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lest for the sake of novelty he makes use of unsuitable words. Better that he use "stock phrases," than thus mystify his meaning.

"I will shew thee one of the world's sorrows," says Tupper-and it is; "those who stand impotent of words, travailing with unborn thoughts." From experience I know that it is exceedingly painful to sit thinking for a few words to express an idea; the want of one frequently distresses the mind, and causes confused expression. There is a remedy for this evil. A few days since, I was reading that little periodical (which I am sure all young writers should possess), "The Popular Lecturer," and in it I found Leo H. Grindon stating that he knew a lady who, finding herself not so well acquainted with the English language as she could wish to be, kept a dictionary in her pocket, and a pencil and a slip of paper, and she learned a few difficult words every day, while waiting for dinner; until at the end of twelve months she had accomplished the task of learning every word in the dictionary. Let some of our spare moments be spent in looking into our lexicons; and we shall soon increase our stock of language, and be able to write with less hesitancy and perhaps with less obscurity.

You must not infer from what I have just advanced, that the verbose writer does not require discipline and correction; for such a one is in peculiar danger of displaying more words than wisdom, and is very liable to pay more attention to ornament, than to conciseness and perspicuity. Hence in the language of an old writer, I would remind such, that" discourse should always be obvious, even to the most negligent reader, so that the sense should strike his mind just as the light of the sun does our eyes, though they are not looking upwards to it. We must study not only that every hearer or reader may understand us, but that it shall be impossible for him not to understand us." To accomplish this,

the verbose writer will have to exercise self-denial, and discontinue using two words where one will suffice. In this class I have listened to essays in which it was impossible to understand what the writer was aiming at, in consequence of the profusion of words employed. Write thus, and it is the opinion of our poet Garbett, that

"You'll have but the 'sorry' satisfaction

Of leaving us in gloomy stupefaction ;

And rising from our seats with muddled brains,
Shall shew we're little wiser for your pains."

Verbosity, like the tree of many branches, must be subjected to the pruning knife of improvement, and be deprived of all those shoots of fancy which weaken the argument, hide the meaning, and perplex the reader. Ye who have language at your command, abuse not the precious gift; use not more than requisite; let us not have to look with a microscopic eye at every expression. Aim at perspicuity,-for it is the most important element in original composition. Endeavour to make your productions resemble those waters which, though deep, are also beautifully clear. To conclude: let me express the hope that something has been said which will stimulate to greater exertions. Compare this year's papers with those of last year; and if they do not bear the impress of improvement, search out the cause, and having found it, go to your work with greater intensity of purpose. Endeavour to feel that you can much excel what you have already written. Commence your undertakings with these feelings; and I can, without a prophet's inspiration, with certainty predict that "your labour will not be in vain.”

NOTE-Notwithstanding the seemingly small number of Essayists, a passage in the Society's last Annual Report, reveals the fact that no less than 89 original Compositions were read during the past Year.

SOCIAL POSITION OF THE WORKING

CLASSES.

BY

THOMAS DICKINS, ESQ., J.P.

DEDICATION.

To the Rev. Canon Durnford, Bector of Middleton.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Permit me to dedicate to you my Lecture "On the Social Position of the Working Classes;" which I should not have ventured to place before the public for perusal, had not you and the meeting to whom it was addressed, unanimously requested me to do so.

I solicit this permission, because I desire to express in a permanent form my respect for your public and private cha racter;-a respect founded on the experience of many years and shared, as I believe, by almost all your parishioners.

I have likewise to request you will kindly receive as a contribution towards an extension of the National School of your parish, the entire proceeds (which I have directed my booksellers to place at your disposal) of the sale of this my first publication.

I am, Rev. and dear Sir,

Very faithfully yours,

MIDDLETON,
February, 1859.

THOMAS DICKINS.

LECTURE.

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS AMONG THE WORKING
CLASSES,

I am about to offer for your consideration some comments upon your present, and some suggestions relative to your future, social position in Society; for the amelioration of which, I shall propose two or three plans which, in my opinion, will assist the development we must all desire.

Having for a long period resided in this neighbourhood, and had much intercourse with you which has almost invariably been of an agreeable nature to me, I have, trusting to our acquaintanceship, relied upon a welcome reception this evening. I shall not presume to dictate to or to censure you-but shall speak my mind plainly-give a "gradely" tale, with the hope my remarks will be estimated as emanations of a desire to act a friendly part towards you.

I have likewise been much influenced by the admonitions from that eminently good and learned man, Judge Talfourd, whose last address was replete with reflections so benevolent and so wise, that reference to them, and to the occasion, cannot be irrelevant or unwelcome to you. For he was an example most worthy of our imitation,-as a judge, he tempered justice with mercy; as a gentleman, he blended dignity with affability; as a man of the world, he was accurate and observing; as a man of feeling, he was charitable and sympathising: and, as if the crowning act of his public life should be in conformity with and illustrative of his opinions and his practice, as if his spirit, so soon then to appear before its Maker, inspired him to breathe forth peace and good-will to all men,-he, on his last circuit at Stafford, and at the conclusion of his judicial duties, made the following observations, after alluding to the increase of crime in the neighbourhood:

"I cannot help myself thinking it may be in no small degree attributable to that separation between class and class, which is the great curse of British Society, and for which we are all, more or less, in our respective spheres, in some degree responsible, and which is more complete in these districts than in agricultural districts, where the resident gentry are enabled to shed around them the blessings arising from the exercise of benevolence, and the influence and example of active kindness. I am afraid we all of us keep too much aloof from those beneath us, and whom we thus encourage to look upon us with suspicion and dislike. Even to our servants, we think, perhaps, we fulfil our duty when we perform our contract with them, when we pay them their wages, and treat them with the civility consistent with our habits and feelings; when we curb our temper, and use no violent expression towards them. But how painful is the thought, that there are men and women growing up around us, ministering to our comforts and necessities, with whose affections and nature we are as much unacquainted as if they were the inhabitants of some other sphere. This feeling, arising from that kind of reserve peculiar to the English character, does, I think, greatly tend to prevent that mingling of class with class, that reciprocation of kind words and gentle affections, gracious admonitions and kind enquiries -which often, more than any book education, tend to the culture of the affections of the heart, and the refinement and elevation of the character of those to whom they are addressed: and if I were to be asked-What is the great want of English Society? to mingle class with class, I would say in one word, the want is the want of Sympathy."

Immediately after the utterance of these words, that good man became speechless, and shortly expired. Mr. Justice Coleridge, speaking of him, said that his learned brother had one ruling purpose of his life-the doing good to his fellow-creatures in his generation. I trust we all desire to benefit ourselves and others by such an example.

It must be evident to you, that society is composed of many classes-as labourers, artificers, weavers, manufacturers, merchants, professionalists, gentry, and nobility. But each has duties to perform; each

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