C91 
ORATOR Y. 
profeflions, there is not any one that gives fairer play to fcriptions or fanatical rhapfodies, or amufed them with 
genius and abilities than that of the advocate. As an rambling harangues on general topics. The union ot 
encouragement to application and exertion, he may con- reafon, fancy, and paflion, in pulpit-oratory,. has been a 
fider that he is fure of coming forward according to his rare attainment,of which fermons ilfued from our pulpits 
merit; for, though intereft and friends may fet forward have afforded few examples. 
a young pleader "with advantage at the beginning, they The objefts of clerical eloquence have been oratori- 
can merely open the field to him. A reputation refting cally thus enumerated : “ To inform the underftanding 
merely on thefe afliflances will foon fall. Spe&ators ob- even of the inapprehenfive; to aroufe the flumbering 
ferve, judges decide, parties watch ; and to him will the confcience; to regulate the moral feelings; to reitore the 
multitude of clients never fail to refort, who gives the focial fympathies, which the difparities of fortune have 
mod approved fpecimens of his knowledge, eloquence, but too much tendency to fufpend; to re ft rain, the fury 
and induftry. It is therefore of peculiar importance, of ambition, and check the mad career of voluptuous 
that the eloquence adapted to the bar fhould be properly prodigality; to unlock the iron grafp of avarice, and ex- 
underllood. It is a firll principle in this kind of elo- pand the liberal palm to deeds of charity; to humble the 
quence, that, both in fpeaking or in writing law-papers, towering infolence of pride, and difarm the uplifted hand 
it fhould be of the calm and temperate kind, and con- of oppreflion and revenge; to infufe the Ipirit of benevo- 
ne&ed with clofe reafoning. To thofe who are begin- lence into the heart of unfeeling obduracy ; to breathe the 
liing to praflile at the bar, it fhould be recommended, facred love of peace into the bofoms of the turbulent, and 
that they be careful to avoid verbofity, and that they the mild fpirit of forbearance and toleration into the foul 
form themfelves to the habit of a ftrong and a correCt of perfecuting bigotry and prejudice.” Hov.’far all thefe 
ftyle; which exprefies the fame thing better in a few words, objefts are, praftically, in the contemplation of every 
than by the accumulation of intricate and endlefs pe- orator of the pulpit, this is no place to difcufs; but, it 
riods. Dillinftnefs is alfo a capital property in fpeaking fuch be, in reality, among the proper objects of pulpit 
at the bar; and this fhould be manifefted, both in ftating eloquence, it is obvious that all, and more than all, that 
the queftion, and in the order and arrangement of all the we have demanded for the elocution of the bar, is requi- 
parts of the pleading. The narration of fafts at the bar fite in this fpecies of elocution alfo. Among the indif- 
fhould always be as concife as the nature of them will ad- penfable requifites of fuch elocution, are a familiar jim- 
mit. When the pleader comes to refute the arguments plicity, infinuative and endearing; an impreffive energy, 
employed by his adverfary, he fhould be upon his guard ftimulative and aroufing; a pathos, varied, charafteriftic, 
not to do them injuftice, by difguifing them, or placing and defcriptive; and a fublimity, awful, elevating, and 
them in a falfe light. The deceit is foon difcovered, and commanding. A mingled folemnity and enthufiafm 
will not fail of being expofed. Whereas accuracy and fhould occafionaliy give an air of infpiration to the 
candour, in ftating the arguments that have been ufed preacher; and his pronunciation, and all the particulars 
againft him, before he proceeds to combat them, will of utterance properly included in the term enunciation, 
create a ftrong prepoffeflion in his favour. Wit may fhould be full, fonorous, and oratorical, rather than loofe 
fometimes be of fervice at the bar, efpecially in a lively and colloquial. At the fame time, nothing is more to be 
reply; but a young pleader, who is too apt to bedazzled avoided than any overmarked peculiarity or atreftation, 
by it, fhould take heed that he does not reft his ftrength or than the vulgar vehemence, the bawling and vocifera- 
upon this talent. A proper degree of’ardour and vehe- tion, which are fometimes miftaken for energy and orato - 
mence is always of ufe: it will have a good efleft upon rical animation. 
the caufe, and induce the confidence of clients, for few of We cannot clofe this article w’ithout infilling upon one 
them will be fond of trufting their interefts in the hands other fpecies of oratory ; namely, 
of a cold and unanimated fpeaker. Neverthelefs, his ear- 
meftnefsand fenfibility muft not betray him into indecorum, The Oratory or Eloquence of the stage. 
and fink him below that dignity of character which it is The objeft of theatrical reprefentation is imitation. Its 
of importance for every one in this profeflion to fupport. excellence is verifimilitude. It is a moving pifture, that 
Above all, it fhould never be forgotten, that there is no exhibits founds as well as objefts, and a part of whole 
inllrument of perfuafion more powerful than an opinion pigments are the tones of the human voice. Its elocu- 
of probity and honour in the perfon who undertakes to tion, therefore, fhould be that of Nature—Nature in her 
perfuade. This opinion of probity and honour muft higheft perfeftion. Ideal nature, if you pleafe ; fuperior 
therefore be carefully preferved, both by fotne degree of in perfection to any thing that individual nature ever 
delicacy in the choice of caufes, and by the manner of exhibited, but in principle nothing deviating from unfo- 
xondufting them. Dr. Blair has given an analyfis of Ci- phifticated reality. The harmony may be more perfeft, 
cero’s oration “ Pro Cluentio,” which he recommends as the intonation fomething more diverfified, the inflection 
an excellent example of managing, at the bar a complex and range of the voice rather more extenfive, the utter- 
and intricate caufe, with order, elegance, and force. ance a little more emphatic, and fome other graces and 
; • n obfervances may be carried a degree further, than ever was 
III. Of Pulpit Oratory. obfervahle (or perhaps practicable) in fpontaneous fpeech 
Although the art of preaching has been praftifed nearly and real life ; but frill that fpontaneity and reality muft 
two thouland years, it ftiil remains in a ftate far fhort of be the models; and the elocution, in all eflential parti- 
that perfection to u>hich oratory of other kinds v/as car- culars, that w’ould be unfit for the bar, the pulpit, or the 
ried among the ancient Greeks and Romans. One prin- popular aflembly, (fo far as the difference does not arife 
cipal reafon for this appears to be, that few preachers out of the different fentiments to be expreft’ed and paflions 
have taken due pains to unite found fenfe and folid ar- to be indulged or excited,) is unfit for the ftage alfo. It 
gument until the powerful charm of eloquence. If, on fhould be-remembered, however, that the drama deals in 
the one fide, they have been ambitious of acquiring the the extremes of paflion and emotion; that its moral re¬ 
reputation of rational preaching, they have been con- quires that it fhould exhibit thofe paflions burftirig all 
tented with the Ample exhibition of plain truth, in the bonds of decorum, and triumphing over the reftraints of 
clear difcuftion of fome theological point, in correct ex- reafon. The player has frequently to exhibit thejudg- 
pianations ofl’cripture, or in cool effays on fome topic of ment under the domination of paflions; and is even to 
practical morality. If, on the other fide, they have af- reprelent the full malignity of the worlt, as well as the 
pired at the honours of eloquence, or been defirous of imprudent exceftes of the bell, paflions of Our nature ; 
gaining popularity, they have, too commonly, either while the paflions of the orator are always in reality 
dazzled the imaginations of their hearers with fublime (though not always in appearance) to be under the con- 
tnyfteries, agitated their paflions with exaggerated de- trol of his judgment ; and all the malignant and evil 
4, paflions 
