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After thefe preliminary obfervations, let as proceed to the main defign of this lecture; to treat of the means to be used for improvement in eloquence.

In the first place, what flands highest in the order of means, is perfonal character and difpofition. In order to be a truly eloquent or perfuafive fpeaker, nothing is more neceflary than to be a virtuous man. This was a favourite pofition among the ancient rhetoricians: "Non poffe oratorem

effe nifi virum bonum." To find any fuch connection between virtue and one of the highest liberal arts, muft give pleafure; and it can, I think, be clearly fhewn, that this is not a mere topic of declamation, but that the connection here alledged, is undoubtedly founded in truth and reason.

For, confider, firft, Whether any thing contributes more to perfuafion, than the opinion which we entertain of the probity, difinterestedness, candour, and other good moral qualities of the perfon who endeavours to perfuade? Thefe give weight and force to every thing which he utters; nay, they add a beauty to k; they difpofe us to liften with attention and pleafure; and create a fecret partiality in favour of that fide which he efpoufes. Whereas, if we entertain a fufpicion of craft and difingenuity, of a corrupt, or a bafe mind, in the fpeaker, his eloquence lofes all its real effect. It may entertain and amufe; bnt it is viewed as artifice, as trick, as the play only of fpeech; and, viewed in this light, whom can it perfuade? We even read a book with more pleasure, when we think favour ably of its author; but when we have the living fpeaker before our eyes, addreffing us perfonally on fome fubject of importance, the opinion we entertain of his character must have a much more powerful effect.

But, left it should be faid, that this relates only to the character of virtue, which one may maintain, without being at bottom a truly worthy man, I muft obferve farther, that, befides the weight which it adds to character, real virtue operates alfo in other ways, to the advantage of eloquence.

First, Nothing is fo favourable as virtue to the profecution of honourable ftudies. It prompts a generous emulation to excel; it itures to industry; it leaves the mind vacant and free, master of itself, difencumbered of thofe bad paffions, and difengaged from thofe mean purfuits, which have ever been found the greatest enemies to true proficiency. Quinctilian has touched this confideration very properly: "Quod fi

agrorum nimia cura, et follicitior rei fa, "miliaris diligentia, et venandi voluptas "et dati fpectaculis dies, multum fludiis "auferunt, quid putamus facturas cupidi"tatem, avaritiam, invidiam? Nihil enim "eft tam occupatum, tam multiforme, tot ac tam variis affectibus concifum, atque laceratum, quam mala ac improba mens. Quis inter hæc, literis, aut ulli bonæ "arti, locus ? Non hercle magis quam frugibus, in terra fentibus ac rubis oc"cupata

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But, befides this confideration, there is another of ftill higher importance, though I am not fure of its being attended to as much as it deferves; namely, that from the fountain of real and genuine virtue, are drawn thofe fentiments which will ever be moft powerful in affecting the hearts of others. Bad as the world is, nothing has fo great and univerfal a command over the minds of men as virtue. No kind of language is fo generally underflood, and fo powerfully felt, as the native language of worthy and virtuous feelings. He only, therefore, who poffeffes thefe full and ftrong, can peak properly, and in its own language, to the heart. On all great fubjects and occafions, there is a dignity, there is an energy in noble fentiments, which is overcoming and irrefiftible. They give an ardour and a flame to one's difcourfe, which feldom fails to kindle a like flame in thofe who hear; and which, more than any other caufe, bestows on eloquence that power, for which it is famed, of feizing and tranfporting an audience. Here art and imitation will not avail. An affumed character conveys nothing of this powerful warmth. It is only a native and unaffected glow of feeling, which can tranfmit the emotion to others. Hence the most renowned orators, fuch as Cicero and Demofthenes, were no less distinguished for fome of the high virtues, as public fpirit and zeal for their country, than for eloquence.

"If the management of an eftate, if anxious "attention to domestic economy, a paffion for "hunting, or whole days given up to public "places and amufements, confume fo much time "that is due to ftudy, how much greater wafte "must be occafioned by licentious defires, avarice, or envy! Nothing is fo much hurried and agi"tated, fo contradictory to itfelf, or fo violently torn and fhattered by conflicting paflions, as a

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bad heart. Amidst the distractions which it "produces, what room is left for the cultivation "of letters, or the purfuit of any honourable art? "No more, affuredly, than there is for the growth "of corn in a field that is over-run with thorns "and brambles."

Beyond

Beyond doubt, to thefe virtues their elo-
quence owed much of its effect; and thofe
orations of theirs, in which there breathes
moft of the virtuous and magnanimous fpi-
rit, are those which have most attracted the
admiration of ages.

Nothing, therefore, is more neceffary for
thofe who would excel in any of the higher
kinds of oratory, than to cultivate habits of
the several virtues, and to refine and im-
prove all their moral feelings. Whenever
thefe become dead, or callous, they may
be affured, that on every great occafion,
they will speak with lefs power, and lefs
fuccefs. The fentiments and difpofitions
particularly requifite for them to cultivate,
are the following; the love of juftice and
order, and indignation at infolence and op-
preffion; the love of honesty and truth, and
deteftation of fraud, meanness, and cor-
ruption; magnanimity of fpirit; the love
of liberty, of their country and the public;
zeal for all great and noble defigns, and
reverence for all worthy and heroic cha-
racters. A cold and sceptical turn of mind
is extremely adverfe to eloquence; and no
lefs fo, is that cavilling difpofition which
takes pleasure in depreciating what is great,
and ridiculing what is generally admired.

Such a difpofition befpeaks one not very
likely to excel in any thing; but least of
all in oratory. A true orator fhould be a
perfon of generous fentiments, of warm
feelings, and of a mind turned towards the
admiration of all thofe great and high ob-
jects which mankind are naturally formed
to admire. Joined with the manly virtues,
he should, at the fame time, poffefs strong
and tender fenfibility to all the injuries,
diftreffes, and forrows, of his fellow-crea-
tures; a heart that can easily relent; that
can readily enter into the circumftances of
others, and can make their cafe his own.
A proper mixture of courage, and of mo-
defty, muft alfo be ftudied by every public
fpeaker. Modefty is effential; it is al-
ways, and juftly, fuppofed to be a conco-
mitant of merit: and every appearance of
it is winning and prepoffeffing. But mo-
defty ought not to run into exceffive timi-
dity. Every public speaker should be able
to reft fomewhat on himself; and to affume
that air, not of felf-complacency, but of
firmness, which bespeaks a consciousness of
his being thoroughly perfuaded of the truth
or juftice, of what he delivers; a circum-
ftance of no fmall confequence for making
impreffion on those who hear.

CONTENTS.

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INTRODUCTION; On Pronunciation, or Delivery: from Dr. Blair's Lectures

HE Vifion of Mirza

Authors. Pag. | Sect.

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