An Essay on Elocution

Is felt the first, the only sense

Of guiltless joy that guilt can know. - There's a drop,"said the Peri," that down from the moon “ Falls through the withering airs of June *s Upon Egypt's land, of so healing a power, “So balmy a virtue, that ev’n in the hour " That drop descends, contagion dies,

And health reanimates earth and skies !-6 Oh, is it not thus, thou man of sin,

" 'T'he precious tears of repentance fall?
“ Though foul thy very plagues within,

“ One heavenly drop hath dispelled them all."
And now-behold him kneeling there
By the child's side, in humble prayer,
While the same sun-beam shines upon
The guilty and the guiltless one,
And bymns of joy proclaim through Heaven
The triumph of a Soul Forgiven!
'Twas when the golden orb had set,
While on their knees they linger'd yet,
There fell a light more lovely far
Ihan ever came from sun or star,
Upon the tear, that warm and meek,
Dew'd that repentant sinner's cheek:
To mortal eye this light might seem
A northern flash, a meteor beam-
But well the enraptur'd Peri knew
'Twas a bright smile the Angel threw
From Heaven's gate, to bail that tear
Her harbinger of glory near!
“ Joy, joy for ever! my task is done.
66 The Gates are pass'd, and Heaven is won!”

THE SAILOR-BOY'S DREAM.

IN slumbers of midnight the sailor boy lay,
His hammock swung loose at the sport of the wind :

But, watchworn and weary, his cares flew away,
And visions of happiness danc'd o'er his mind."

He dreamt of his home, of his dear native bow'rs, And Pleasure that waited on life's merry morn;

While Mem'ry stood sideways, half cover'd with flow'rs, And displayed ev'ry rose, but secreted its thorn,

Then fancy her magical pinions spread wide, And bade the young dreamer in extacy rise.

Now far, far behind him the green waters glide, And the cot of bis forefathers blesses his eyes:

The jessamine clambers, in flow'r, o'er the thatch, And the swallow sings sweet from her nest in the wall.

All trembling with transport, he raises the latch, And the voices of lov'd ones reply to his call.

A Father bends o'er him with looks of delightHis cheek is impearld with a mother's warm tear;

And the lips of the boy in a love kiss unite With the lips of the maid whom his bosom holds dear.

The heart of the sleeper beats high in his breast, Joy quickens his pulse-all bis hardships scem o'ers

And a murmur of happiness steals through his rest56 Kind fate thou hast blest me-I ask for no more.”

Ah! whence is that flame which now bursts on his eye? Ah! what is that sound which now larums his ear?

'Tis the lightning's red glare painting hell on the sky, Tis the crashing of thunders, the groan of the sphere."

He springs from his hammock-he flies to the deck, Amazement confronts him with images dire;

Wild winds and waves drive the vessel a wreck, The masts fly in splinters, the shrouds are on fire.

Like mountains the billows tremendously swell: In vain the lost wretch calls on Mercy to save.

Unseen hands of spirits are ringing his knell,
And the death angel flaps his broad wing o'er the wave...

Oh! sailor boy, woe to thy dream of delight,
In darkness dissolves the gay frost-work of bliss.

Where now is the picture that Fancy touch'd bright-
Thy parents' fond pressure, and love's honied kiss?

Oh, sailor-boy! sailor-boy! never again
Shall home, love, or kindred thy wishes repay!

Unblest and unhonour'd, down deep in the main,
Full many a score fathom thy frame shall decay:

No tomb shall e'er plead to remembrance for thee, Or redeem form or fame from the merciless surge.

But the white foam of wave shall thy winding sheet be, And winds in the midnight of winter thy dirge;

On beds of green sea flow'rs thy limbs shall be laid, Around thy white bones the red coral shall grow;

of thy fair yellow locks threads of amber be made; And ev'ry part suit to thy mansion below.

Days, months, years, and ages shall circle away,
And still the vast waters above thee shall roll,

Earth loses thy pattern for ever and aye :-
Oh, sailor-boy! sailor-boy!--pcace to thy soul!

ELOQUENCE OF RELIGION. "
The Saviour's Sermon on the Mount - - - -
1. Corinthians, XV. Chapter - - - - -
Paul's Defence before Agrippa -
Extract from the XIV. Chapter of Job
Character of a Christian Mother - - Rev. W. B. Kirwan.
Character of a Christian Wife

. Ibid. Character of a Libertine

- Ibid. The Miser -

Ibid. Advice to Parents - - - - - - - Ibid.

ELOQUENCE OF THE BAR. The Case of Justice Johnson - - - Finerty's Trial

- - - - Rowan's Trial - - - - - -

Jefferson. 11

ELOQUENCE OF POPULAR ASSEMBLIES.
Speech of Patrick Henry
Declaration of Independence ..
Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the
United States .

..- - • 124 A Discourse delivered at Plymouth, December 22d,

1820, in commemoration of the first settlement
of New-England - - - - -

Webster, 1413 On the Greek Revolution

- Ibid. 149 Extract from an Oration delivered at the City Hotel in the New-York Forum, 1821

Dwyer. 161 Eulogy pronounced at the City of Washington, Oct. 19, 1826 - - -

- Wirt. 163 Description of General Conway's Situation on the

Repeal of the American Stamp Act - - - Burke 192 Description of Junius

unius -
- -

- - - - - Ibid. 183 Lamentation for the loss of his Son - - - - Ibid. 194 Character of Mr. Fox, in support of his India Bill - Ibid. 196 Allusion to the Volunteers, and the subsequent de

generacy of Ireland - - - - - Gratlan. 188 On the Natural Desire of Man for Liberty - - - Ibid. 189 Character of Lord Chatham - ... - - Ibid. Invective against Mr. Corry in reply to his Aspersions

Hoplings

- Ibid. 191 Extra ainst War

Sheridan. 192 A Speech delivered at Cheltenham, &c. - - - Phillips. 193

ts from a