either in his conduct or in his public performances, it will never fail to injure their effect. On the contrary, it is well known, that as, in the other profeffions, the fpeaker's private life is but very little minded, fo there are many things which, though they would be accounted nowife unfuitable from the bar or in the fenate, would be deemed altogether unbefitting the pulpit.

It was affirmed that the confequence of the fpeaker's own character in furthering or hindering his fuccefs, depends in fome measure on the character of thofe whom he addreffeth. Here alfo it will be found, on inquiry, that the preacher labours under a manifest disadvantage. Moft congregations are of that kind, as will appear from the article immediately fucceeding, which, agreeably to an observation made in the former chapter, very much confiders who speaks; those addressed from the bar, or in the fenate, almoft folely confider what is fpoken.

SECTION II.

In regard to the perfons addressed.

THE fecond particular mentioned as a ground of comparison, is the confideration of the character of the hearers, or more properly the per

fons

fons addreffed. The neceffity which a fpeaker is under of fuiting himself to his audience, both that he may be understood by them, and that his words may have influence upon them, is a maxim fo evident as to need neither proof nor illuftration.

Now the first remark that claims our attention here is, that the more mixed the auditory is, the greater is the difficulty of fpeaking to them with effect. The reafon is obvious, what will tend to favour your fuccefs with one, may tend to obftruct it with another. The more various therefore the individuals are, in refpect of age, rank, fortune, education, prejudices, the more delicate must be the art of preferving propriety in an addrefs to the whole. The pleader has, in this refpect, the fimpleft and the easiest task of all, the judges to whom his oration is addreffed, being commonly men of the fame rank, of fimilar education, and not differing greatly in respect of ftudies or attainments. The difference in these respects is much more confiderable when he addreffes the jury. A fpeaker in the house of peers hath not fo mixt an auditory as one who harangues in the houfe of commons. And even here, as all the members may be fuppofed to

have been educated as gentlemen, the audience is not nearly fo promifcuous as were the popular affemblies of Athens and of Rome, to which their demagogues declaimed with fo much vehemence, and fo wonderful fuccefs. Yet, even of thefe, women, minors, and fervants, made no part.

WE may therefore juftly reckon a chriftian. congregation in a populous and flourishing city, where there is great variety in rank and education, to be of all audiences the most promifcuous. And though it is impoffible, that, in fo mixed a multitude, every thing that is advanced by the speaker fhould, both in fentiment and in expreffion, be adapted to the apprehenfion of every individual hearer, and fall in with his particular prepoffeffions, yet it may be expected, that whatever is advanced fhall be within the reach of every clafs of hearers, and fhall not unneceffarily fhock the innocent prejudices of any. This is ftill, however, to be understood with the exception of mere children, fools, and a few others, who, through the total neglect of parents or guardians in their education, are grofsly ignorant. Such, though in the audience, are not to be confidered as conftituting a part of it.

But

But how great is the attention requifite in the fpeaker in fuch an affembly,. that, whilft on the one hand he avoids, either in ftyle or in fentiment, foaring above the capacity of the lower clafs, he may not, on the other, fink below the regard of the higher. To attain fimplicity without flatnefs, delicacy without refinement, perfpicuity without recurring to low idioms and fimilitudes, will require his utmost care.

ANOTHER remark on this article that deferves our notice, is, that the lefs improved in knowledge and difcernment the hearers are, the eafier it is for the fpeaker to work upon their paffions, and by working on their paffions, to obtain his end. This, it must be owned, appears, on the other hand, to give a confiderable advantage to the preacher, as in no congregation can the bulk of the people be regarded as on a footing, in point of improvement, with either house of parliament, or with the judges in a court of judicature. It is certain, that the more grofs the hearers are, the more avowedly may you addrefs yourself to their paffions, and the lefs occafion there is for argument; whereas, the more intelligent they are, the more covertly muft you operate on their paffions, and the more

attentive

attentive muft you be in regard to the juftness, or at least the fpecioufnefs of your reasoning: Hence fome have ftrangely concluded, that the only scope for eloquence is in haranguing the multitude; that in gaining over to your purpose men of knowledge and breeding, the exertion of oratorical talents hath no influence. This is precifely as if one fhould argue, becaufe a mob is much eafier fubdued than regular troops, there is no occafion for the art of war, nor is there a proper field for the exertion of military skill, unless when you are quelling an un-, difciplined rabble. Every body fees in this cafe, not only how abfurd fuch a way of arguing would be, but that the very reverfe ought to be the conclufion. The reafon why people do not fo quickly perceive the abfurdity in the other cafe, is, that they affix no diftinct meaning to the word eloquence, often denoting no more by that term than fimply the power of moving the paffions. But even in this improper acceptation, their notion is far from being juft; for whereever there are men, learned or ignorant, civilized or barbarous, there are paffions; and the greater the difficulty is in affecting thefe, the more art is requifite. The truth is, éloquence, like every other art, propofeth the accomplishment of a VOL, I.

S

certain