The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-02-24

scholar. Mr. GAYS elu0EeuCe, therNl0fti M
Esr lrula bcing classical and polished, AZ no
always accurate IL dicti0n, and seldom eiab0
rair ID style. Its periods are harmonious
but IL " the music taught Nm the ear, rathei
than that which j. learned ~ rAeionca
gHnfa, and arises from 4 systematic arrange
uieai NJ words and sentences H. does no
probes u bo 4 Fhiioiogist and in CO. veae
mcuce ~ debate, he never pauses ~ sa4tc
thc happiest words " tile most expressive
phrases, commonly taking such q fail 10 III
Was aud which are most obvious 70 ? mind
Infect On other considerations. He b. 81
course q great command III language but n
y point ca which he does not lay much
stress.
- much for negatives; and the question
returns, What are the constituents N Mr.
Gays eloquencG The FIRST Ingredient ~ D
voice which i melody ITSELF and which, - q
member once remarked ID ne, appears ~
charm his otcn ear, and communicate its bar.
irony to the mind. II u fuli, sonor0us, aud
musical, perfectly at command, flexible, end
trained bF long habits Nj speaking - Ill Tie
z ts-p~t .0nes aud moduations which passion
ant s.-ing car lAfsst tl sound. IA ihe
compass aud management NJ lis voice, III Cd
emphasis ana force 81 lis enumeration and de-
livery, Mr. Clay far exccls any speaker whom
/ have ever heard. His gestures too are nu-
merous, and ia the highest degree expressive.
When lie i animated, every limb, every mus
Gle Is ID motion. lie does not stamp, as il ~
said the ancient orators used to do but there
/ is scarcely any other gesture, however fOrci-
bic and expressive, which Ne does not ia turn
adopt, and al apparently from the spontane-
Gus impulse Of the mind, seeking utterance
through tie strongest aud most natural eX-
pressions. He seems 70 lose sight Of himself
and bis cadence. In the earnestness Of his
manner, his body is thrown forward, his
conference i lighted Up, every muscle il
strained. Lis eye lindled, and his periods fol-
low each other in rapid succession, with ali
the yehemence or deep and imprisoned el0-
quence.
Feeling ana passion abound in Mr.. Clay's
orat0ry but these are not the only and in
deed the principal ingredients He has a
! great, comprehensive, and powerful mind,
bold il its conceptions, original in It's views,
quick ID its perceptions, discriminating and
sound in judgment, and powerful in reason
inc. He eau convince the understanding, az
well as move the heart.-liis arguments are
generally orcible, always ingenious and
plausible, presented in strong point OF view,
Expressed without any Of the iormalities Of
lratioonatiIn, and addressed TO tile plain COM
mon sense 81 the House. To this cause NAV
be attriblted, in great measure, Mr.. Clay y
influence in a popular assembly.-He deals
in none Of the rehnements Of logic or meta
physicls; in none Of the embellishments Of
fancy and taste but presents the views and
deductions OF clear, vigorous, and powerful
mind ia perspicuous, forcible, and persuasive
sangnage.
-3fcn IL aa -fIatDrrfv~t uss~s~As &c slsl elS
quence, according to my impressions. have
Little room for illustrations drawn from his
speech to-day. One instance alone shall suf-
nee. Dir. Randolph's remarks were chiefly
ID reply to lie argument Of Mr. Clay,
ion the same SUBJECT, some days ago ;
and among other personal reflections, lie took
the liberty 70 doubt Dir. Gays pathological
and critical powers, and, ID short, his gram
matical knowledge Of the language.
In reply 10 these satirical remarks, Mr..
Clay, after acknowledging Dir. Randolph 10
be the best authority on such Subjects per-
hsps in the country, observed that tie had not
enjoyed equal advantages OF an early educa-
ton with the gentleman from Virginia that
be had not, like that honorable member been
heir t. prineely estate, and left Al ease to
indulge 10 literary pursuits 90 the contrary
dat he had inherited nothing from his parents
but infancy, penury, and ignorance; and
that he was cast upon the world 10 acquire Ills
own education, aud 10 depead upon his own
industry for a livelihood.
II may readily be conceived, that such !
declaration and such reply to the sarcastic
remarks OF Mr. Randolph produced a power.
tni effect upon The house, whose sympathie:
we're awakened BY an ingenious acknowledg-
ment Of the deficiencies imputed % him, and
the pathetic ailusion 70 his humble origin
Never was there more forcible Illustration
ofthe sentiment Of Horace:
" VI quGnflm geReri demos rirtlaibus addas '-
whatever you de:ract from family, must bt
added 10 the score Of virtue. FarelCeiL