arbitrary figns by which our conceptions and judgments are communicated; and for this end they are commonly fufficient; but we find them very inadequate to the purpofe of expreffing our feelings. If any one need a proof of this, let him read fome dramatic fpeech expreffive of ftrong paffion (for example, Shakspeare's speech of Hamlet to the Ghoft*) in the fame unimpaffioned manner in which he would read an ordinary article of intelligence. Even in filent reading, where the subject interefts the paffions, every one who is not deftitute of feeling, whilft he understands the meaning of the words, conceives the expreffion that would accompany them, if they were spoken:

THE language of paffion is uniformly taught by Nature, and is every where intelligible. It confifts in the ufe of tones, locks, and geftures. When anger, fear, joy, grief, love, or any other paffion is raifed within us, we naturally discover it by the manner in which we utter our words, by the features of the face, and by other wellknown figns. The eyes and countenance, as well as the voice, are capable of endless variety of expreffion, faited to every poffible diverfity of feeling; and with thefe the general air and gefture naturally accord. The use of this language is not confined to the more vehement paffions. Upon every subject and occafion on which we fpeak, fome kind of feeling accompanies the words; and this feeling, whatever it be, has its proper expreffion.

Ir is an effential part of elocution, to imitate this language of Nature. No one can deferve the appellation of a good fpeaker, much lefs of a complete orator, who does not, to a diftinct articulation, a ready command of voice, and juft pronunciation, accent, and emphafis, add the various expreffions of emotions and paffions. But in this part of his office precept can afford him little affistance.

*Book viii. Chap. 28.

To

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To defcribe in words the particular expreffion, which belongs to each emotion and paffion, is, perhaps, wholly impracticable. All attempts to enable men to become orators, by teaching them, in written rules, the manner in which the voice, countenance, and hands, are to be employed in expreffing the paffions, muft, from the nature of the thing, be exceedingly imperfect, and consequently ineffectual.

UPON this head, I fhall therefore only lay down the following general precept: obferve the manner in which the feveral paffions and feelings are expreffed in real life; and when you attempt to express any paffion, infpire yourfelf with that fecondary kind of feeling, which imagination is able to excite; and follow your feelings with no other restraint, than "this fpecial obfervance, that you O'ERSTEP NOT THE MODESTY OF NATURE,"

THE fame general principles, and rules of Elocution, are applicable to Profe and to Verfe. The accent and general emphafis fhould be the fame in both: and where the verfification is correct, the melody will fufficiently appear, without any facrifice of fenfe to found. There is one circumftance, indeed, peculiar to the reading of poetry, which is, that the paufe of fufpenfion is here more frequently ufed than in profe, for the fake of marking the corresponding lines in rhiming couplets or ftanzas, or to increase the melody of blank verfe. It is alfo defirable, where it can be done without injuring the fenfe, that a fhort pause should be made at the end of every line, and, that verfes confifting of ten or more fyllables should, in fome part, be broken by a reft or cæfura.

In the application of the Rules of Elocution to practice, in order to acquire a juft and graceful elocution, it will be neceffary to go through a regular courfe of exercises; beginning with fuch as are more eafy, and proceeding by

flow steps to fuch as are more difficult. In the choice of thefe, the practitioner fhould pay a particular attention to his prevailing defects, whether they regard articulation, command of voice, emphafis, or cadence: and he should content himself with reading and fpeaking with an imme. diate view to the correcting of his fundamental faults, before he aims at any thing higher. This may be itkfome and disagreeable; it may require much patience and refolution; but it is the only way to fucceed. For if a man cannot read fimple fentences, or eafy narrative or didactic pieces, with diftinct articulation, juft emphafis, and proper tones, how can he expect to do juftice to the fublime defcriptions of poetry, or the animated language of the paffions?

IN performing these exercises, the learner fhould daily read aloud by himself, and as often as he has opportunity, under the correction of an inftructor or friend. He fhould alfo frequently recite compofitions from memory. This method has feveral advantages. It obliges the fpeaker to dwell upon the ideas which he is to exprefs, and hereby enables him to difcern their particular meaning and force, and gives him a previous knowledge of the feveral inflexions, emphases, and tones, which the words require by taking off his eye from the book, it in part relieves him from the influence of the school-boy habit of reading in a different key and tone from that of converfation; and it affords greater fcope for expreffion in tones, looks, and gefture.

Ir were much to be wished, that all public speakers would deliver their thoughts and fentiments, either from memory, or immediate conception: for, befide that there is an artificial uniformity which almost always diftinguishes reading from fpeaking; the fixed pofture, and the bending of the head, which reading requires, are inconfiftent with the freedom, eafe, and variety of juft elocution.

But,

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

I HAVE only to add, that after the utmost-pains have been taken to acquire a juft elocution, and this with the greatest fuccefs, there is fome difficulty in carrying the art of speaking out of the school, or chamber, to the bar, the fenate, or the pulpit. A young man, who has been accuftomed to perform frequent exercifes in this art in private, cannot eafily perfuade himself, when he appears before the public, to confider the business he has to perform in any other light, than as a trial of skill, and a difplay of oratory. Hence the character of an Orator is often treated with ridicule, fometimes with contempt. We are pleased with the easy and graceful movements, which the true gentleman has acquired by having learned to dance; but we are offended by the coxcomb, who is always exhibiting his formal dancing-bow, and minuetftep. So we admire the manly eloquence and noble ardour of the Senator employed in the caufe of justice and freedom; the quick recollection, the ingenious reasoning, and the ready declamation of the accomplished Barrifter; and the dignified fimplicity and unaffected energy of the Sacred Inftructor; but when, in any one of thefe capacities, a man fo far forgets the ends and degrades the confequence of his profeffion, as to fet himself forth under the character of a Spouter, and to parade it in the ears of the vulgar with all the pomp of artificial eloquence, though the unfkilful may gaze and applaud, the judicious

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

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cannot but be grieved and difgufted. Avail yourself, then, of your skill in the Art of Speaking, but always employ your powers of elocution with caution and modesty ; remembering, that though it be defirable to be admired as an eminent Orator, it is of much more importance to be refpected, as an able Lawyer, a useful Preacher, or a wife and upright Statesman.

ESSAY II.

ON READING WORKS OF TASTE.

MULTA magis quam MULTORUM lectione formanda mens, ducendus eft color.

et

QUINTIL.

READING can be confidered as a mere amusement, only by the most vulgar, or the moft frivolous part of mankind. Every one, whom natural good sense and a liberal educasion have qualified to form a judgment upon the subject, will acknowledge, that it is capable of being applied to an endless variety of ufeful purposes. This is, indeed, fufficiently evident, without any studied proof, from the nature of the thing. For, what is reading, but a method of conferring with men who in every age have been most distin guifhed by their genius and learning, of becoming acquainted with the result of their mature reflections, and of contemplating at leifure the finished productions of their inventive powers? From fuch an intercourfe, conducted with a moderate share of caution and judgment, it must be impoffible not to derive innumerable advantages.