MEANS OF IMPROVING IN ELOQUENCE. Ο To those who are anxious to excel in any of the higher kinds of oratory, nothing is more neceffary than to cultivate habits of the feveral virtues, and to refine and improve all their moral feelings. A true orator muft poffefs generous fentiments, and a mind turned towards the admiration of all thofe great and high objects, which mankind are, by nature, prone to venerate. Connected with the manly virtues, he should have a strong and tender fenfibility to all the injuries, diftreffes, and forrows, of his fellow creatures. Next to moral qualifications, what is moft requifite for an orator is a fund of knowledge, knowledge. There is no art by which eloquence can be taught, in any sphere, without a fufficient acquaintance with what belongs to that sphere. Attention to the ornaments of ftyle can only affift the orator in fetting off to advantage the ftock of materials which he poffeffes; but the materials themselves must be derived from other fources than from rhetoric. The pleader must make himself completely acquainted with the law; he muft poffefs all that learning and experience which can be ufeful in his profeffion, for fupporting a caufe, or convincing a judge. The preacher must apply himself closely to the ftudy of divinity, of practical religion, of morals, of human nature; that he may be rich in all the fubjects both of inftruction and of perfuafion. He who wishes to excel as a member of the fupreme council of the nation, or of any public affembly, fhould be A a 2 minutely minutely acquainted with the bufinefs which belongs to fuch affembly, and fhould attend with accuracy to all the facts which may be the subject of queftion or deliberation. Befides the knowledge which is more peculiarly connected with his profesfion, a public fpeaker fhould make himself acquainted with the general circle of polite literature. Poetry he will find useful for the embellishment of ftyle, for affording lively images, - or pleafing illufions. Hiftory may be ftill more advantageous; fince the knowledge of facts, of eminent characters, and of the courfe of human affairs, muft find place on many occafions. A A deficiency of knowledge, even in fubjects not immediately connected with his profeffion, will expofe a public speaker to many disadvantages, and give his rivals, who are better qualified, a decided fuperiority. Τα To every one who wishes to excel as a public speaker, a habit of application and industry cannot be too much recommended. This is infeparably con nected with the attainment of every fpecies of excellence. No one ever became a diftinguished pleader, or preacher, or fpeaker in any affembly, without previous labour and applica tion. Industry, indeed, is not only neceffary to every valuable acquifition, but it is defigned by Providence as the feasoning of every pleasure, without which life would become flat and infipid. No enemy is fo deftructive both to honourable attainments, and to the real and animated enjoyment of life, as that relaxed ftate of mind which proceeds from indolence and diffipation. He who is destined to excel in any art, will be diftinguished by an enthusiasm for that art; which firing his mind. with the object in view, will difpofe A 2 3 him him to endure every neceffary degree of industry and perfeverance. This was the characteristic of the great men of antiquity; and it muft deftinguish the moderns who would imitate their bright. examples. By those who are studying oratory, this honourable enthufiafm fhould be cultivated with the moft J lively attention. If it be wanting to youth, manhood will flag exceed ingly. An attention to the beft models contributes greatly towards improvement in the arts of fpeaking or writing. Every one, indeed, fhould endeavour to have fomething that is his own, that is peculiar to himfelf, and that diftinguishes his compofition and ftyle. Genius is certainly depreffed, and its poverty betrayed, by a flavish imitation. But yet, there is no genius fo original, but may receive improvement from proper examples, in ftyle, compofi |