500 JOUKNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
change in the penny readings which had lately become rife, and 
the example set by certain families, and particularly that of a 
friend whom he saw present, and expressed a hope that his com- 
patriots would shortly overcome their unreasonable antipathy, and 
make up for lost time, in every direction. 
Turning, in the next place, to the practical pursuit of the art of 
elocution, he acknowledged that a votary thereof could not succeed 
in mastering it without a complete knowledge of the language in 
which he had to read or declaim, proper pronunciation and accent, 
a reasonably good voice sufficiently sympathetic and flexible to 
express all passions and feelings, skilful management of the same, 
quick perception and intelligence of the gist and nature of what 
he had to read or say, calmness in the midst of excitement, and 
ability to keep within the bounds of nature. 
In explanation of the latter quality, he parenthetically quoted 
Hamlet's advice to the players, from Shakespeare, observing that 
the immortal bard had, very probably, introduced it into his drama 
for the instruction of his own troupe, who must have taken it to 
heart, and laid it by for future use. After the above quotation and 
commentary, the lecturer resumed enumeration of the qualities 
which an elocutionist ought to possess ; and further mentioned 
quick grasp of human nature aud character, enabling him to 
personate any presented individual with correctness and facility. 
In this, he said, genius was largely shown, because it was, in fact, 
a natural gift which could hardly be learnt, though the study of 
history and dramatic poetry, joined to careful observation of 
human types, would be likely to supply its place to a consider- 
able extent. He further set forth that a public reader, or speaker, 
ought to be able to meet applause, or its opposite, with equal calm- 
ness, to raise his voice in such a manner as to be audible to 
every one of his hearers, and to retain such a command over it 
as to prevent straining and hoarseness. He then cautioned all 
elocutionists against violent and useless gesticulation and bad 
habits, such as certain tricks of Bokhara Wolff, the late Sir Robert 
Peel, Lord Brougham, Lord Macaulay, John Knox, Burke, and 
various Scotch ministers, celebrated by Archdeacon Ramsay, which 
he described in detail, pointing out that, as such were apt to excite 
the derision of an audience, general effect must be injured thereby. 
After this, he turned to persons naturally unfit to attempt elo- 
cution, such as stammerers, thick and disagreeable speakers, and 
