Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-08-19

we have all read in the history Of the times Of
which it treats This is almost objectionable, yet
it is into which, most Of our public orators
fall and which detract largely from the merits Of
their performances. And it has Of late years, be-
matter Of fashion,to transform oraton into
IA summary of the history ofthe Union, and instead
| of listening to declamatory efuson, we are COM
PEELED to sit down, and groan away an hour or two,
whilst the orator is reading Marshall or Ramsays
history Of the United States, with which all of u.s.
are as familiar, as we are with Noah Webaer's
spelling book "What is more tedious than twice
| told tale 2"
Mr.. Quincy has. however, avoided much Of the
evil, Notwithstanding, he has occupied eight pages
-neurly one quarter Of the whole performance,
with historical detail but then the impassioned pas
sages with which it abounds almost make amend
for the .ransgressions against common taste, and
human patience.
Fourth of July orations, should in our humble
opinion, be as free from historical detail and data
as possible; nor should the orator, any oftener.
than necessary, even allude to historical events;
and when it is done. he should carefully al.
lude to them in such manner that the mind will
not be lead to the dull prosings OF Marshall and
Trumbull. Instead of narrations, they should be
what they pretend to be e:-oRATIoss-impassione
defamation, calculated to elicit kindlier ind
genter feelings, and TO swell the youthful heart,
with patriotic emotions. and fill the soul with that
manly srdour, which begets love Of country, and
an attachment for free AMI sacred inst lutons.
We can read history enough in our closets W. can
tamiliarize ourselves with past events, and we do
not expect when assemble on the anniversary Of
our independence, to sit down. to hear the old and
thread bare story Israel Putnam, account Of
the defeat of Lord Corvallis or the battle of Mon.
mouth.
1t is for nobler and holer purpose, that We as:
semble and mingle hearts, on that great and
proud day. For il is then that we lingcr around
the of heroes, sages, and statesmen to bless
their shades, and TO offer the incense Of greaful
hearts to the gver of every good and perfect gift,
for the possession of Liberty, sacred and invioate
II is then that we wish to listen to oratory and not
to narratve,-and we expect to hear the declan'a-
tory strains off Mark Anthony, and Brutus, and
the overwhelming pathos OF a Cicero aud a Tully.
Upon the whole, Mr.. Quincy's Oration may he
pronounced excellent one and we shall be grai-
fled, i: those delivered hereafter equal its merits.
He has spared US from everlasting bore ami for
| this we thank him most cordially. We allude to
| the pedantic and disgusting practice Of filling up
some dozen pages, at the close of the performance,
with Notes. There is something so much like he
hat hav
patience to attempt the perusal of an oration that
has them attached to it. And why should they be
introduced Why should not the author explain
himself IN the body of an Grafton, particularly those
which nothing more or less than compendiums
of hstory' 1t is fatguing to our patience, to read
an Grafton, and then be compelled, after sup
pose we have got through with it, to read some
dozen pages of notes, which as dry aud indiges
tible the performance itself!
But we will say no more than 10 remark, that we
wish we had the talents OF the author Of this excel
lent performance and that we honor his judsme
admire him when he suffers his eloquence TO
burst forth in its mghtness and brilliancy. The
Grafton, taken as a whole, has elected admiration,
and we are happy to say that it has met the high
wrought expectations We had been taught to in
dulge from knowledge Of the talents and
singular attanments of its distinguished and class.
cal author.
Before we rart with this subject, we beg permis.
sion to observe, that the remarks we have made in
relation to the introduction of historical detail, does
not apply in every case, and that in state like
vhor hay mt henti
own, it is excusable and commeDdable.