S^O London Philosophical Society. 



ginally endowed with mental feeling, yet from various 

 causes which bring on lassitude in the muscular fibres, he 

 may be incapacitated to summon up suitable powers ot ex- 

 pression at will. 



There are few individuals who have not experienced dis- 

 appointment in some shape or other. If therefore we re- 

 flect on the inaptitude of will or mind, which, by some 

 sudden stroke of chance, has been apparently placed far 

 beyond our reach, and if also we take into consideration 

 the powerful stimulus which is necessary in such instances 

 to give us just notions of the hope which remains of still 

 accomplishing our desires, we shall then have some idea of 

 the consequent laxity in the muscular fibres. 



The next point which engaged attention was that most 

 essential part of the character of an orator, — modesty. 

 ** Wuhout modesty," saysTully, " there never was a good 

 orator." After citing Cicero's observations respecting 

 himself, and adverting particularly to the Greek orators 

 upon this subject, Mr. VV. asserted, that an orator should be 

 esteemed as perfectly true in his intentions tov\ards his 

 Audience, and that he should be known to have a warm 

 sense of genera! feeling and affection for his fellou'-crca- 

 tures ; proving an unimpeachable character to be a qualifi- 

 cation ot all others the most essential for the preferment of 

 a public speaker ; and that truth, integrity, and earnestness, 

 are inseparably united with ihe art of persuasion. This 

 lecture was concluded by a view of the inconsistency of 

 man, and his consequent proneness to judge of the appear- 

 ance of persons and things that he may suit his own tem- 

 per and disposition. 



The third lecture commenced with some observations on 

 the philosophy of feeling, comprising affection, passion, 

 emotion, and sentiment ; previous to considering the out- 

 ward attributes of expression. On this head we select the 

 following passage : " In contemplating the philosophy of 

 feeling, I cannot but be astonished," says Mr. W., '* that 

 writers en oratorical expression have not presented us with 

 more accurate definitions of the passions. Excepting one 

 or two, all the volumes which have been handed down to 

 us on the science, do not in this particular exemplify either 

 regularity, principle, or theory." 



" In the middle of the last century, the lecturer of ora- 

 tory on the foundation of Erasmus Smith, esq. in Dublin) 

 seemed to enter lully into these ideas, when he endeavoured 

 to unravel perplexities which modern metaphysicians had 

 thea thrown upon the perforinances of the ancients : And 



if 



