Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

OF

ELOQUENCE.

A..

ORIGINAL ARTICLES,

ORATORICAL AND POETICAL,

INTENDED

As Exercises in Recitation, at the Institution,
Bedford Place, Russell Square.

BY JOHN THELWALL, ESQ.

PROFESSOR OF THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF ELOCUTION.

LONDON:

PRINTED, FOR THE AUTHOR,

BY J. M'CREERY, BLACK HORSE COURT,

AND SOLD BY MESSRS. ARCH, CORNHILL; RIDGEWAY, PICCADILLY;

KENT, HOLBORN, &c.

and with Trident of Altern.

MARVARE COLLEGE

AUG 7.1918

LIBRARY

Welsh find

29-146

39

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The earlier articles, having been printed for some
years, are already in the hands of many persons, and
may, therefore, be had separately.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The price of this book will shew that it does not aim at
extensive circulation. The fact is, that only a very small
edition has been printed of the additional articles, merely
for the use of the institution; and it is only pub-
bished, because it is the wish of the professor that every
thing relating to the exercises of his pupils should be open
to public inspection. For satisfaction on more important
points, the reader is referred to the Letter, just published,
by the same author, "To HENRY CLINE, Esq. on
imperfect developements of the Faculties, mental and
moral, as well as constitutional and organic;" and to
the miscellaneous articles assembled in the Appendix to
that Letter.

PLAN AND OBJECTS, &c.

THE imperfect state of Elocution, in this country,—so iuconsistent with the state of knowledge and refinement, in every other respect,—and the deficiency of grace, harmony and facility, even in the tones and enunciation of our professed Instructors, our Advocates and public speakers, are 'phenomena that cannot have escaped the animadversion of critical observers; and that have even brought a stigma upon our language itself, for which there is no other foundation; while the frequent occurrence of every species of degrading and troublesome impediment, has been noticed by foreigners, as one of the unfortunate peculiarities of the English nation. These considerations have induced Mr. Thelwall to devote several years of his life, to a Theoretical and Practical Analysis of the Phenomena of Spoken Language; to a minute examination of the organization, on which those Phenomena depend; and an accurate investigation of the Physiological, Rational, and Musical Principles, by which the powers, both of Conversational and Oratorical Delivery, may, most effectually, be regulated and improved.

Of the point of view in which these researches have led him ` to consider the subject, the principles that form the basis of his general system of Instruction, and the progressive developement and practical operation of those principles, some sketches will be found in his "Vestibule of Eloquence"

« AnteriorContinuar »