THE 



SCIENTIFIC READER, 



ELOCUTION. 



OF THE ADVANTAGES OF ORATORY. 



OF the various arts cultivated by man, there is none 

 more fascinating, nor possibly more useful to its pos- 

 sessor, than the capability of clothing his ideas iu 

 elegant and forcible language, and giving utterance 

 to them in a graceful and effective manner. If we 

 refer to the period when Athens was a popular govern- 

 ment, we shall perceive that the course of public affairs 

 was, in a great measure, directed by the orators, and the 

 same was the case in Rome under the Consuls. The 

 more eminent of these obtained the highest degree of 

 honour, and their works and fame will be preserved to 

 the end of time. The Grecian and Roman youth 

 thought no labour too hard, no application too great, 

 to become masters of this divine art, by which they 

 might be enabled to possess unlimited sway over the 

 passions of the multitude, and ultimately wield the 

 destinies of the world. And why should not the 

 British youth equal the youth of Greece and Rome ? 

 They are not inferior in talent, and have superior 

 opportunities ; and although they may not attain that 

 pre-eminence in the State that the orators of old 

 attained, yet in every station of life eloquence will be 

 found to produce the greatest advantages. 



B 



