14 



vision was xniknowTi^, oratory e^f.ry where lisped in niraibens, 

 and * " song" was considered, " but as the eloquence of 

 truth." Again, man has nerer been 'found to exist in that 

 state of absolute solitude, which some philosophers are so 

 €ond of imposing on the world as the state of nature ; he is 

 every where a social animal, and as to the nature of the as- 

 sociation, 'the connection of an insignificant tribe of savages 

 differs not so much in kind, ais in degree, from the consti- 

 tution of the most powerful and civilised nation* In the 

 councils of the most barbatous horde, leagues offensive and 

 defensive, truces and alliances, justice and injustice, -life and 

 death, war, p^ice, and commerce, are the subjects of de- 

 bsite: and of what other description are the decisions of the 

 most learned tribunals, or the discussions of the most en- 

 lightened senates ? If from the consideration of such rude 

 times and uncivilised people, we pass to those periods of 

 Greece and Rome when the powers of oratory were most 

 conspicuous, we will find that all those subjects which are 

 ever introduced in "the speeches of the most refined and 

 learned speakers, were then almost as well understood as at 

 the present day. Whatever related to the administration of 

 -states, or management of families, to prudence in legislation, 

 and vigour and dexterity in execution; whatever tends to 

 produce wisdom in council, address in business, and ele- 

 gance in conversation, all these were perfectly understood 

 and successfully practised. Few modern orators could be 

 instanced who would bear a comparison with Cicero, in their 



* Gertrude of Wyoming. 



