LETTERS OF MISS RIVERSDALE, 
Ing irresistibly in the Iangh; his wit is phos- 
phoric, brilliant, without being caustic.” 
** Comment!” interrupted Madame de 
Sainval, <* on se permet dans votre grave par- 
lement de faire de l'esprit? jaurois crue que 
ce seroit un crime de Idse-raison.” 
_** You would perhaps on the contrary, 
think it usurped a portion far too consider- 
able of the Saban? replied Mr. Stanville, 
“if you were to hear the splendid, figurative, 
animated imagery of B » soaring away 
from his subject, till it is scarce possible for 
the mind’s eye to follow him : quoting from 
Lucretius, Hudibras, Cicero, Rabelais, or an 
old ballad, with equal readiness.” 
“« But all this occasionally so interlarded 
with puerile pathos, and vulgar scurrility,” 
said Sir George. 
«¢ That arises from want of taste, not of 
powers,” Mr. Stanville replied. 
_ * Digressions without end,” continuéd 
Sir George, ‘* the apparent conclusion of his 
| speech starting into the exordium of another, 
like Ovid's Metamorphoses; in short, I 
am come to consider his rising to speak, 
merelyas a signal to adjourn to the beef-steak 
foom ; and so, Pil be sworn, did the better 
half of the members, when they nicknamed 
him the dinner-bell.” 
_ *T believe it may be fair to say of him,” 
rejoined Mr. Stanville, “ that for good, bad 
and indifferent he has not his equal.. There 
is a mixture of delight and disgust in hear- 
ing him, which seems to endue the ear at once 
with the centripetal and centrifugal motions ; 
at the same time, his mind is perfectly elec- 
tric, for'upon the slightest friction, it pours 
forth a stream of intellectual light.” 
** Which so completely dazzles his devo- 
tees,” interrupted Sir George, ‘* that they are 
réady to subscribe even to his judgment.” 
'~ “ The ambassador thought, that, as a 
finished orator, Mr. P—— soared above com- 
petition. 
“** Mr. Stanvillé admitted his talents to 
“be refined, versatile, and polished. His 
flowery, harmonious periods, his nice selec- 
tion Berpreuly unstudied phrases, his in- 
_ exhaustible copiousness are very striking ; and 
Tspicuity of diction, which seems to 
mprest his ideas with such clearness.” 
“*< Seems to express ?” interrupted the am- 
~ bassador. 
“© Certainly only seems, for upon a mo- 
ent’s reflection, you will commonly find it 
npossible to attach any precise meaning 
it, 
But this I take to be a peculiar art, for 
‘I give him great credit,’ contended 
bassador ; ‘* for you will allow, that 
ei 
4 
ess with the clearest accuracy.” bevy 
So that your lordship values his powers 
age,” replied Mr. Stanville, archly,” 
proportion as they serve to disguise his 
ing 2”. ort 
«* This occasioned a general smile, Mon- 
Asn. Rev. Vor. HI. 
= & Et inspiré encore 
des graces ! 
609 
sieur de Sainval, who from having served i? 
America, understands English, and speaks it 
with tolerable fluency, observed, that he had 
always conceived British orators above every 
sort of trick themselves, while they so con- 
stantly aflixed that epithet as the stigma of 
French politics. 
“« We have an old adage which may ac- 
count for it,” said Sir George, ‘* mocking is 
catching.” 
«Mr. Stanville good-humouredly seems 
ing to wish to do away his friend’s bluntness, 
said, ‘* there are certain ruses de guerre ads 
mitted in all governments; and I do not 
mean to detract from abilities so conspicuous 
as Mr. ’s in particular; I have always 
admired the ‘never failing felicity, with 
which he improves to his own advaftage, 
the slightest opening given by his antagonist.” 
“« But observe,” said Sir George, ‘* whe- 
ther it be ever possible to carry away, or 
quote any thing trom his speeches.” 
«© No, they certainly ate characterised,” 
Mr. Stanyille replied, ‘* by a languid, glit- 
tering verbosity, which fills the ear without 
satisfying the mind. How strikingly con- 
trasted with the energetic, commanding, im- 
passioned eloquence of his rival! which at 
once convinces the understanding, and seizes 
upon. the heart.” 
«* Ay, there indeed,” exclaimed Sit George, 
“¢ are candour and acuteness, joined to sound 
judgment, depth of thought, and force of 
logic, unequalled.” 
** His elocution level to every. capacity,” 
rejoined Mr. Stanville; ‘< never seeking for 
a word to embellish his period, but enlisting 
and disciplining the commonest in a mo- 
ment, to charge in the ranks, and bear down 
all opposition. He proves the irresistible 
power of luminous common sense, leaving all 
the little arts of debate at a distance, and 
stands forth alone the Orator of Reuson,” 
«« There I recognize the true English cha- 
racter,”” said Madame de Sainval, “and I 
judged your whole parliament to be so coma 
posec.”” 
«* You did us too much honour, indeed,” 
replied Sir George, shaking his head. «* One 
such man in acentury would be sufficient 
to support the dignity of the human race! 
You'll allow him to be phosphoric and elecs 
tric too, Stanyviie2” : 
«« He,” exclaimed Mr. Stanville, with an 
enthusiasm that well became him !—* His 
oratory is the eflulgence of the meridian sun, 
darting the ray of unsophisticated reason 
around, and shedding intellectual day.” 
“‘ Upon my soul, you are inspired, Stan- 
ville!” cried Sit George, looking delighted 
with the brilliancy of his friend’s observa- 
tions. 
pir la raison, denuée 
added Madame de Sainval, 
smiling, ‘cette grande triste raison—si 
Sroidesi dpre—st peu inspirante—quel mira- 
bier’. : irl 
*« Perhaps, upon better acquaintance with 
Rr 
” 
