EARLY LIFE. 83 



sion, and from some of the most eminent I really 

 may be said to have brought away lessons or sugges- 

 tions that have been turned to account. Even thus 

 early I profited not a little from the great leaders of 

 the bar, and somewhat from great preachers, both 

 masters of declamation and of pathos. From one 

 whose eloquence was remarkable, and in pathetic 

 passages especially, I learnt a use of the voice which 

 was thus impressed on my mind when very young, 

 and which I have often employed in after-life - 

 namely, of dropping the voice at particular passages, 

 to command general attention, or enforce silence. 

 It was from the use of this expedient that some, 

 as Abercromby (Dunfermline), used to talk of 

 " Brougham's whispers," alluding to my power of 

 whispering through the House of Commons to the 

 very door and wall. The preacher from whom I 

 learned this had a very feeble voice, which probably 

 suggested it to him. I certainly had not the same 

 reason. Of the great advocates, Hope had a most 

 powerful voice ; Erskine one of great variety, but of 

 sufficient compass ; Blair a strong but inarticulate 

 one, his manner dignified, with his matter making 

 amends for the defects of his voice. In those days, 

 however, it was little more than the manner that was 

 studied and remarked. 



After my return from the Continent, I was admitted 

 an advocate, early in 1800, but I had for several years 

 before been devoting myself to the practice of public 

 speaking ; having begun this by establishing, with 



