81. Is it probable that America will hereafter become 84. Is the present a Poetical Age? 85. Was Louis XIV. a great Man? 86. Is it the Duty of a Government to make ampler Provision for the Literary Writers of the 90. Is not Satire highly useful as a Moral Agent? 92. Is it not to Emigration that England must mainly look for the Relief of her Population? 292 94. Do the Associations entitled "Art Unions," tend to promote the Spread of the Fine Arts? 106. Do Titles operate beneficially in a Community? 296 107. Would not Pulpit Oratory become more effective if the Clergy were to preach extemporane- INTRODUCTION. THIS volume is the result of a conviction in the mind of the Author, that a fundamental error prevails in the mode which is at present adopted to convey instruction in the Art of Speaking. The true Art of Speech is the effective representation of our thoughts by language. To say what we mean, and to say that pleasingly and impressively, are the ends towards which all instruction in oratory should be directed. Now what are the means at present employed by the Professors of the Art of Speech to accomplish these objects? Simply the study and practice of recitation. There is no communication of knowledge-no education of the mind in habits. of thought and reflection-no formation of opinion, conviction, and belief: but the scholar merely learns and repeats certain hackneyed pieces of declamation, poetry, or dramatic composition; and when he can pronounce "Othello's Apology," "Rolla's Address," "Young Lochinvar," and other similar time-worn extracts from our literature, to the sufficient admiration of his friends, he is considered to be perfectly instructed in the Art of Speech! But how great an error is there here! All that has so far been done is to teach the student how to say his words, without giving him any words to say. He is a perfect reciter of other people's ideas and language, but cannot utter a thought of his own. In brief, he has been instructed simply in the mechanism of the art, and is left without materials to use, and without tools to handle. If we seek for proof of this, we find it in our daily experience. Of the thousands who learn what is called "Elocution" in our schools, how rarely do we meet with even one who can express himself with tolerable clearness and propriety! The cause of this is plain: they have not been taught to think; and therefore, when thought is required from them, they have none to give. To teach a scholar elocution, without educating his oratorical faculties, is like erecting a pump without digging for the water. The machine is there, and it is capable of work; but it is of no service to you, for you can turn it to no practical account. The Author ventures to think that a far better mode of instruction in the important study of which he treats, might be easily devised. He is not vain enough to imagine that the present volume developes the best plan that could be conceived; but in the absence of a better, it may perhaps be found not altogether unworthy of consideration; at least, it may serve as a pioneer. The idea which this work seeks to realise is that the practice of discussion forms a much better exercise for the student, than the fatiguing recitation system which is now pursued. It teaches. him at once Thought, Style, and Delivery:thought, in the preparation which is requisite, even for the simplest debate;-style, through the necessity which the speaker finds of due order and arrangement in his ideas;-and delivery, in the utterance of his speech. Elocution is doubtless an important part of the Art of Speech, but it is not the whole of it. The voice, the gesture, the manner, the action, and the expression are beyond question matters that demand great care and attention; but the education and training of the speaking powers are greater matters still. Even, however, if Delivery were the whole Art of Speech, as the much misunderstood expression of Demosthenes is often made to imply―surely the utterance of his own sentiments must be a far better elocutionary lesson to the student, than the |