98 Rev. J. Wills on Mr. Stewart's Explanation of 



eloquence of a consummate orator. I quote this description, which is the more to 

 my purpose from the metaphysical propriety of the language, which seems to in- 

 dicate that Lord Brougham, had his attention been specially directed to the topics 

 here discussed, would have followed it out to the same conclusion.* " Whoever 

 (his Lordship writes) has observed the extraordinary feats performed by calcula- 

 tors, 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 

 habits are formed in all mental exertions. The performances of the Italian Im- 

 provisatori, or makers of poetry off-hand upon any presented subject, and in 

 almost any kind of stanza, are generally 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 this 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 his 

 rhetoric for five minutes to come, and pursuing in like manner the new illustra- 

 tions to which it gives rise — mould his diction with a view to attain or 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, adapting 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 intro- 

 ducer ; nor shall any auditor be able to discover the least difference between this 

 and the portion of his speech he has got off by heart, or tell the transition from 

 the one to the other." 



In noticing the theoretical justness of the language here used, I overlook the 

 fact that, notwithstanding his theory, Mr. Stewart's language is equally accom- 

 modated to what I consider the truth of nature ; a fact which, indeed, leads to 

 the reflection — how much on the surface this truth is, had it been let alone. Mr. 

 Stewart's common sense and sagacity intrude upon his ingenuity, which I must, 

 in fairness, observe is not the characteristic of his sound understanding, and seldom 



* The slight discrepancy will be accounted for by observing, that the subject occurs but inciden- 

 tally in his Lordship's discourse, and that probably the outline is suggested by the perusal of Stewart. 



