to what Extent, and how mo^t readily attainalle ?" 5 



discipline, can sustain the enormous burthen. Even the necessary 

 breath for the just execution of this passage is almost incredible: 

 and therefore I shall not hesitate to pronounce, that, by him who 

 shall deliver it as he ought, the longest and most cumbrous sen- 

 tence ever constructed by an English writer, shall be commanded 

 with nearly as much facility as any ordinary composition. 



Readings, or rather recitations in our native language succeeded 

 those ancient passages. Milton's Paradise Lost, Johnson's Ras- 

 selas, and Bolingbroke's Spirit of Patriotism and Patriot King, 

 were the chosen works ; — and from these, several appropriate pa- 

 ragraphs were selected and studied. Nor was it without some 

 trouble and perseverance that such masterly productions were, 

 even now, delivered with becoming grace and dignity : he who 

 would excel as an orator must enter into the true spirit of the 

 subject which he means to read or to recite; and conceal from 

 the most prying observer every appearance of those arts to which 

 he has been indebted for pre-eminence. Everv thing must seem 

 natural and easy. 



Apparently there is no individual topic which, with regard to 

 the delivery of our language, requires more attention than that 

 of the adjective when it precedes its substantive. Here some 

 governing principle appeared essential to the Speaker, — the de- 

 gradation of either word to the rank of an Enclitic, — although it 

 may very well suit the genius of a Goth, — being almost in all cases 

 subversive of expression. His own (the Speaker's) good sense 

 suggested the following rule, — and practice soon famili.arized the 

 apphcation : — That, on the first reading of a passage, the adjec- 

 tive be altogether omitted ; and the consequence of the substan- 

 tive with reference to the intent of the passage, be thus separately 

 and independently examined, and delivered accordingly: This 

 being accomplished, that the adjective be then introduced with 

 that species* of emphasis most indicative of its quality; the sub- 

 stantive retaining in the mean while, as far as possible, its ori- 

 ginally destined character. A most useful hint to the teachers 

 of elocution ! by scarcely any one of whom have I ever heard a 

 conjoint adjective and substantive delivered with expression. 

 That unlucky sentence " IViUyou ride to town to day?" nar- 

 rows all their conceptions : Nor, until this same and such like 

 sentences be more scientifically understood, can we ever hope to 

 emerge from that gulf of barbarism into which we have been 

 plunged by our granmiarians. 



I jirocced with my subject. — The Speaker having at length at- 

 tained the mastery of the sublime, towards which his wliolc course 



• Sue Miiffazine of April, for tlic true definition of Emphiisiii. To this 

 niay be added, that fuullij tumponition will sumetinies embarrass the most 

 intelligent and expressive reader. 



A3 of 



