In comparison with these great speakers as to style, it may be asserted that amongst modern orators, speakers are to be found who are as great in some separate qualities, if not in all. Thus it may be maintained, for instance, that Lord Chatham was as dignified and earnest as Demosthenes, that Fox was as simple and massive, and that Burke was as vehement and manly. So, also, it may be argued that Sheridan was as pointed and sarcastic as Cicero; Curran as lofty and dignified; Brougham as crushing and severe; Bossuet as impressive; and Canning as felicitous in illustration and argument. Granting, therefore, that no single modern orator is alone as great as either of the speakers referred to, it may be safely said, that they separately exhibit the same qualities and excellences of style.

It may be further said, on behalf of modern Oratory in general, that in richness of illustration and beauty of style (by beauty is here meant appropriateness of imagery, and elegance of language), the modern Orators far surpass their great progenitors. The vast accumulations of knowledge -and the incalculable produce of new mines of thought which have been gathered together in modern times, have given to our Orators resources of reference, illustration, and proof which the Orators of old were entirely without. If a speech of Demosthenes' or Cicero's be perused by the

side of a speech of Brougham's or Macaulay's, it will be seen at once that where the olden Orators were obliged to appeal to abstract reason, the modern Orators are enabled to refer triumphantly to irresistible facts, in support of their positions. As to aim and effect it may be said by the favourers of ancient Oratory, that the endeavours of Demosthenes to rouse effeminate Greece against the invader of her freedom and the unceasing efforts of Cicero to keep inviolate the rights and privileges of his fellow-countrymen, are aims as high, if not higher, than any seen in modern times. The effect these Orators produced is seen not merely in the applause and success which they immediately experienced, but in the intelligible and striking fact that they have remained the acknowledged masters and models of speech from their day to our own.

The favourers of modern Oratory may assert, on the other hand, that our own speakers have aimed higher, and done more. They may point triumphantly to the efforts of Brougham to exterminate the slave trade-of Pitt, to procure the honour and independence of his country- of Chalmers, to connect, and mutually prove, natural and revealed religion-of Grattan, to demand right and justice for his injured nation of Romilly, to reform our barbarous laws and of Sheridan to keep pure the administration of justice.

A striking result in favour of modern Oratory, may be obtained by comparing the celebrated Oration of Cicero against Verres, with Sheridan's Invective against Warren Hastings. Cicero declaims against Verres because he has infringed the rights of citizenship—the peculiar privileges of the Roman State. His great point against the culprit is - not that he has condemned a Roman citizen to death - but to death like a slave. He calls on the Senate to chastise, not the cruelty-not the injustice not the treason of Verres-but his

-

contempt and insolence. In a word, he speaks for Privilege and Pride.

But Sheridan, in his denunciation of Hastings, takes far loftier ground. Spurning the arbitrary distinctions of "citizen" and "slave," he takes his stand on the broad field of humanity, and demands equality of right for all who bear the human form. He ranks the man above the citizen, and so shows himself the nobler Orator.

See BROUGHAM'S ESSAY ON THE ELOQUENCE OF THE ANCIENTS.-COLLECTED WORKS, vol. iv. SHERIDAN'S PANEGYRIC ON DEMOSTHENES. WHATELEY'S RHETORIC.

HUME'S ESSAY ON ELOQUENCE.

QUESTION:

Is the Character of Napoleon Bonaparte to be admired?

No character being absolutely bad or good, we can only arrive at judgment of character by striking a balance between the good qualities and the bad ones this must, therefore, be done in the case before us.

The points to be admired in Bonaparte's cha

racter are

I. His clear, keen, vigorous intellect.

This enabled him to see the position of France
at the time of the Revolution to profit by
the emergency-and to raise upon the ruins.
of Faction, a strong and popular throne.
It is seen in his choice of generals and
statesmen in his manner of disposing a
field of battle-in his military manœuvres-
in his political government-in the celebrated
Code Napoleon in the rapidity of his con-
ceptions, and the inexhaustibleness of his
inventions.

II. His energy of purpose and action.

There was no trifling or wavering in him

he

instantly executed the plans he conceived. Difficulties never daunted, but always stimulated, him. Witness his crossing of the Alps - his expedition to Egypt - his march to Moscow.

III. His courage, boldness, and presence of mind.. He never falters never shrinks he is

always cool, guarded, and himself. — His schemes are invariably massive, great, and daring.

In brief

to use the wordsof Channing-the greatness of Napoleon was the greatness of action: the sublime power of conceiving bold and extensive plans, and of constructing and bringing to bear on them a complicated machinery of means, energies, and arrangements. He raised himself from obscurity to a throne, and changed the face of the world. So far he was great, and such greatness we must admire.

But he had many faults: notice first

His inhumanity :

He was perfectly reckless of human life, and would sacrifice all under his command to gain his ends. Jaffa Acre and the murders of the Duc D'Enghien, Wright, and Pichegru, will soil his name for ever.