is a successive account, of the events which have affected or distinguish ed particular individuals. Discrimination and Retention, 77 In every biographical narrative there are som-e peculiar circumstances, by which the person's life has been rendered remarkable. The business of the student will be to observe them, and to acquire the habit of discriminating them. In the following examples these characteristics are pointed out, by being printed in italics. The account of any man's life always inclines to the faculty, propensity, or quality for which h(i was remarkable. If he were remarkably good, his biog- raphy consists, in the greater part, of instances of his goodness. If he were wise, it is chiefly formed of the proofs of his judgment. Now, as goodness is various, and as wisdom, learning, and power are equally so, the pupil, in order to understand and remember any biographical account, will observe the following. Rule 10. — In biography, observe the particu- lar qualities for which the person is admired or esteemed ; and the instances which are given of those qualities. WILSON, THE ORNITHOLOGIST. He was a Scotchman by birth. The first years of his resi- dence in this country were devoted to school-keepi-n g in Pennsylvania. An early acquaintance with the venerable Bartrani kindled within him a love of science ; and after he commenced his ornithological inquiries, he pursued them for the remaining short period of his life with an enthusiasm, perseverance, and self-devotion, which have rarely been equalled. He died in Philadel{)hia, Ausust 23d, 1813, at the age of forty-seven. His American Ornithology, executed under every possible disadvantage, and with enci)uragement so slender, as hardly to keep him from the heavy pressure of want, is a monument to his name that will never decay. The old world and the new will regard it with equal admi ration. " We may add without hesitation," says Mr. Bona- parte, " that such a work as he has published in a new country, is still a desideratum in EyiToi)e." To accomplish 80 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. CHARACTER OF CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL. This extraordinary man, without the aid of fancy, with, out the advantages of person, voice, attitude, gesture, or any of the ornaments of an orator, deserves to be consider- ed as one of the most eloquent men in the world; if elo- quence may be said to consist in the power of seizing the attention with irresistible force, and never permitting it to elude the grasp until the hearer has received the conviction which the speaker intends. His voice is dry and hard ; his attitude, in his most effec- live orations, was often extremely awkward, as it was not unusual for him to stand witb his left foot in advance; while all his gesture proceeded from his right arm, and con- sisted merely in a vehement, perpendicular ^wing of it, from about the elevation of his head to the bar, behind which he was accustomed to stand. As to fancy, if she hold a seal in his mind at all, which I very much doubt, his gigantic genius tramples with dis- daiin on all her flower-decked plats and blooming paiterres. How, then, you will ask, with a look of incredulous curi- osity, — how is it possible that such a man can hold the attention of an audience enchained through a speech of even ordinary length? I will tell you. He possesses one original, and almost supernatural faculty, — the faculty o{ developing a subject by a single glance of his mind, and detecting at once the very point on which every controversy depends. No matter what the question : though ten times more knotty than "the gnarled oak," the lightning of heaven is not more rapid nor more resistless than his astonishing penetration. Nor does the exercise of it seem to cost him an eflbrt. On the contrary, it is as easy as vision. I am persuaded tliat his eyes do no! fly over a landscape, and lake in its various objects with more promptitude and facility, than his mind embraces and analyzes the most complex subject. Possessing while at the bar this intellectual elevation, which enabled him to look down and comprehend the whole ground at once, he determined, immediately, and without difficulty, on which side the question might be most advan tageously approached and assailed. In a bad cause, his art consisted in laying his premises so remotely from the poiri' directly in debate, or else in terms so general and specious, that the hearer, seeing no consequence which could ba drawn from them, was just as willing to admit them as not j but. his premises once admitted, the demonstration, how ever distant, followed as certaiiily, as cogently, and as ine vitably, as any demonstration of Euclid. Discrimination and Retention. 81 .All his eloquence consists in the apparently deep sett con- mction and emphatic earnestness of his manner; the cor- respondent shnplicity and energy of his style; the close and logical connexion of his thoughts; and the easy gradations by which he opens his lights on the attentive minds of his hearers. The audience are never permitted to pause for a moment. There is no stopping to weave garlands of flowers to be hung in festoons around a favourite argument. On the contrary, every sentence is progressive; every idea sheds new light on the subject; the listener is kept perpetually in that sweetly pleasurable vibration, with which the mind of man always receives new- truths; the dawn advances in easy but unremitting- pace; the subject opens gradually on the view; until, rising in high relief in all its native col- ours and proportions, the argument is consummated by the conviction of the delighted hearer.— Wirt. Rule 11. — History is a successive and con- nected account of the events which have affected particular nations or people. Such are, the his- tory of England ; the history of the Jews, &c. Rule 12. — The substance of history is term- ed chronology, which is merely a list of the events which have occurred to any nation or people, with the dates w^hen each of those events happened. The limits of this work do not admit examples of this branch of composition. It is mentioned here, in order to complete an arrangement which includes every species of writing-. But, in order to assist the pupil in the habits of understanding, dis- criminating, and retaining, what he reads or hears of history ; let him adhere to the following precepts : Rule 13. — Observe the geographical situation of the country w^here the events took place ; its latitude and longitude, climate, the countries ad- joining, &c. 82 AMERICAN orator's C WN BOOK. Rule 14. — Ascertain the chronology of the events; and observe what was passing at the same time in the countries with which that one under consideration had intercourse. Rule 15. — Remark what the religion of the people is, and its particular ceremxjnies. Rule 16. — Observe what the government is : whether monarchical (consisting of one person, as a king) ; arisiocratical (consisting of several persons, as nobles, who enjoy the dignity by descent) ; democratical (consisting of persons chosen by the people, as in the United States) ; mixed (consisting of these together, as that of Great Britain) ; ecclesiastical (consisting of priests, or tbose appointed by ministers of re- ligion) ; or military (consisting of persons ap pointed or supported by the army). OF THE DESCRIPTIVE Rule 17. — A description is a detail of the particular circumstances, by which persons, places, and objects are distinguished from the rest of their species. In the following examples, the distinguished cir- cumstances are printed in italics. Rule 18. — The description of a person some- times refers only to the figure and countenance. Discrvmination and Retention. 83 PERSON OF PATRICK HENRY. He was nearly six feet high; spare, and what may be call- ed raw-honed, with a slight stoop of the shoulders; his com- plexion was dark, sunburnt, and sallow, without any ap- pearance of blood in his cheeks — his countenance grave, thoughtful, penetrating, and strongly marked with the linea- men'^s of deep reflection — the earnestness of his manner, unitti ivith an hahirual contraction or knitting of his brows, and those lines of thought with which his face was profuse- ly /Mrro^^e<^, gave to his countenance, at some times, the appearance of sci;eni?/ — yet such was the power which he had over its expression, that he could shake off from it in an instant all the sternness of winter, and robe it in the brightest smiles of spring. His forehead was high and straight; yet forming a sufficient angle with the lower part of his face — his nose somewhat of the Roman stamp, though, like that which we see in the bust of Cicero, it was rather long, than remarkable for its Csesarean form— of the colour of his eyes, the accounts are almost as various as those which we have of the colour of the chameleon — they are said to have been blue, grey, what I^avater calls green, hazel, brown, and black — the fact seems to have been, that they were of a bluish grey, not large ; and being deeply fixed in his head, overhung by dark, long and fuh eyebrows, and farther shaded by lashes that were both loilg and black, their apparent colour was as variable as the lights in which they were seen — but all concur in sayinff that they were, un- questionably, the finest feature in his face— 6riZZm7?i— full of spirit, and capable of the most rapidly shifting and power- ful expression — at one time piercing and terrible as those of Mars, and then again soft and tender as those of Pity her- self—his cheeks were holloio—h'xB chin long, but well formed, and rounded at the end, so as to form a proper counterpart to the upper part of his face. It is difficult to describe his mouth ; in which there was nothing remarkable except vshen about to express a modest dissent from some opinion on which he was commenting— he then had a sort of half smile in which the want of conviction was perhaps more strongly expressed, than the satirical emotion, which probably prompted it. His manner and address to the court and jury might be deemed the excess of humility, diffidence, and modesty. If, as rarely happened, he had occasion to answer any remark from the bench, it was impossible for meekness herself to assume a manner less presumptuous — but in the smile which has just been spoken of, you might anticipate the want of conviction, expressed in his answer, at the moment that he submitted to the superior wisdom of the b4 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. court, with a grace that would have done honour to West- minster Hall.. In his reply to counsel, his remarks on the evidence, and on the cojidiict of tlie parties, he presf^rved the sanje distinguished deference and politeness, still ac- companied, however, by the never-failing index of this scepti- cal sruilfi, where the occasion prompted. In short, his fea tures were manly, bold^ and well proportioned, full of intelligence, and adapting themselves intuitively to every sentiment of his mind and every feeling of his heart. — Wirt. PERSON OF MARSHALL. The chief justice of the United States is in his person tall^ meager, emaciated ; his muscles relaxed, and his joints so loosely connected, as not only to disqualify him, apparently, for any vigorous exertions of body, but to destroy every thing like elegance and harmony in his air and movements, fndeed, in his whole appearance and demeanour, — dress, ..Utitudes, and gesture— sitting, standing, or walking— he is ris far removed from the idolized graces of Lord Chesterfield, r>s any other gentleman on earth. To continue the por- t rait: his head and face are small in proportion to his height ; his complexion swarthy; the muscles of his face, being re- laxed, give him the appearance of a man of fifty years of age, nor can he be much younger. His countenance has a faithful ex{)ression of great good-humour and hilarity ; while his black eyes— thHt mieYvinn index — possess an irradiating ^spirit, which proclaims the imperial powers of the mind i. hat sits enthroned within. — Wirt. Rule 19. — The description of a person some- dmes refers only to the manners. Example : MANNERS OF PATRICK HENRY. He was, throughout life, negligent of his dress: but this, it is apprehended, applied rather to his habits in the coun- try, than to his appearance in public. At the bar of the general court, he always appeared in a full suit of hlac^ cloth, or velvet, and a tie wig, which was dressed and pow- dered in the highest style of forensic fashion ; in the winter season, too, according to the costume of the day, he wore, o- er his other apparel, an ample cloak of scarlet cloth ; and thtis attired, made a figure bordering on grandeur. While Discrimination and Retention. St he filled the executive chair, he is said to have beoii justly attentive to his dress and appearance; 'not being dispoiied to afford the occasion of humiliating comparisojis between the past and present government." He had long since, too, laid aside the offensive rusticity of h'\)^ juvenile manners. His manners, indeed, were still nnos- tentotious, frank, and simple; but they had all that natural ease and unaffected gracefulness, which distinguish the cir- cles of the polite and well-bred. On occasions, too, where state and cefemony were expected, there was no man who could act better his part. In general, his manners were those of the plain Virginian gentleman., kind— open— candid and conciliating — warm without insincerity, and polite w'Wh- out pomp — neither chilling by his reserve, nor fatiguing by his loquacity — buX adapting himself, without an effort, to the character of his company. He would be pleased and cheerful with persons of any class or condition, vicious and abandoned persons only excepted ; he preferred those of character and talents, but would be amused with any who could contribute to his amusement. He had himself a vein of pleasantry, which was extremely amusing, without de tracTing from his dignity. His companions, although per- fectly at their ease with him, were never known to treat him with degrading familiarities. Their love and their respect for Iiim equally forbade it. Nor had they any dread of an assault upon their feelings ; for there was nothing cruel in his wit. The tomahawk and scalping-knife were no part of his colloquial apparatus. He felt no pleasure in seeing the victim writhe under his stroke. The benignity of his spirit could not have borne such a sight, without torture. He found himself happiest, in communicating happiness tc others. His conversation was instructive and delightful, stately where it should be so, but in the general, easy^ familiar, sprightly and entertaining ; always, however, good humoured, and calculated to amuse without wounding. —Wirt. Rule 20. — The description of a person some- times refers only to the intellect. DOCTOR ROBERTSON. The genius of Dr. Robertson w'as not of that forwara and irregular growth, which forces itself prematurely on public notice: and it was only a few intimate and discerning friends, who, in the native vigour of liis powers, and in ihe patient culture by which he laboured to improve them, per- ceived the dawn of his future eminence. He possessed an early and enthusiastic love of study. 66 AMERICAN orator's OWN BOOK. Much and often would he muse on other times, and deceit with the hards and sages, whose names are written in the books of fame and of eteriiily. His studies and his medita- tions were an habitual poetry. His fancy wandere