Philosophical Society of London. 59 



words, Independently of each other, is determined by cus- 

 tom and auihority ; but the compass and accentuation of 

 words connected or joined together, are discovered by the 

 natural powers of sensation, which reason corrects, im- 

 proves, and methodizes. 



'* The study of rhetorical accentuation would assist in 

 protecting the student aganist the appearance of coldness 

 and intellectual imbecility ; of being ' uniformly slow and 

 regularly dull,' " 



Concluding his observations on acceni, Mr. W. remark- 

 ed " that rhetorical accentuation is of the greatest conse- 

 quence to the expression of passion : a verv short time 

 devoted to the acquirement of its theory, would render the 

 avenues of sympathy more attainable than whole years of 

 desultory practice witJiout it. Its judicious exercise would 

 assist, from time to tune, in giving new stimulus to the 

 listening powers of an auditory." 



His next consideration was on " certain individual arti- 

 culations, which are so constructed as to be sufficient of 

 themselves to excite peculiar sensations. — Whenever we 

 are under the immediate influence of passion^ we na- 

 turally make use of such words as seem best calculated to 

 imitate our feelings; and these words, uiihout any re- 

 flection, are spoken ^iih more expression and siginficancy 

 than the rest : by dwelling plaintively upon thei'~syllables, 

 if the passion be grief — by gliding slowly and monotonous- 

 ly over them, if the passion be melancholy — and hurrying 

 precipitately over them, if it be anger." 



Tn some striking poetical ilhistr:Uions then adduced by 

 the lecturer, a single word, significantly echoinc the sense, 

 seemed, by a peculiar emphasis, almost to ouUapture the 

 meanings conveyed by the rtst of the language. " It is the 

 appropriate use of such words w hich gives to every passioa 

 characteristic variety, At the instant of pronouncina them, 

 the whole soul seems to be in action, and the tones and 

 tunes of voice, echoing its feelings, immediately check the 

 common current of uniform carlence. 



" In pronouncing words peculiarly imitative of sound 

 and motion, the voice may enter into the hiil spirit of the 

 imitation. Yit must the admonition ot our immortal bard 

 be duly considered — ' If this be over done,' or 'come tardy 

 off,' while it makes the unskilful laugh, it cannot but make 

 the judicious grieve." 



Our limits will not admit the notes we made on the re- 

 miiiider of this interesting discourse: we defer them, 

 therefore, togt (her with those we were enabled to collect oa 

 the seventh, eighth, and ninth lectures, til! our next 

 luunber, euimbukgh 



