a person (some unlucky public character, of one side or other), immediately kindles his fury, and dresses up his speech with a profusion of vituperative ornaments, borrowed from the copious source hinted at above; and these, exaggerated with a grotesque contortion of body and limbs, a loudness and rapidity of utterance, and occasional exclamations, not far removed from swearing, are now allowed to form the qualifications of an expert orator. But how far an orator, thus qualified, and no otherwise, is likely to benefit his country, or the cause he undertakes, seems to deserve a more serious consideration than has yet been bestowed on the subject. In the mean time, without entering deeply into the question, I am ready to allow, that although, in my opinion, such orators are not very likely to benefit their country, or their cause, I have known some of them who have been fortunate enough. to benefit themselves; and I cannot, therefore, deny that, in their view of the matter, some good is done.

Prejudice, however, in favour of ancient customs and practices, is very strong, particularly with us who have lived long enough to have witnessed past times. It will not be easy to persuade us, that passion is a useful article in argument; or that it is much improved by a dash of personal dislike. The "honourable mover," or "the worthy member" may be quite wrong in what they propose; their data may be erroneous, and their arguments inconclusive; but all this may be proved to full conviction, without assum ing as a principle, that they are "d-n'd scoundrels;" or answering every thing they say with a brief declaration, that it is a "d-n'd lie."

There are many reasons that I might bring, to prove that this mode of debating-this new species of eloquence is not very well calculated to answer any good purpose; but I shall confine myself to one only; namely, its inconsistency with those habits in which gentlemen

G 4

gentlemen are usually brought up. It appears quite inconsistent, that one system of manners should prevail in a public assembly, and a very opposite system be established in a private company; that a person should be expected, in the management of his private affairs and private conversation, to preserve the language of a gentleman; while the moment he rises up to adjust the affairs of the nation, he is allowed to assume the manners, and much of the language, of a fishivoman. It is surely not only inconsistent, but even paradoxical, that violence of gesture, intemperance of language, and rudeness of every description, should be thought requisite in a public assembly, which would not be tolerated for a moment in any private company above that of the lowest and most abandoned of mankind. It seems very extraordinary that a "civil tongue," for which we absolutely condition, in the case of our inferiors and domestics, and universally expect in the case of our social friends and companions, should be totally dispensed with in the case of a public speaker.

I remember a story of the captain of a coasting vessel, a strict Dissenter, who applied to some divines of that persuasion for a dispensation to swear at his men, while on board of ship. He assured them that he wanted no such privilege while on land, and disliked the practice as much as the Reverend Gentlemen could possibly do; but at sea, he stated it to be an utter impossibility to get any business done without a fre-' quent round of oaths, of the colloquial kind. What' the determination of the worthy captain's spiritual guides was, I know not; but surely our modern ora-' tors seem to have adopted his opinion, and think that our public assemblies are not to be kept in order, without the language of the quarter-deck; and that motions cannot be carried otherwise than by an effusion of words calculated to irritate and provoke, which

would

would be endured no where else, and upon no other occasion.

You may conclude, therefore, Sir, that I am not very friendly to these innovations in the eloquence of our deliberative assemblies. I have not, certainly, been able to discover the superior advantages of foul language, terms of reproach, and epithets of contempt. Let me not, however, be misunderstood. I do not say that they have no advantage; but merely that I have not been able to discover it. It is probable that such a mode of arguing, if I may so call it, may suit some gentlemen, merely because it is easy, and corresponding to their usual habits. In such a case, if such a case there be, it would be unreasonable to expect any other kind of eloquence from them. All I regret is, that they should have been placed in situations where such language appears foreign to the important purposes in hand. In other places, and in other situations, their peculiar flowers of eloquence might be introduced without exciting any surprise, or departing from any accustomed practices. The language that I should think very unfit for carrying a legislative motion, may yet, for aught I know, be very necessary in turning a waggon in a narrow street; and I should pass over, without much remark, the words used in starting. butts, although I might think them very improper in starting objections.

But I have, probably, taken up too much of your room, and shall only add, that, as I have no particu lar assembly, or class of orators, in my eye; I hope those who feel conscious that they are the subject of this letter, will seriously consider, whether a person who is invested with the character of a representative, ought to throw off that of a gentleman.

Iam, Sir, yours,.

MODERATOR.

A

THE VICAR AND HIS CURATE.-AN EPIGRAM.

As th

S the corpse of the Vicar the Curate was eyeing,
"Oh! muse not, my dear," says his wife," 'bout
men's dying."

"Very good's the advice," says the Curate, "you 're giv

ing;

For I muse on the dead, but in hope of the living."

MOSES.

THE GENERAL LOVER.

TRANSLATED FROM THE ARABIAN OF ABOU ALY, THE MATHEMATICIAN,

SIR,

I

[From the Morning Herald, Feb. 9.]

NEVER knew a sprightly fair
That was not dear to me;

And freely I my heart could share
With every one I see.

It is not this or that alone

On whom my choice would fall;
I do not more incline to one
Than I incline to all.

The circle's bounding line are they,

Its centre is my heart,

My ready love the equal ray,

That flows to every part.

MODERN INVENTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

[Feb. 12.]

IN this age of millinery and metaphysics, of gallantry and instruction, of phantasmagoria and feeling, it is gratifying to observe even our leading - people encouraging Philosophy, and priding themselves

upon

upon the discoveries they are making in the Arts. In proof of this, we learn, with great pleasure, that in a Literary Society, of rare distinction, the following Premiums have been lately adjudged :-

To the Right Hon. S. Perceval, a piece of massive Gold, in the shape of a Crown, for his new Political Lens, by which he has discovered that the Prince of Wales is much older than he thought he was some days ago.

To the Lord Chancellor, a medal, for ascertaining that the using another person's hand and seal, in politics, is matter of mere good-humour and jocularity;

and

To the Right Hon. Mr. Yorke, a Lancaster writingdesk, for his mode of instructing a Sergeant of the Cambridgeshire Militia, in the space of a few hours, in the whole system of naval tactics. All the Lessons executed in Sea-sand for the use of the Admiralty. ACADEMICUS.

MILITARY CREED.

[From the British Press, Feb. 12.]

SHOULD the People inquire-for the question is brief—
How the Army approve their Commander-in-Chief!
The answer, as short, or in peace or in war,
States, he carries Preferment a little too far;

For, when heavy Commissions and Honours come forth,
He orders that baggage to travel-due North!
While the Army are anxious to shorten the work,
And desirous of going no further-than York.

HINTS TO A PRINCE.

[From the same.]

OW oft a good Master bad servants bewails,

HOW

BREVIS.

While his guests will fare better who give them their vails:

But for you, Gracious Prince! how much better 't would be, If, instead of their vails, you would give them valé!

G 6

BREVIS,