The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-12 00:00:00

HUMMING.

The custom of conveying approbation or a?plause by'
prevalent in the seventeenth century, is well
ih;r4rated by the following curious anecdote from John-
son's Lives of the Poets, IEO9, vol. ii. p. 41:—
.' Bishop Burnet is not very favourable to the memory
of Bishop Sprat ; but he and Burnet were old rivals. On
some public occasion, they both preached before the House
of CUIDIPOTIS. There prevailetl in those days an indecent
cus:uni : when the preacher touched any favourite topic in
a manner that delighted his audience, their approbation
was expressed by a lane hum, continued in proportion to
their zeal or pleasure. When Burnet preached, part of
congregaion /is.-inrnit! so loudly and sa long, that he
sat :loan to enjoy it, and rubbed his faze with his hand-
ker_hief. When Sprat preached, he likewise was honoured
wirli the same animating hum; but he stretched out his
l:ands to the congregation, and cried, Peau, peace! i
pay you, peat?.'—This I w.as toll in my youth by my
tatha, an old man, who had Leen no careless observer of
ti.e passages of those timps.—Burnees sermon, says Salmon,
wan remarkable for sedition, and Sprat's fur loyalty. Bur-
net had the thanks of the House; Sprat bad no thanks,
has a good living from the King, which, he said, was of as
rw.cli value as tha: thanks of the Commons."
This enFtom wa,, continued in the Universities in 11;58,
au !, perh..ps, liter, as appears from the testimony of the
Hey. S.ttouel Peyge, LL.D., who, in a curious posthumous
%ohm:- ut newt vator.s on various outhors and subjects, in-
ti " flpmnyenuii,/,' p. 467, says, That way of giving
a; pause I.y humming, new practised in our Universities.
(for which re:!son, in a tripos speech, they wete once called
Hum et lfissimi Aaiditures,) is a method net unknown to
barbarous nst.ons. (See Churcl,ol's Travcls, vol. i p 651.
.)"

1

~. ..

INSTALLATION OF H. BROUGHAM, F.
Al LORD RECTOR or THE UNIVERSITY OF (MAIM OR.

GLASGOW, APRIL 6.
The Very Reverend Principal 31•Farlan having stated that, in
agreement with the statute% of the University, the election of Mr.
Brougham had been made known to that Gentleman anti that he
had accepted of the office of Lord Rector, then proceeded to admi.
niinese the oath of office; after which Mr. Brougham thus addressed
his very numerous audience:—
" It now becomes me to return my sincere and respectful thanks
for my election to an office which has been tilled by PO many great
men, whose merits might make any comparison formidable even
to a more worthy successor. AVhilst I desire you to accept of these
thanks, excuse the edemas and the form which I now adopt, which
I think better than any unpremeditated discourse, bemuse my re-
mark* will more certainly appear to be the fruit of mature delibe-
ration, and that I may nut be supposed to discharge an important
office in a perfunctory manner. 1 feel very sensibly, if I urge you
to be intent on the pursuit of learning, which flourishes under the
kindly shelter of these roofs, that I may weary my youthful audi-
ence ; and, if I give my advice, I may seem to trespass on the pro-
vince of those very able and learned persons under whose care you
have the happiness to be placed. But I would neveri hetes. expose
myself to the charge for the sake of joining my voice with theirs in
retesting you to believe how incomparably the present season is
the most precious of your whole lives. This is not the les+ true,
because it is often inculcated on you that the period of youth is by
far the best Ind for the improvement of the mind. In the retire-
ment of a college you have an opportunity of laying the foun.
dation of whatever is pubic or excellent. Now every thing has
the attractive power of novelty—attention is sharpened by curi-
osity, and the memory is susiceptible of deep impressions, to a
degree.unknown in future life. For the distracting cares of the
world cross not the threshold of these calm retreats; its distant
cries and bustle are but faintly heard; the struggles of parties
are viewed afar oft; and the prospect is rendered more soft
by the scenes of beauty which are below. Yet a little while.
and you will be plunged into then. bitter water.; then you will
look Lack on the react ful regfins you have quitted for ever. But
it will be to your own fault if you look back with a feeling of re-
pentance or theme. Every hour squandered here in unprofitable
daisy will then rise up against you, and be the cause of bitter
regret. I wish that I couid beseech you so to store your minds
with the exquisite learning of former ages, that you may possess
within yourselves the sources of rational and refined erjoyment,
1111101 will enable yen to set at nought the plenettres of geese, and
to imbue yourselves with the sound philesnphy of later days,
forming you to virtuous habits that you may walk unhurt through
the trials with which you- meet, and may look down on error-,not
with supercilious contempt, as did the sage of old time—but with
the desire of enlightening the ignorant, by so much the mots ens
thsared as they want your instruction. Assuming the improvement
of his own mind to be the end of every man's existence, who is re-
moved above the daily care of providing for his own sustenance,
and a duty, es tar as immediate wants leave him tire:- unemployed,
your attention is directed to the means by which such a work may
be performed; but in the limited time oh' this diseount these can
occupy only a small portion of our consideration. There are two
subjects on which I would make a few observations connected with
the study of the rhetorical art, by which useful truths are promul-
gated with effect. and also with the purposes to which the practice
of this art should be subsetvient. It is a common error among
young pmons to turn from the painful study of Recited send attic
composition, and to satisfy themselves with works, by the fami-
liarity of their 'nether tongue rendered pleasanter and more easy.
They plausibly contend, that as powerful diction is after all the
object to be attained, the study of the best English models
affords the shortest road ; and, admitting the ancients to be the great
fountains of eloquence in composition, they would rather profit by
the Labocre of English translators, and, taking the most sect!.
rate of these as a ster.dard, would give themselves no care
about the immortal originals. This argument, the thin co-
vering of indolence, would speedily sink the fine arts into barren.
ness and insignificance. Why should a sculptor or painter journey
to Athens or Rome? Might he not profit by the labours of those
at borne ? Be assured that the English chisel falls not more short
of the wonders of the Acropolis, than the productions of modern
pens fall short of the chaste and rigorous eloquence that resistlessly
fulmined over Greece. Be folly assured that the greatest works of
rand eloquence have been done by those who cultivated most
iigntly the examples of Athenian excellence. Among poets
there is hardly an exception to this rule. unless Shakspeare, on ex-
ception to all rules, be taken ; and Dante, familiarly acquainted
with the best works of his own country. But among the orators, I
know not ef RR exception. Cicero so honoured the Greek masters
of eloquence, that he not only repaired to Athens to finish his edu-
cation there, but continued the practice for many years of declaim.
ing in Greek. And though he fell into a more corrupt manner and
style then introduced by Asian fashions, yet he ever extols the emble
perfection of Ids first masters ; and, even at a late period of his life,
he employed himself in translations from the Greek orators. From
the immortal speech of Demosthenes op the crown, he sometimes
copies even to the very letter. Anti in the Roman orator may be
found the psasege in which ,Eschines describes the torments re-
served for the guilty-in a future state—(the Orations against Lucius
Pisa). I have dwelt on the practice of Cicero, because it enables
us to answer the question whether the study of Roman authors is
not enough to re6ce our style? He either fell short in copying
them, or, misled by admiration of enthellishment,or adopting the
false models of the Asian school, weakened his style of eloquence.
We should not, by instating the same but less perfect original,
copy his faults • for thus, to a commanding and noble beauty, we
should prefer the image of some garish damsel, reflected from a
mirror, which, if it diverts not the features, weakens the brilliancy of
her natural tints. But there are other reasons which justify the same
observations, grounded on the beauty and power of the Greek lan-
guage. The compositions of Cicero, exquisite as they are for diction
and style,are, cevertheless, so extremely oratorical, that nothing can
be less adapted to the genius of modern eloquence. Nearly all the
orations of Marcos Tullius are of this nature. Hardly two pas-
sages can be found which would hear to be repeated to a modern
audience. Passages on the merit: of the case, and in defence of
the charge, or in mitigation of punishment, might be used, or
whether we read his political or forensic orations, the style of rea.
toning and ointment is wholly unfitted for the more severe and less
trifling eloquence of modern times. But it is altogether different
with the Grecian orators; for, by softening the invectives so as
better to suit the chivalry of modern hostility, there is hardly any
political or forensic oration of the Greeks that might not be de.
livered before a modern assembly. Their panegyrics are far less
inflated than those of the French preachers and academicians.
There is this difference between the Greek and Roman orators—the
former never speaks for the sake of speaking ; but the latter seems
ever and anon to lose sight of the subject-matter, and to adorn and
ernbelish. He tickles the ear without reaching the heart. For in
all the orations of Cicero and Livy, where shall be found that quick
succession of short questions, by which Demosthenes groups, as it
were, the whole subject in a few sentences? But though the more
businesslike manner of modem debate approach much nearer the
Greek elaquence, it must be admitted that it falls short in the
closeness of the argument; for the Boman orator has his speech
parcelled out into divisions. Now, says he, lam designing to rouse
your N11%1003; and now I will amuse your fancy ; and now I mean
.to convince your understanding. But in all the divisions, the
Greek makes the figures an integral part of the reasoning. In the
most pathetic part of one of his orations, Demosthenes, after intro-
ducing a most eloquent paseege, instantly, not abruptly, returns
into the midst of the main argument, with the whole of ha powers,
showing that the merits of public servants, not their success, should
be the standard by which they ought to be judged. There runs
through the whole speech the most admirable ease ; and with the
same ease does Virgil, in the Georgics, make a transition, where,
in the midst of the description of a fight, the magician strikes his
wand in the field of battle, anti helmets are cast abroad, where sud-
de- ly a lone husbandman is represented to us as turning up the
earth, and driving his plough, among helmets rusted over and the
bones of mighty men :
" Scilicet et tempos veneit cum father illis
Agricola, inenrvo terrain molitus matzo,
Eines inveniet scabra rubigine pita
Aut gravibus tennis galeas pulsubit inane*,
Grandiaque eflinis niirabitur ossa sepulchris."
(Geor. I. 493-7.)
Bat if a further reason is required, we may find it in the greater
diversity and importance of the subjects on which they speak.
Besides a number of orations merely forensic, we have all the sub-
jects of state politics. Compare Demosthenes with Cicero in this
respect. and thecontrasi yell be striking. For this purpose, see
the orations against Camille, and the Phillippics. Of Demos.
dames, we have not only many arguments on matters strictly pri.
rate, and many on interesting topics ; but many invaluable consi.
tierations of state paint, as in the oration against .Eschines on
the crown, and the Phillippirs. In these he discusses every ques.
tion of foreign politics. These speeches were delivered on subjects
the nio.t important arid affecting to the whole commonwealth.
These topics were of universal application. The Latin orator
must keep a middle course of argument, but the Athenian- can
hardly hold too lofty a tone, or carry his views too extensively over
the field of human freedom. After chastening the taste, it is ne-
ceniary to acquire correct habits of writing in cur own language,
lint by original composition, and next by frequent translation.
The best English writers are those which flourished from the time
of Elizabeth to that of Queen Anne. They used a good Saxon
dialect, and were learned in the ancient classics, without over.
loading the style of prose with a pedantic coining of foreign wonls.
These great writers had no foreknowledge that other writers would
succeed them, whole
styles should be meretriciously ornamented
more than half French in the diction, heavily inflated, meseure
by the eye,not judged by the ear, with an endless profusion o
ancient words and phrases, confusedly mixed with o.tr own Saxon.
least of all did they imagine that men would prates to teach com-
position who were ignorant of its rules. The preachers of the
Augastan age of the English Church are among the chief of these
great writers. But do not imegine that I would pass over numer.
ens faults. None united force with beauty. And to one charge all
are exposed ; a fault unknown in ancient times. They always over-
did, never knowing when they heal said enough. Among the Greeks
a sitietle phrase was used. often a word, and the work was done. The
desired itlinteseion is made by a single stroke. Nothing superficial
is admitted. The comnuanding idea is singled out ; anti as the
Emperor Napoleon selected one point in the centre of the adverse
army, and brintglit all his power to bear on that alone, knowing
that if he sucxecled In this, all other things would follow as natur.l
coesenuencre, while a failure in this left all else unimportant, so
the Grecian orator dwells with all his collected energy on the most
important argument. But modern writers resemble those cam.
pawners who fit out twenty expeditions against places of no tin-
ponaece, and which, if gained, leave the strong hold as yet tin-
s:le:en and even unartempted. They divide their forces and make
nu ef.r.lia- iirprt..sion. It seems the prirciple of such writers

TILIE BRITISH MESS.

never to leave any tiling unsaid that can be said.- They run down
every Idea which they start. Compare with these .he mental seve-
rity of ancient eloquence, or of Stilton. whet apprOached near to it,
or of Dance who approached still nearer ; mark his severe simpli-
city an the most touching parts of one of his odes. Here Mr.
Brougham introduced a number of quotations.) Dante approaches*
nearest, in his finest paessges, to Demosthenes. In him you rarely
hod en epithet r• hardly flitter than one. and never more than two.
In forming the taste by frermeht contemplation of these models,
and is acquiring the habits of chute composition, all the labour
will be amply recompensed.' Fur the man who has done this may
then venture his face in the public assembly. He will have ac-
quired the power of easy @reeking, as well as of easy writing. I
should lay it down as a rule that the man will speak welt who has
written much with great care. Though some from newest talent
may speak fluently and well, who can say that with pieparatien
they would not have reached a greater height of excellence ? The
excellence of the ancients is the best proot of the pelt-A.l)de here im-
plied, for the evidences of their previous preparation are innumer-
able. In Demosthenes we can trace Mite nicely he polished his
compoeition, this being Cleat from three peseeges in particular, de-
Ilveree at different Lime,, but in which die marks of improvement
are visible. There is, no doubt. a charm in tettempore speaking,j„
derived from the non-appearance of art, and adapting Itself to the
occasion. That which is inspired by unfuseveen circumstances will
hr suited to those circumstances. These ;re points of importance.
It is difficult to avoid the exhauulhg method. Much of the plea-
sure of extempore speaking depends on the hearer'. eurpriee, and
on sentiments being delivered at all, than that any thine( very ex-
cellent has been delivered. The art can easily 1)e attained by him
ellohopo7nietlilon fortc°, considers
such re matures his thought, and refines his
Composition,
preparation is qnite consistent with the in-
troduction of raseages suggested at the moment. Nor will the
transition from one to another be perceptible. I have known skil-
ful hearers deceived to this way, who have taken for extempore
speaking that which previously existed in manuscript. Thus
we are told by Cicero. that having to make a speech to Pompey
after Cremate, he greatly excelled, being assisted by the rentem-
braace introduction of passages which he had before preening►
for different purposes. If now, (coin contemplating the means, we
turn to the noble purposes of eloquence, we find that the greatest
masters of the art have concurred in this point, and pronounced
one opinion on the use or this solely. Let their sentiments be
engreven on our memory. it* not tile diction of the mator, nor
the music of his voice, lint his devotedness to the gore' of the maws
of mankied, that determines the character of his mind. It is the
hest praise of the art, that It points out how sacred truth may be
moat widely promulgated, the cause of persecuted innocedoe best
defended, the march of wick. I rulers be most triumphantly op.
posed, how defiance may be hurled at the prosecutor's liead, bow
to guide men in the midst of public convulsions, and to bring
about salutary changes. In such circumstanoes how important and
powerful must eloquence be ! But in peaceful times, when the
progress of events is slow, and the tumult can be heard no longer,
then too she flourishes protectress of liberty, patroness of tin.
proven ant, guardian of all the blessings that can be showered on
the mass of humankind, nor ever is she seen but in teaching
some grand lesson to meth To me, calmly revolving these things,
such pursuits seem more noble than any which the vulgar herd of
basemen lavish prodigally. To communicate useilil information—
to further intellectual retinement—to hasten the coming of that
bright day when the dawn of general knowledge shall chase away
the lazy mists, even from the base of the great social pyramid—
this is a high station to which man can be raised, and in whieln'the
moat splendid talents may well press onward to bear a part. I
know that I speak in a piece consecrated by the pious wisdom of
ancient times to the instruction of youth ; yet from this classic
ground have gone forth those, who by their genius, not by their
ancestry, have been ennobled; and whose illustrious example has
made the humblest emulous to climb the arduous steers, and enter
these gates that are burning with the sun. Where Black taught
and IVatt learned the principles of !tierce, the grand experiment
was made to administer to the highest intellectual cultivation that is
compatible with the daily toils of man, and to promote a keen re-
lish for the most sublime truths that belong equally to all classes
of the human race. To the cultivation of the most important
sciences men of talents are pressing forward from every part of the
empire. But I with the same course us be pursued by men of
higher station and weight, and by men of highest rank. Our object
should be to extend the bounds of science, by the discovery of new
truths, or by new modes of application. Thus the number of
scientific men will be increased, and more Watts and Franklin% will
arise, and, appearing among these working classes to which Watt
and Franklin once belonged, have their thoughts turned to philoso-
phy. The inventors of new arts will be seen more numerous, and
the material difference will be that the mass of the ignorant multi-
tude being diminished, the body of the former will be increased.—
It solely can never be supposed that persons eminent for science
and knowledge could be jealous of its general diffusion, for the ex.
tension of knowledge to the maul of the people could only augment
tile number of their admirers. To those who feel alarm, as states.
men and friends of social order, 1 would address a few words. The
cultivation sof science has never really promoted turbulence or un-
belief; but its progress is the forerunner of liberality and en-
lightened toleration. Ile who dreads the light of truth cannot re-
sist its power. For he may be well assured that the day is at length
come, which must put to flight the evil spirit of tyragny and
persecution. As men will no longer suffer themselves to be
led into darkness, so will they no more yield to the evil princi-
ple of judging their fellow-men not according to the merits of
their actions, but the articles of their creed. The great truth
has gone forth into all the bounds of the earth, that man shall
no more render recount to man for his Waif. ever which he •
himself no control. Henceforward nothing shall prevail on us to
praise or to blame a man for that which he can no more
change than he can the hue of his skin, or the height of his sta-
ture. Treating with respect those who differ from us, the only
practical effect of the difference will be, to cause us to enlighten the
ignorance from which it springs, by teaching them if they are
wrong, by improving ourselves tf we are right, that the only kind of
contest may be to produce the agreement proceeding from full eon.
vietlon after the fairest discussion. Then every fear for the uni-
versal spread of knowledge will be removed, and truth and virtue
will watch over the the peace of the country ; the sure effect will
be the removal of the only dangerstliat threatens public tranquil.
lily and the confirmation of the liberties of our native land. Far
those tyrants who have shed the blood of mankind to extend their
empire, and who instinctively hate the light, let diem tremble.
Let me then indulge in the hope that, among the illustricus youths
who adorn this an:tent College, famed for its useful learning, there
may be found some one, 1 ask no more, willing to give a bright
example to his nation, by taking the lead of his fellows, not in
frivolous amusement—not in trifling studies--but in the truly noble
task of enlightening the great mass of his countrymen; and of
having his own name encircled with honours most worthy of our
rational natnre, and pronounced with rapture by millions whom his
beneficence has raised from ignorance and vice. This is the true
mark of all who prize the enjoyment cf lasting happiness, or set
a value on a high and unsullied renown. And if the benefactors of
mankind, when they rest from their pious labours, shall be per-
mitted hereafter to enjoy, as a reward, the privilege of looking down
on the blessings with which their toils and sufferings have clothed
the scenes of their former existence, do not vainly imagine that in
a state of purity and wisdom it will be the founders of mighty dy-
nasties, or the mean followers of tyrants, who have sacrificed to
their own aggrandisement the good of countless multitudes, that
will be thus gratified. Theirs will be the praise and the triumph,
who can trace the effects of their beneficence in the improved con-
dition of their species, and exult in the reflection, that by their
deeds joy beamed from the eyes of the sorrowful. The lovers of
truth and virtue, trampling under foot tyranny, and driving igno-
rance from the world, shall reap the precious, though costly fruit of
their labours, a recompense for long enduring all the hardships
and hazards they encountered here below. (Great cheering.)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

BRISTOL SHIP CANAL.
Vint* Amor Pada.

It is no uncommon titingtosecan old monopolist using every
efFort to perpetuate his monopoly, or a young schemer nursing some
new project, but it is lamentable to witness those men opposing every
national improvement. The very great uneasiness produced in a
certain quarter by the mere agitation of any matter connected with
the Ship Canal, and the illiberal means that arc used to stop the
progress of this splendid, and, in every way, truly important under.
taking, are, to me, as so many fresh evidences in favour of its uti-
lity and benefit. And I will tell Hr. Broadmead, that before the
appearance of his uncalled-for notice to the subscribers, I had
intended only to sign for 20 shares, but since the appearance of it
I have resolved to affix my signature to the Deed for 60 shares,
upon the principle that the noblest motive is the public goad.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
PHILO-VERITATIS.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE ASSIZES.-oLorcutza, Ara:L 9.

CROWN SIDE.

[ Before Alr. Justice LITTLEDAtt.I
Anne Brirrksorth was indicted for the murder of herfemale
bastard child, by drowning it in a pond; and Afary Briakwortli,
her mother, was charged with aiding and assisting her in so doing.
It was proved that the bud), of a child, which the younger pri-
soner confessed to be hers, was found in a pond about a turlong
distant from her mother's house. It 'lad a piece °flatting tied
round its throat, and two stones were fixed to the body to prevent
its floating. But it appearing froin the evidence of the medical
gentleman who was called in, that it was doubtful whether the
child had ever been alive,
The Jury, under the direction of the Lamed Judge, acquitted
the younger prisoner of the munler, and found her guilty of con-
cealing the birth of the child. The elder prisoner was acquitted
altogether.
The Learned Judge sentenced the younger prisoner to be im.
prisoned for six calendar months.
This concluded the Gloucester Assizes and the Oxford Circuit,
which has been one of the heaviest ever known.

Sarah Anslow was committed to oar county gaol on
Saturday last, on a Coroner's warrant, charged with the
" manslaughter of Elizabeth Dewson." About a month
ago, the two above-named individuals, who resided at
Wellington, had some angry words ; blows followed.
The prisoner being armed with a frying-pan, and the de-
ceased with a rolling-pin, several blows were exchanged.
The deres.el died a :'ew day.' ago.—Sh.-rwsbary eironicle.