all are Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight nundreu and fifty-two, by CHAUNCEY A. GOODRICH, Course in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the District of Connecticut. PREFACE. MR. HUME has somewhere remarked, that "he who would teach eloquence must do it chiefly by examples." The author of this volume was foroibly struck with this remark in early life ; and in entering on the office of Pro fessor of Rhetoric in Yale College, more than thirty years ago, besides the ordinary instructions in that department, he took Demosthenes' Oration for the Crown as a text-book in the Senior Class, making it the basis of a cour* of informal lectures on the principles of oratory. Modern eloquence came next, and he endeavored, in a distinct course, to show the leading characteristics of the great orators of our own language, and the best mode of study. ing them to advantage. His object in both courses was, not only to awaken in the minds of the class that love of genuine eloquence which is the surest pledge of success, but to aid them in catching the spirit of the authors read, and, by analyzing passages selected for the purpose, to initiate the pupil in those higher principles which (whether they were conscious of it or not) have always guided the great masters of the art, till he should learn the unwritten rules of oratory, which operate by a kind of instinct upon the mind, and are far more important than any that are found in the books. Such is the origin of this volume, which contains the matter of the second course of lectures mentioned above, cast into another form, in connection with the speeches of the great British orators of the first and second class. A distinct volume would be necessary for American eloquence, if the lecture: on that subject should ever be published. The speeches selected are those which, by the general suffrage of the English public, are regarled as the master-pieces of their respective authors. They are in almost every instance given entire, because the object is to have each of them studied as a complete system of thought. Detached passages of extraordinary force and beauty may be useful as exercises in elocution ; but, if dwelt upon exclusively as models of style, they are sure to vitiate the taste. It is like taking all one's nutriment from highly-seasoned food and stimulating drinks. As to the orators chosen, CHATHAM, BURKE, Fox, and Prrt stand, by universal consent, at the head of our eloquence, and to these ERSKINE may be added as the greatest of our forensic orators. Every tolerably reported speech from Lord CHATHAM is of interest to the student in oratory, and ali that I thought such are here inserted, including eight never before published in this country. All of Burke's speeches which he prepared for the press have also found a place, except that on Economical Reforin, which, relating to mere matters of English finance, has less interest for an American In room of this, the reader will find the most striking passages in his works on the French Revolution, so that this volume contains nearly every thing which most persons can have any desire to study in the pages of Mr. Burke. Six of Fox's great speeches are next given, and three of Pitt's, with copious extracts from the early efforts of the latter; together with nine of ERSKINE'S ablest arguments, being those on which his reputation mainly rests. Among the orators of the second class, the reader will find in this volume four speeches of Lord MANSFIELD; two of Mr. GRATTAN's, with his invectives against Flood and Corry ; Mr. SHERIDAN's celebrated speech against Hast ings; three of Mr. CURRAN'S; Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH's famous specch for Peltior; four of Mr. CANNING's; and five of Lord BROUGHAM's, including his instructive discourse on the study of eloquence in the Greek orators. Some of the most finished letters of JUNIUS are given in their proper place, with remarks on his style as an admirable model of condensation, elegance, and force. In the first fifty pages will be found nearly all the celebrated speeches before the days of Lord Chatham, from Sir ROBERT WALPOLE, Lord Chester, FIELD, Mr. PULTENEY, Lord Belhaven, Sir John Digby, the Earl of Straf. FORD, and Sir John Eliot. The selections in this volume extend through a period of two hundred years, and embrace a very large proportion of the most powerful eloquence of Great Britain. The following are the aids afforded for the study of these speeches : (1.) A memoir of each orator, designed to show his early training in eloquence, the leading events of his public life, the peculiar cast of his genius, and the distinctive characteristics of his oratory. It ought to be said, in justice to the author, that these sketches were completed in every essential particular, long before the publication of Lord Brougham's work upon British Statesmen. (2.) A historical introduction to each of the speeches, explaining minutely the circumstances of the case, the state of parties, and the exact point at issue, being intended to place the reader in the midst of the scene as an actual spectator of the contest. These introductions, with the memoirs just mentioned, form a slight but continuous thread of political history, embracing the most important topics discussed in the British Parliament for more than a century. (3.) An analysis of the longer speeches in side-notes, giving the divisions and subdivisions of thought, and thus enabling the reader to perceive at once the connection and bearing of the several parts. (4.) A large body of explanatory notes, bringing out minuter facte. A few of these, on Chatham's early speeches, are from the Modern Orator, and also some definitions of law terms in two of ERSKINE's, p. 637–83. (5.) Critical notes, as specimens of the kind of analysis which the author has been accustomed to apply to the several parts of an oration, and which cvery student in oratory should be continually making out for himself. (6.) Translations of the passages quoted from the ancient and foreign languages, with the poetry rendered into English verse. The passages are usually traced to their sources, and the train of thought given as it appears in the original, without a knowledge of which most quotations have but little force or beauty. For the same reason, the classical and other allusions are traced out and explained. (7.) A concluding statement of the way in which the question was de. cided, with occasional remarks upon its merits, or the results produced by the decision. Great compression has been used in preparing this volume, that all who are interested in the study of eloquence may be able to possess it. Each page contains the matter of three ordinary octavo pages in Pica type; and the whole work has in it one sixth more than Chapman's Select Speeches, or Willison's American Eloquence, in five octavo volumes each. In conclusion, the author may be permitted to say, that while he has aimed to produce a volume worthy of lying at all times on the table of ev. ery yne engaged in speaking or writing for the public, he has hoped it might prove peculiarly useful to men of his own profession; since nothing is more desirable, at the present day, than a larger infusion into our sacred eloquenca of the freedom, boldness, and strength which distinguish our secular oratory Sat 1st. 1852. CONTENTS. ........ 7 .... 21 BIR JOHN ELIOT ........................... Page 11 Walpole, ib.; deprived of his commission, íd., becoman Ibis early vife, 1; elected to the House at the opening of leader of the Opposition, 54-5; comparison between the contest with Charles I., ib.; imprisoned by the him and Lord Mansfield, 55; gains a complete ascend. King, ib.; again elected while in jail, ib. ; Petition of ancy in the House, 56; unites with Mr. Pelham, and in Right 2; Charles tries to evade it, ib.; Eliot's speech, made Paymaster of the Forceg, ib.; exhibition of dig. ib.; characteristics of his eloquence, ib.; imprisoned, interestedness, 56-7; on the death of Pelham comes out dies the first martyr to liberty, 6. against Newcastle, his successor, 58; attack on Mans. field, "Felix trembles," ib.; attack on Fox, "conflux of SPEECH on the Petition of Right ..... ........3 the Rhone and Soane," 59; drives Mansfield out of the House, ib.; is made Prime Minister on Newcastle's reg. ignation, 60; dismissed soon after, and all England in llis birth and education, 7; early traits, ib.; ill-treated by commotion, ib.; restored, his influence over all con. Buckingham, ib.; assumes the character of a patriot, nected with him in government, ib. ; power of his elo. 9; description of the trial, ib. France sues for peace, 63; Spain joins her, ib.; he pro. SPEECH when Impeached of High Treason.......... 11 poseg war against her, but overruled by Lord Bute, ib., resigns, ib.; makes his “Sitting Speech" against Lord Bute's peace, 64; attack on Mr. Grenville, "Gentle Shep herd," 65; opposes the King respecting John Wilkes and His early life, 15 : enters the House as an opponent of the American taxation, ib. ; contemptuous retort on Justice government, ib.; employed against Buckingham, ib.; Moreton, 66; withholds his support from the Rocking. appointed one of the managers for the impeachment of ham administration, ib.; forms his third ministry, and Strafford, ib.; changes sides and comes out against the is raised into the House of Lords, 67; his loss of health and inability to administer the government, 68; resigns against the Grafton ministry. 69: it falls before him, ib.; ... 19 support of America, 70; declines in health, ib.; his "lis extraction and character, 19; evils resulting from a death, 71 ; characteristics of his eloquence, 71-5. SPEECH on a Motion for an Address on the Marriage of separation in all other respects, ib.; jealousy of the En. the Prince of Wales ...................... Page 76 glish ag to the trade of Scotland, ib. ; retaliatory meag. SPEECH on the Spanish Convention... 2rce of the Scotch, ib.; plan of a Legislative Union, 20; SPEECH on the Impressment of Seamen..... SPEECH in reply to Horatio Walpole..... SPEECH in favor of Inquiring into the conduct of Sir Speech against the Legislative Union of England and Robert Walpole..... SECOND SPEECH in favor of Inquiring into the conduct SPEECH on taking the Hanoverian Troops into the pay of His birth and early education, 27; enters Parliament as a Whig, ib.; early traits of character, ib.; made Prime SPEECH on a Motion for an Address of Thanks after the Minister, ib. ; his extreme jealousy of all who might be. Battle of Dettingen........... come his competitors, 28; character of the Opposition SPEECH on the Right of Taxing America...... ..... 103 and of Bolingbroke as its leader, ib.; Walpole's system SPEECH in Reply to Lord Mansfield in Relation to the of corruption, ib.; falsely accused as to most of his leading measures, ib.; errors of his ministry, 29; char- SPEECH on a Motion to Inquire into the State of the Na- acter of his eloquence and that of his contemporaries, Speech in Relation to the Seizure of the Falkland Islands SPEECH on Addressing the King for his Removal..... 35 Inhabitants of Boston...... ................... 126 MR. PULTENEY...... SPEECH in favor of an immediate Removal of the British ....... 43 Troops from Boston .... His early life and study of oratory, 43; gradual develop. SPEECH on a Motion for an Address to put a stop to Hos- ...... 132 SrExcu un Reducing the Army.. . 43 ..... 139 LAST Speech upon America, with the circumstances of .................................. 19 His birth, 45; early love of polite literature, ib.; elegance LORD MANSFIELD..... of his manners, ib.; his acutiness and wit as a public His birth, 143; descended from the Stormont family, which adhered to the Stuarts, ib.; sent early to the Westmin ster school, ib.; his great proficiency, ib. ; removed to Oxford, ib.; his studies in rhetoric, ib. ; commences the SPEECH against Licensing Gin-Shops ............... 46 study of the law, ib.; laborious training in extempora. neous speaking, ib.; historical studies, 144; practice in elocution, ib., a favorite of Pope, ib.; extent of his llis birth and carly sufferings from the gout, 52; his ed. business as a lawyer, ib.; made Solicitor General, ib., ; enters Parliament, as Chief Justice, 146; testimony of Justice Story, ib. ..... 52 ELLANEOUS....................... ...... 378 will cecord Chath 192 As Chief Justice at the age of eighty-three, ib.; his death, Sheridan, 230; writes his Rc:lections on the Revolu its errors, ib.; its excellences, 231-32; his separation Speech on the right of Taxing America....... Page 148 from Mr. Fox, 232-33; loss of his son, 234-35: pension REMARKS on the foregoing speech with the American ar. granted him, 235; bis Letter to a Noble Lord on the subject of his pension, ib.; his Letters on a Regicide King's Bencl................................... France, 235-36; decline of his bealth, 237 : his dentb, Jeges .......................................... 160 SPEECH on Conciliation with America ....... SPEECH previous to the Bristol Election ..... ................ 163 SPEECH on declining the Election at Bristol ... 310 His Letters have taken a permanent place in our elo. SPxecu on the East India Bill of Mr. Fox ...... 311 quence, 163; the rhetorical skill which they manifest, SPEECH on the Nabob of Arcot's Debts...... 329 PERORATION of Speech against Warren Hastings ... 362 EXTRACTS from works on the French Revolution... 36% ib.; logical cast of his mind, 163-4; peculiar benefits to the young orator from the study of his style, 164; bis MR. BURKE on the Death of his son. extraordinary powers of condensation, ib. ; of insinu- CHARACTER of Sir Joshua Reynolds .... ating ideas without expressing them in forrn, 161-5; DETACHED SENTIMENTS AND MAXIM9.. ... 379 reasons why indirect attack by insinuation is so pecul. iarly painful to cultivated minds, 165 ; Junius' means of 7; the perfection of his imagery, 167; who was Juni- in London, ib. ; study of Lord Chatham as an orator, us ? 168-9; his political relations, 170; had previously ib. ; settlement in Dublin as an advocate, ib.; election Flood, ib. ; invective against him, ib.; opposed to the personal qualities and character as an orator, 385. will cease writing, ib.; he discontinues his Letters at the end of three years, and Sir Philip Francis is sent to SPEECH on moving a Declaration of Irish Right .... 386 SPEECH on making a second motion for a Declaration of LETTER to the Printer of the Public Advertiser ..... 173 .................... 391 INVECTIVE against Mr. Flood .... LETTER to Sir William Mraper ... LETTER to Sir William Draper..... INVECTIVE against Mr. Corry...................... 396 LETTER to the Duke of Grafton .. LETTER to the Duke of Grafton .... LETTER to the Duke of Bedford... RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN............... 399 REMARKS on the Character of the Duke of Bedford (by His parentage and connection with the stage, 399; early dramatic productions, ib. ; purchase of Drury Lane 193 Theater, ib.; election to Parliament, ib.; nade Under LETTER to the Duke of Grafton ... ... 200 Secretary of State, 400; keen retort on Pitt, ib.; speecb House of Lords under the impeachment, 401; Lord a speaker, 402; his wit and humor, ib.; habits of intem. .............. 206 perance, 403 ; unhappy death, ib. ; personal appearance His birth and delicate constitution, 206: educated at a and character as an orator, 404. moved to Trinity College, Dublin, ib. ; Account of his fore the House of Lords .... studies, 207 ; early philosophical spirit, ib.; leaves col. lege and studies law in London, ib. ; his scvere inental CHARLES JAMES FOX ......................... 431 labor, 208; applies unsuccessfully for a professorship in His birth and early genius, 437; indulgence of his father ib. ; produces habits of dissipation, 438; eminence ir classical literature, ib.; distinction at Eaton and Oxford, ib.; early extravagance, 439; enters Parliament, is.. first a Tory and in office under Lord North, 440; turp ed out abruptly, ib. ; joins the Whigs as a pupil of Burke, 441; his labors to form himself as a debater, 443; becomes head of the Whig party, ib.; is made Sec. retary of State under Lord Rockingham, 444; disap- rointed in not becoming Prime Minister on the death of Rockingharo, ib.; forms his Coalition with Lore North. 445drives out the ministry and becomes Sec. retary of State, ib.; his East India Bill, 446; speech in this and his speech on American Taxation, 215-16; support of it, 447; carried in the House, ib. ; defeated speech on Economical Reform, *King's turnspit a in the Lords, ib.; his speech against secret influence, 448; displaced and Mr. Pitt made Prime Minister, ib.; unsuccessful erorts to drive Pitt from power, ib.; West. minster election, 449; Mr. Fox's speech on the subject, 450 : decision of the House in his favor, ib.; derange- ment of the King, ib.; Mr. Fox asserts the right of the Prince of Wales to the Regency, 451; King recovers, 452; Mr. Fox's speech against Mr. Pitt for arming against Russia, 453: his Libel bill, ib.; his views of the French Revolution, 454; his speech on Mr. Pitt's rejection of Bonaparte's overtures for peace, 458: comes in under Lord Grenville as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, 459 : his death, personal appcarance, 460 ; characteristics of hie oratory, ib. ................. 402 seven years, 224: rensons for the acquittal of Hastings, Srcech on Secret Inducnce.... 225; king becomes deranged, 226; his ground respect. SPEECH on the Westminster Scrutiny. ing a Regency, ib.; his unpopularity and abusive treat. SPEECH on the Russian Armament .. brent in the house, i5, ; his early jealousy of the French SPEECU on Parliamentary Reform.. th Mr. For on the subject, 229; his breach with Mr. Peace .... |