The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-02-19 00:00:00

•• PARLIAMINTARY RLOQUENCI,
[Froa " I'f. Nest Mothly Illagashml
The Flouse of Commons, resembling a. it does
in many instances a popular assembly, would seem
to present the most ample and (mumble field for
the display of eloquence ; nor are time and means
wanting to the Members of that body, generally
speaking, for the cultivation of it. Yet there are.
circomstauces, connected with the practical situa-
tion of that branch of the Legislature, which nar•
row the cultivation of eloquent public speaking.
Not that the Commons, as individuals, want acute-
ness of feeling, refinement of intellect, and sensi-
bility to those appeals, which ardent imagina-
tions are prone to make under every disadvantage
of situation ; but it is well understood that, as a
body, they seldom came together on great ques-
tions in that unsettled state of opinion which is ca-
pable of exciting high oratorical exertion, as being
liable to be turned one way or another by the sc-
trial eloquence of ■n individual Member. Whe-
ther a proposition originate at one side of the !louse
or the other, the mover of it, before he rises to de-
velupe and enforce it, knows to an unit the num-
bers who will support or resist his motion. He
does not hope, that by any argument which he can
use, by any sublime or pathetic emotions which he
can excite, he shall add one to the list of his friend.,
or remove one from that of Ili, opponents. Thus
the character of a parliamentary speech differs, in
one of the most material ingredients of eloquence.
from tho►e ancient models, by which we are accus-
tomed to estimate productioot of this description.
It is also to be observed, that a Member of the
Abuse of Commons addressee his speech, not di-
rectly to the Gentlemen around him, but to the
Ilipeaker. Ito strict parliamentary language, he
user only to deliver his opinion upon the question
fat drb lie. This is his privilege. He ha.s nothing
to do with the °pitmans of other Members; for
their privilege is equally the same with hie own.
He may frequently wish that his own views
of a measure should be adopted by a majority ;
but his means of conveying that wish, and of im•
pre.siug it upon► others, must be found in a or..
customs and indirect course, which is not without
very considerable disedvantages to oratorical energy.
Indeed, the first duty of a Member ►eems to be to
express his own oploion clearly and fairly. Any
thing beyond this appears to he more than he is
called upon to do, unless, from office or from
expert...ice, lie may carry with him an authority on
particular
These advantage'', however, were felt more
strongly by men of genius in former time,, than
in those in which we live. In the I lome of Lords,
the Peers address their body directly. vrilinna PO"
iog through the medium of the lVuolsock ; but, in
in all other reperts, they laboured under the same
disadvantages as the COIIIIIIOII6, so long us the ef-
fect of their speeches w.is confined within the walls
of the House itself. While that was the case, no
Member of either House hail a motive powerful
enough to stimulate him to that exertion, which
success iu oratory absolutely requires. But. as
110091 as these speeches found their way through the
press to the public eat —os soon es a Pee► or a Com-
moner felt that, an addressing the protectors or the
repre•eutatives of the people, he vim alto, not in
a mere constitutional, but literal sense. addressing
the people theinselver, and that his words would be
heard not only throughout the kingdom, but the
most remote of our dependencies, then was a mo-
tive discoverer! which roused exertion to energy.
Since this change has taken place, which hes
produced, as it acre, an unlimited eillargement of
the audteicr. on orator in Parliament has in one
respect even greater advantages than Cicero pos-
seared, when he harangued the Roman Senate.
Accordingly, we have not been without men who
have turned those advantages to effect : the elo-
quence ofChathom, Burke, Sheridan, and Grattan,
has not yet ceased to vibrate in our ears.
Still it may be disputed, whether any of these
great speakers come up to the standard of true ora-
tory. as it was felt and understood by the ancients.
Perhaps Sheridan came nearest to the math.
But it may also be disputed whether it be ne-
cessary, fur any personal or political purpose, to
come exactly up to this standard of excellence.
even if it were practicable. We take Demosthenes
and Cicero to be the models of the art ; yet the
latter declares, that toot only his own productions,
but those of the Athenian, fall short of the perfec-
tion which he desired. Ito rant arida. et eapaces
mete mores, be exclaim., as semplr aliveid immew-
sum itfinitainque deside►ent. 'rise ancients would
allow nu man to be au orator, so exalted was their
ides of the character, unless he war gifted with an
influence over the passions, which was almost more
than human. His words must roll along ins deep,
brilliant, and continued stream, filling the ear with
its harmony, and overawing the soul with its ma-
jesty. if the people be sunk ire despair, be must
rouse them to a sense of glory—if they he lii tu-
mult, he must hush the wild storm—if they be in-
Wrested by pride, he toast heed their stubborn
spirit, by the magic wooden of his torque. Guilt
must turn pale beneath the terrors of his indignant
voice—innocence must smile in security beneath
his omnipotent sceptre. He must have upon his
language that spell which awakens or composes the
mottoes of the human soul ; and whether he haw*
to contend with power or prejudice, with the pas.
ions of the rude, or the interests of the enlighten-
ed, he must bear down every obstacle by the irre-
►istible torrent of his eloqueuce.

But where, iii this cola climate, shall we find an
audience capable of allowing their feelings to be
wound up to such • height, ilia they will recognise
and exult iu the sway of a godlike intelligence ?
Mr. Burke, in the floe frenzy of his indigestion
against the French Revolution, produced a''clegger
from his bosom one night in the House of Com-
mons, as tke most expressive emblem of the de-
signs which the republicans had in contemplation.
But what war the effect of this extraordinary illus-
tration ? Some Members deemed the sego mad ;
other, scarcely suppressed their laughter ; and his
saw attached friends blushed for the eccentricity
of the thing, while they endeavoured, ineffec-
lastly, to work up their minds to that degree of
enthusiasm which would enable them to praise it.
That great van felt • zeal upon the subject of
French affairs, in the warmth of which no other
finned, at that time, could entirely correspond. In
bre couceptietis, 'here was swesething of that en-
-

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