242 Whether Music is necessary to the Orator,— 
more licenses than usual were taken with the quantity—such li- 
censes indeed as the now newly-formed ear did at any time sug- 
gest,—the accurate observance of the Dactylic and Spondaic pro- 
portions sometimes appearing rather too heavy for the subject. 
Regulated in this manner, it may safely be affirmed that this 
Epithalamium, when judiciously modulated, exhibits more grace, 
more elegance and melody than in all probability were ever yet 
presented to our countrymen. It possesses (in modern estima- 
tion) an almost intermediate character between poetry and prose, 
partaking however much more of the former than of the latter ; 
and is admirably calculated for the improvement of either the 
genteel comedian or the orator. 
The Orations of Demosthenes were now taken up: and with- 
out over-nice attention to the sense, the exordium of his first 
Philippic was practised, merely as a lesson of prosaic melody ; the 
etas, omegas, diphthongs and circumflexed syllables obtaining all 
warrantable extension of their quantities. Appropriate emphasis* 
(or expression as we term it) was afterwards delicately introduced, 
and the general features of this passage were in a sufficient de- 
* There is not perhaps any subject less understood in these countries 
than that of emphasis. The generality of people, including a vast number 
of self-taught critics, imagine that nothing more is necessary than Gothic 
violence to which some unfortunate syllable must by all mearis be devoted ; 
whereas ¢his species of emphasis should, in all practicable cases, be avoided. 
Interval or degree of rise or fall in the musical scale,—-tone or quality of 
the voice,—time, quicker or slower,—pause,—forte,—nay, piano itself— 
all enter into the definition of emphasis; and of thesg the judicious speaker 
will employ such and only such asare midst applicable to the occasion. 
The old well-known sentence ‘‘ Do you ride to town to-day f” is exceed- 
ingly well calculated to try the talents of a reciter. Quere then— how shall 
this sentence (ill constructed as it is for the purpose) be delivered, so as tu 
express not only religious disapprobation at journeying on the sabbath Day, 
but likewise serious apprehension at visiting the TOWN in which a malignant 
fever is prevalent;—while, at the same time, no other answer shall be in- 
tended by the querist than a simple yes or no with. regard to riding, in op- 
position to any other mode of travelling? 
If Mr. Sheridan in his Art of Reading” had thus investigated the general 
character of his subject, instead of partially searching out some little points, 
aad barbarously degrading to the rank of enclitics an infinity of important 
words —much reason bad been found (in the present state of intelligent 
opinion) to approve rather than condemn our clerical delivery of theChurch 
service—so shamefully misrepresented by this uncandid writer. 
Neither, in my mind, is the stage modulation at all suited to the solemnity 
of the temple. “Every thing has its own proper place. Hence it appears 
extremely probable that the greatest actor ever produced by our na- 
tion would have been found incapable of filling with becoming dignity either 
the seat of justiceor the pulpit. As for my own part, wheuever I discover 
anything theatrical in the gesture, countenance or delivery of a clergyman; 
I set him down, at least in this i instance, as a defective orator, who, i in place 
of enchaining my imagination in the house of God, conducts it, in opposi- 
tion to my best intentions—to the Play. 
gree 
