The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-16 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 1864.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL RACES-FRIDAY.

The Bickerstaffe Stakes of 100 sous each, h ft, for 3-yr-
olds ; colts, 3st 101 b; fillies, Bst 71b; certain penalties and
allowances. 1 mile. 3 subs.
Mr W. S. Cartwright's Ely, Bst 101 b .. (Edwards) w.o.
The Liverpool St. Leger of 25 soya each, 10 ft, for 3-yr-olds ;
colts, Bst 101 b; fillies and geldings, Bstfilb. About 11
miles. 8 subs.
Mr Bowes's Claremont, Bst 101 b (Ashman) w.o.
The Scurry Handicap of 50 sous ; for all ages. T.Y.C.

A Lesson in Oratory.

(From the Late Times of this day.)

It is impossible to witness unmoved a battle of the giants,
and the great debate of last week deserves to be so called
Oratory is se essentially a part of the education and busi-
ness of a lawyer, that to every member of the profession a
conflict of orators has an interest, apart from the subject of
the strife. It is a lesson to be learned, a study by which to
profit. Thus critically viewed by the advocate's Bye, it
must be admitted that the lawyers were excelled by the
civilians. The Attorney-General has been seldom less effec-
tive than upon this occasion, so calculated to inspire to the
loftiest display of his art. His argument was not forcibly
presented, and his pereoration was feeble. Perhaps he
had prepared it too carefully beforehand. There are
some speakers, and we suspect that the Attorney-
General is one of them, who speak better under the
impulse of the moment than when they write and com-
mit to memory, and for this reason, that in preparation their
good taste restrains the fl)w of words in which feeling finds
vent, and the cold correctness of the study chills the fervour
of debate, and contrasts unpleasantly with the excitement
that surrounds the speaker, Mr Whiteside was far more
effective, bat he fell short of himself, and perhaps for the
same reason. But Mr Whiteside is a natural orator, which
Sir Roundel! Palmer is not, and therefore previous study
of a speech is likely to diminish its power, though it may
improve its art. It is much to be regretted that Sir Hugh
Cairns was not heard on this grand occasion, which would
have suited well his peculiar oratory, the characteristic of
which is power. There is no living lawyer who can put
an argument into so telling a form as he, and though he
rarely rises to positive eloquence, he is always convincing.
'The greatest speech of the debate—viewed as a work of
art—was that of Mr Horan:Lan. It had every quality of a
grand oration, and will well repay the careful examination
of the student of oratory. It was most artistically con••
etructed, rising with regular steps to the climax, each part in
its right place, all leading to the conclusion—no part of it
overlaid with argument—scarcely a superfluous word—the
invective carefully measured—the eloquence chastely sub-
dued—fraught with matter not hidden in a cloud of words
—in fact, a model speech. That it was written and com-

witted to memory was manifest; no man could utter such
perfect sentences and polished irony on the impulse of the
moment; but, unlike the Attorney-General, who has the
coolness—perhaps some will call it the coldness—of the
by feelings which, though the words were spoken from the
lawyer,memory
M ry and
Hdnoortsmfraon has
mthesmtrohnadg emotions and was inspired
,
infused their own bitter-
ness and gave to them the effect of extempore utterance.
Next to his comes the speech of Mr Cobden, remarkable
for being more than mere invective, for the enunciation
of a definite policy. Our business, however, is with
its art, and not its argument. It was pregnant with
matter, the manifest product of a thoughtful mind address-
ing itself to the intelligence of its audience. Hence it may
be termed a weighty speech, but not a heavy one. On the
contrary, it was impossible not to listen, and so clearly were
the arguments put, and in such plain language expressed,
that the shallowest could understand him thoroughly.
The reason of this singular clearness, that characterises all
the speeches of Mr Cobden and was so pre-eminently ex-
hibited last week, is that he is a clear thinker. Muddy and
confused speakers are such because their ideas are confused
y have thoughts, when
at
hnedymhuadvde yo.n
yTthhoey s
ht ha
di nokw
st hoof t
tthhoeughts,
dim and shape-
less conceptions that float across the mind and are never
reduced to form, and glimpses of arguments that are
never followed through from their first steps to their
conclusions. Mr Cobden speaka what he thinks as
he thinks, and hence the charm of his oratory
to the intelligent, his influence even when putting
forth unpopular doctrines, and the pleasure with
which he is always heard and read. The third great speech
of the debate was that of Mr Gladstone. But it was not
one of his greatest efforts. He has made grander orations
in the Same arena on lesser occasions, Nevertheless, his
speech is a study, especially if taken in connection with the
others we have named, differing as he dues from all of them
in style. Upon the whole Mr Gladstone is the most complete
and perfect orator of his time, embracing more of the sub-
stance with ornament, good matter and graceful manner,
the rulesadndwhtheenart
this of
is oratory,
His speeches are not
written, an
in mind, it will be with
borne
astonishment that we receive the continuous stream of apt
words constructing perfect sentences which flows from his
lips for hours together, expressed in tones in which nature
has given the charm of music and flexibility. Add to this,
that he utters the genuine thought of the moment, and the
sources of his influence over an audience will be understood.
He would indeed be all powerful but for one characteristic,
which might be deemed a defect, were it not that much of
the excellence of his oratory is probably due to it. His
strangely subtle intellect is so constructed, that whatever
may be the proposition or the purpose of the moment,
it crowds upon him every argument, insomuch that he can
adduce in a moment overwhelming reasons for any policy,
any purpose, or even any principle that may present
itself, and for the time ho is perfectly sincere in his
advocacy. This is the simple explanation of his strange
contradictions of opinion and action, seldom the same for
six months together, yet each in turn held with
equal honesty, and maintained with equal ability
and genuine eatnestness. His speeches manifest that Mr
Gladstone's mind is ever overflowing with thoughts. He is a
true improvisatore. Set him any theme whatever, and he
would discourse upon it or about it with ease and fluency,
and what he says will be certain to be well said and worth
listening to ; for he has a vast and varied knowledge, and
the student may see in his example the importance to an
orator of a large store of information, and the confirmation
of a truth which cannot be too often repeated—that there is
no scrap of knowledge picked up by a man anywhere or at
any time that does not at some time come into use.

The only other speech rising much above the ave-
rage was that of Mr Bernal Osborne. But it was remark-
able, not for its accordance with the rules of oratorical art,
but for its eccentricity. It was extremely amusing, and
that is a quality certain to recommend a speaker to an
audience. Shouts of laughter pleasantly break the mono-
tony of a grave debate, and the more grave the subject
the more grateful the relief, and the more welcome the
orator who can relax the lips. But comic oratory must be
born with a man ; no art can produce it. If, however, the
reader finds in himself the faculty, he will see in Mr
Osborne's speech what good can be made of it, and how it
may be turned to the best account.
The speech of Mr Disraeli was unequal, and, on the
whole, inferior to many of its predecessors. His is essen-
tially the epigrammatic style, and nothing if it is not bril-
liant.greatest when he can flash wit, eloquence, or
sarcasm, jie is
carefully prepared, hut used with such artistic
effect as to wear the aspect of inspiration. The speech of
last week was less brilliant than usual, perhaps because he
was compelled to devote the greater portion of it to quo-
tations from and reference to blue books ; but his case was
brought forward with a skill which would have been ad-
mired in a practised advocate, and the oration may be
studied as a specimen of the manner in which a case may
be made and presented.

straightforward, ) unaffected thought, clothed
in language equally plain and Powerful, General Peel was
al:letence of oratory, has feelings
pre-eminent. His speech was admirable in taste and tone,
and the student will learn from it how eff3ctive a speaker can
and merely gives expression in the language
and opinions,
they prompt to the emotions. and convictions that are in
him. It is said that this unadorned speech was more tell-
1-Fehro,pwlaiitnh,osattraci
ing with his audience than all the splendid orations we
have been reviewing• If so it vva,, , is a
it proof that common
sense is, after all, the PriraarY qualification for a speaker,
and that the other ingredients are graces and ornaments,
that have their value, bat are not indispensable.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

MARLBOROUGH-STREET

BRUTAL ASSAULT BY A BETTING MAN.—Edward
Smith, a betting man, well known about Coventry-street,
was charged before Mr Knox with wilfully assaulting
Richard Jeffs, a drayman employed by the City of London
Brewery Company, Thames-street,
The complainant said that on the previous afternoon he
was at the corner of Panton-street, about to get on his
dray, when the prisoner gave him a blow in the mouth. He
had a struggle with the prisoner, and both fell, and on get-
ting up, the prisoner struck him a violent blow on the bead
vith a very thick stick, inflicting a bad wound. He was
comiolled to go to Charing-cross Hospital to have his head
dressed, and had to go again that morning.
Mr Knox told the complainant that on the previous
afternoon, fina.ing that he was not abll to give evidence,
having been Orillking, ho had ordered the case to come an
this morning.
A gentleman na:ned Bigg proved seeing the prisoner
strike the complainai't in the mouth, and afterwards strike
him on the head with a stick. Tho complainant was not
sober at the time.

Sergeant Lees, 9 C, proved going after the priooner, who
ran away as soon as he had assaulted the complainant, and
taking him into custody.
In answer to Mr Knox, the vrgeant said he believed the
affair arose out of " chaffing " that had been going on, it
being known in the neighbourhood that the man could not
stand it.

The prisoner wished the case postponed, that he might
call witnesses to prove that the drayman insulted a young
girl.
Mr Knox said that, whatever the origin of the affair, the
prisoner had no business to use a thick heavy stick like that
produced, and give a man such a blow as he had inflicted;
besides, it was shown that the prisoner had struck the first
blow. He would not postpone the case, for he knew what
the result would be.

The prisoner said the drayman had his whip in his hand,
and all he did was to protect himself.
Mr Bigg said that was not true.
Mr Knox ordered the prisoner to pay a flue of £5, or be
committed for a month with hard labour.